miamivalrider

So I just bought a Bianchi Milano, an older black one. It has a Nexus 7 with a drum brake on it now and the LBS has rebuilt it within the past two years but it's shot. I would really like to do a fix/free setup on it but if I do free wheel, I want a rear brake and there aren't any mounts. My question: Anyone out there ever welded brake mounts to a frame/ is there any recomended literature on the matter? I have some limited experience welding as well as limited access to equipment, my dad is an auto mechanic. I am looking to put v-brakes on the bike or possibly cantilever.

markus_mudd

I did something similar to my wife's Milano. I wanted to use rim brakes on the front and rear. My solution was to put 700c wheels on it. You can use bolt-on (road bike style) sidepull or centerpull brakes on the front and rear. The reach from the seatstay bridge to the rim is about 60mm on the rear when used with 700c wheels. You can use normal reach brakes up front.
The canti bosses on the front are no longer being used and just kinda' hang out. You can zip tie the cable to route it up the seat tube to the seatstay bridge mounted brakes on the rear.

This was our solution. It might not be up your alley though. It raises the bottom bracket a bit but that's not a problem.