bike spares

[timnoyce]

I'm currently in the process of converting an old mountain bike frame into a bit of a hybrid single speed road bike.I know that this isn't the best thing to do and I would be better off buying a proper road frame, but I am just using what I already have. The frame is an old rigid carrera and I have a set of Rolf Vector Pro road wheels with super skinny tyres to go on there, along with a shimano chainset and other bits.

What I need is some brake callipers suitable for road wheels as the old canti's on the bike are the wrong size and don't interact with the rim. Has anyone got anything lying about which they want to donate to the cause (obviously I'll send some money your way for the right bits) I just want to get it on the road before summer has been and gone but don't want to go to the expense of buying brand new parts.

[JPJ]

Might be of some use - On One have Shimano LX calipers for sale for £10 for both sets.

[timnoyce]

Thanks for the heads up, definitely more inclined to do that than risk an ebay purchase for the same price.

[mk1fan]

Mavic make brackets that raise the brakes to meet a 700 size wheel. Expensive though - relatively speaking - for a cheap hack bike.

[Mr_C]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[mk1fan]

That's the puppy.

If you're going from Canti's to V's you'll also need new levers too.

[timnoyce]

Ok. This picture is just to illustrate the type of brakes I am after. What is the technical name for them as I can't see them being described as canti's or v's... just to save any confusion.



Excuse my ignorance, but why would I need new levers depending on what type of brakes I have. Surely from a mechanical point of view their job is to pull the wire, so as long as the lengths of the cables are set correctly I could get away with using the current levers? This is not me trying to be cocky, I would just like to know the science behind doing it! :-)

[mk1fan]

You may not be able to fit road callipers (like those in your photo) to your bike. If you're going to splash out on a set of road callipers you may aswell buy the Mavic brackets and use your existing brakes or 'V' brakes. If you get a set of 'V' brakes you'll need new levers because the cable pull is different.

[timnoyce]

OK that's fair enough. The frame is quite old skool so has the central brake mounting points front and rear so its not a problem.

My girlfriends Dad is a bike mechanic and ex bike shop owner so I am sure he will have some bits and pieces lying about to help make this project come together!

[mk1fan]

They may have the holes in the bridge stay and the crown of the fork but that doesn't mean they're in the right place to position a calliper correctly. See if you can source a cheap road calliper (e-Bay?) for a test fitting.

Also, is the frame aluminium or steel?

[timnoyce]

I have an old road calliper which I have fitted and seems to work ok. Although I've not tested it in anger yet.

The frame is an old Carrera Gradient, which I think is good old fashioned steel!

[mk1fan]

If it's steel then you won't have anyproblems with 'cold setting' the narrower rear road hub in the frame. If the frame is ali then I wouldn't be cold setting it cause you'll break it.