Andy_K 

What you do with the brake levers depends to some extent on whether or not you plan to keep those handlebars. Modern brake levers are mostly designed for riding "on the hoods" (that is, with your hands resting on top of the levers) but that handlebar won't lend itself well to that sort of position. If you keep the handlebars, I'd suggest visiting a local co-op and see if they have some old levers that will work for you.

jordb48

I'm hoping to keep the handle bars. I'm actually going my LBS tomorrow so I'll ask if they have anything similar to what I already have. Thanks

Andy_K 

I think I've still got the brake levers from my old Free Spirit. I just sent you a PM. (I think with < 50 posts you can receive PMs but not send them.) Let me know if you didn't get it.

jordb48

Awesome, I got the message, and you're right, I can't reply until I have 50 posts but I'll shoot you an email about them.

jordb48

Here's another question, the handlebars are off the bike and I need them to be for now, but I was trying to put them back on jut to keep it in one piece until I was ready for them and the wont go back. All I did to get them off was undo the bolt on top of the stem, I checked for any sort of nut or stopper on the other end and can't find anything. I'll post pictures for this when I get home around 3:30.

If anyone know what I did wrong/how to fix it please let me know.

Andy_K 

Are they sticking at the bend? Sometimes you need to rotate the bar or the stem to find an angle where it's happy to pass through.

jordb48

The handel bars aren't really the problem It's the stem. The bolt the is supposed to connect the stem to the frame has nothing to screw into on the frame end of the equation.

I've been trying to post pictures of it but they aren't working fomr me...

Johnny Mullet

There is a wedge that the stem bolt threads into. It's probably at the bottom of your fork.

jordb48

Is it just within the frame? Because it's completely possible I just keep missing it when I put the bolt in.

Ol Danl

Someone should mention the $7 cable kit at Walmart -- surely that's an appropriate budget move for someone wanting to learn to work on a bike. And I'd certainly check out that co-op for shifters and a brake lever.

ApolloSoyuz1975

O.P.: the quill stem should thread into a small "wedge" expander that expands against the interior of the fork's steerer-tube. Look down into the steerer with a flashlight to see if it's there... or just turn the bike over.

Andy_K 

When the stem isn't bolted onto the wedge there's nothing holding it in place, so it will fall to the bottom of the steerer tube (or possibly fall out). Turn it upside down and give it a shake.

squirtdad

Hands Up (Or Down)! Adjusting Handlebar Stem Height on Your Bicycle

OP you really should take advantage of your bike co-op, it will help you learn a lot faster. it is pretty clear that you don't have the basic knowledge about bikes needed to do the basic work you want to do, much less anything more advanced.

Wrench, Learn and Give |

AlexCyclistRoch

Ummm....did you COMPLETELY remove the bolt? If you did, that's a rookie mistake that a quick read on Sheldon Brown's website would've kept you from making.

Dsprok

Rims are 27 1/4 inch, most likely.

jordb48

The closest co-op to me has you apply, so I'm just waiting for tyheir response.
My buddy actually did this part, but yes he did take the bolt completely off to get the old shifters off so we/I could clean/replace them.

Homebrew01

Next time just loosen the bolt enough to remove the stem. Sometimes the wedge nut gets stuck, so a light tap with a hammer on the hex head of the bolt will unstick it. Then it should all come out at once.

Toch

"bicycle boom era"