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Old 05-23-06 | 11:51 PM
  #11  
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bikingshearer
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From: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley

Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.

Originally Posted by cs1
Excellent information, I am thinking seriously about trying a 650B conversion on that bike. It would probably need some long pull brakes. The 999 are plentiful on ebay. the 610 less so. I can't ever recall seeing any of the 750 though. Did DiaCompe make an equivalent version?

Tim
If you mean an equivalent of the longer-reach 750 version, not only did they, they still do. You can get them from Rivendell. Check out Riv's website. I have a set, and they are a good option for old frames that have what was then considered long reach, which be today's standards is super-duper long reach for which decent sidepulls haven't been made in decades (Universal 51's would do it, but those are ancient and not the easiest things in the world to find) - just be sure to replace the pads with Matthausers or KoolStops if you intend to use the brakes for more than just decoration. The original pads just don't get it done, stopping power-wise. One episode with the original pads was one too many for my taste.

You will also have to have either brake levers or cable hangers with built-in "quick release" devices because the Dia-Compes (like Weinmanns and unlike Mafacs, which may also work) have no way built into the caliper unit itself to widen the calipers for removing the wheel. Riv has a couple of possible brake lever options for that too. One is a Dia-Compe standard lever (i.e., non-aero, cable-out-the-top) and the other is a Campy Ergo copy, except without the brifter gear-shifting capability. Shimano and Dia-Compe aero levers I have owned or seen do not have quick releases built in, so they are likely not an option for you, unless there is one or more models out there I haven't seen. As for cable hangers with quick releases, ask your LBS - odds are they have some knocking about.

BTW, Universal 61's would likely also work (but double check the reach measurements) and also show up on eBay reasonably often. (The 61's are center-pulls, the 51's mentioned above are sidepulls.) I am almost, but not quite, positive that all of the above info concerning lack of quick releases on the calipers themselves applies to the Universals, too. If I'm wrong on that, or anything else, I'm sure somebody will correct me.
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