Bicycle Mechanics - canti vs. v-brake levers, difference?

Hi everyone. I just bought a NOS 1998 Cannondale M500, that the shop put Deore V-brakes on, to replace the old canti's. It has gripshift, which I am looking to replace with some similar vintage rapidfires. The problem I see is that what I'm finding is 7 speed rapidfires are pretty much for cantilever brakes only. What is the difference in the levers? Do they take up different amounts of cable? Will I be okay running this type of setup?

Does anyone have any 7 speed rapidfires? Preferably LX???

Thanks!
Jessica

I have the old 7-sp LX rapidfires and yes, they only work with cantis. V-brakes require much more cable pull and obviously will work only with V-levers. Little gizmos like the travel agent enable you to use ordinary levers with V-brakes but performance is so so...

You could always try to locate 7 speed pods, then you can run whatever levers you want.

I've heard of that travel agent thing, but I also like simplicity (hence the lever/shifter pod desire....)

Hunter,

When you say locate 7 speed pods, so you mean like these in the pic., and then swap out the levers on them? Please say yes. I've always had rapidfires and I love them (I have gripshift now..... :mad: ) but that was always with canti's. On my lower level bike, I have 7 speed rapidfires that I ordered new, for v-brakes, but they are the cheapest Shimano you can buy, and I would love to have some that were at least LX, especially late 90's vintage....

Ok, I'm rambling now. Here's the pic. Someone please tell me I can make these work.

You can still get 7-speed shifter pods without brake levers, then get V-brake levers, or get two travel agents.

Thanks alot, guys!

The levers may work......sometimes they do...sometimes they dont.

The rapidfire levers pictured are monted to the brakelevers. Options for that type of setup are...

1. Leave them alone.
2. Hacksaw the shifters off and sa;vage the brake levers.
3. Hacksaw off the shifters...remove them from the aluminum piece you cuttoff then mount them to a 'shifter bracket'

I've heard of that travel agent thing, but I also like simplicity (hence the lever/shifter pod desire....)

Hunter,

When you say locate 7 speed pods, so you mean like these in the pic., and then swap out the levers on them? Please say yes. I've always had rapidfires and I love them (I have gripshift now..... :mad: ) but that was always with canti's. On my lower level bike, I have 7 speed rapidfires that I ordered new, for v-brakes, but they are the cheapest Shimano you can buy, and I would love to have some that were at least LX, especially late 90's vintage....

Ok, I'm rambling now. Here's the pic. Someone please tell me I can make these work.
i would cut the levers off cleanly then buy some v brake levers. insatall the modified pods on the bar first, then the levers. i have done this many times over the years and on most of them you couldn't even tell they were cut. a good bike shop will be used to this procedure. I have also had excellent luck with the travel agent when set up correctly. many tandems that use road levers have these on them. good luck cutting.

buy new 7 speed pods and some cheap v brake levers. 7 speed pods are still easilly available. i order them at my shop 10 at a time at least once every 2 months.

Go for seperate pods and levers , then when you bend a lever or break a pod you don´t have to change everything at the same ( expensive ) time .

Brent, I was going to ask why ten at a time, but then I saw your occupation, LOL...

I didn't realize until this thread and then digging through bins at the shop that you could get them seperate. I hate this word, it sounds so 80's, but DUH!

That's what I'm going to go for, now, I already have levers. Have you seen 7 speed in at least a Deore level still available??? If so, I may stock up. :)

Thanks again!