This thread has gotten absolutely awesome lately. Thanks to Eastcoaststeve's S&S and wheeltired's awesome collection, I've been inspired to start a 26" BMX/cruiser type build. I've got a 1988 Schwinn Sierra frame in cyan blue and chrome with chainstay u-brake bosses. I'm going to go with the sunlite cruiser fork:http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Cruise.../dp/B0014CBNT0. There are no brake bosses so I figured I'd go with u-brakes mounted to an adapter plate like neo-pop showed. I scored one today at a local shop that had been hanging around for 15 years for only $5.

I have a couple of questions for you guys. Does the adapter plate for u-brakes work on 26" setups? Is there a real difference between u-brakes labeled as "front" vs. "rear" or is it like canti's where you just change the pads? Finally, the u-brake adapter I picked up is raw steel and has a little oxidation (see pics). What would you guys do? Sand it down and paint it? Clearcoat it? Polish and clearcoat? Let me know what you think. Thanks, Mike