Good to read you got through the new brake transplant. The way around drilling out the rear was to mount the front caliper at the rear. Since it has a longer brake bolt. The rear caliper now gets installed as the front unit. It's shorter brake bolt is fastened by two ways:
1. you reach into the fork crown opening and screw on the locknut (and washers if needed).
2. you drill the back of the fork crown to accept a recessed brake nut....then buy an extra long one like those used for carbon forks, to reach the brake bolt. (see squirtdad's post above)
That sounded even more troublesome to me, and I wanted to do the job right then and there. The fact that I didn't have an 8mm metal drill bit was no deterrent for this card-carrying Afro-Engineer, and I butchered my way though with a quarter inch bit drilling sideways, plus a fine round file to widen the hole further. I should have gone to the nearest hardware store for the right bit, but going shopping for one item is so much against my grain that I didn't.
The high cost of this venture was pretty much a given to some of us. We tried to warn you. BTDT, LOL!
Well, the saddle I *did* need, and after that it kinda sneaked up on me.
But at least you can ride and enjoy...
True, and I have no regrets, because it looks and feels just great now. Tonight I'll take it on a 20 mile ride with a friend.
To be honest, if I had another chance I would have stopped after the saddle, and put the rest of the money into the new bike I later decided to buy. But, that is water under the bridge...
I am a stamp collector, and that is not the most economically sensible habit either.
[hybrid]
Nice Motobecane. For the money, the build quality is satisfactory.
I picked up a Motobecane Vent Noir frame this Summer for myself. If your Cafe Latte is as finished as nicely as mine, you'll enjoy your hybrid.
At first I actually wanted to buy the Century Pro
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ury_pro_xi.htm, but by teh time I decided to go ahead they were all sold out! So I looked down the line and realized that with the fatter tires I could go with an alu frame without penalty, and I wanted the flat bar for the trigger shifting possibilities.
I'm still piecing together what I need for my Vent Noir. Just found black wheels for its 'black' theme.
That would be a nice bike for me as well...if it was White!