Brake cables under tape
 

Can the brake cables be run under the handlebar tape with old style brake levers (1970-80ish) or does it take a newer style lever to do that?

Booger1

Your levers must be designed for it.

New levers designed for under bartape routing are < $20.

There is also the trick of looping them back around to the bar and running the housing like a modern aero the rest of the way, under the tape. You end up with a short exposed loop but it is not bad looking.

I tried the loop thing but it seems I would have to loop to the outside of the bar then back under and that's where I do all my riding.Thanks Everyone...Going to the LBS tommorow,I'll check out some levers.

What you have are called non-aero brake levers, you need aero brake levers to have the cables routed under the tape. Did that recently to a 1983 Trek 410. New Tektro levers at Nashbar (as well as other places) were about 20 bucks, pretty simple swap.

The Tektro levers are nice. Got mine for $16 + $4 shipping thru Amazon. Niagara Cycle, maybe?

Exactly!

I just got some tektro off of ebay all for under $25 bucks... came with new cables as well. If you are going to salvage your older calipers and cables, i would recommend that you grease the cables before you slide them into the housing.

Just got back from a ride to the beach and hit up the shops along the way.One place had a NOS set of shimano levers/with covers,let me have them for $10,lucky day I guess.

Thanks again everybody.