Small hands and brake levers
 

hello

I have an old Bianchi road bike (early 1980s, friction shifters, Campagnolo Nuovo Record, 12 gears, 3ttt stem and handlebar, Shimano hubs...etc) with Modolo Flash brakes (these ones here http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Ita...vers_flash.htm, they're single pivot, non-aero..I think).

I want to change the levers because I have small hands and find the brakes somewhat difficult to use when my hands are sitting in the brake hood position.

I've been reading up online and there are two levers that I feel would work...the Tektro RL341 (apparently the same/very similar to the R100a) and Cane Creek SCR-5C (the 'compact' version of the SCR-5).

Tektro (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ke-levers.html)
Cane Creek (PDF: http://www.diatechproducts.com/downl...er_Manuals.pdf)

Are these brake levers compatible with my bike and existing Modolo brakes?

Hope I've provided enough information.

Thanks you !:)

Should be. note that both your proposed levers are aero, which the brake cable exiting the bottom of the lever, and running along the handlebars. So you'll need new housing, cables, and bar tape.

ahh okay, did not realise that I would need new cables etc.

Can someone tell me how I disconnect/remove the current brake cable (without cutting!) from my non-aero Modolo levers?

loosen the pinch bolt at the brake caliper and pull the cable head out of the lever. You won't necessarily need new cables/housing since this will be longer than what you need for aero levers. You can just cut them down if they are in good condition... But this is your chance to get fresh stuff.

... you loosen the bolt on the brake Caliper, that is the free end of the cable,
the other one is fixed, a soldered ball on the end.

you will need to buy the proper tools, A cable cutter , from a bike supply ,
If not just getting a bike shop to do the work.
laying out the best cable line, taping the housing down and re taping the bars
stretching the tape, just the right amount
so it wont slip and goes on smoothly , but not so tight it tears..

When in doubt start by checking out the excellent online service information at www.parktool.com/repair . In the end though you won't really find that these aero style levers are any better for reaching down to the levers from the hoods. The hoods on them are still pretty "meaty".

You may find that you get your best results by switching the Modolo single pivot calipers over to dual pivot models from Tektro. The dual pivot style offers more mechanical advantage so the effort you can apply at the levers does more.

at the moment, the levers are just a little too far away. From the brake hood position, naturally - only the er end section of my fingers are able to pull on the lever (not the ends of the levers, but nearer the top center) which is not quite enough leverage when I need to brake hard.

Ideally the levers would be a centimetre or two closer, which I think would solve the problem...

Do I need proper bike cable cutters (such as the Park branded ones) or will any generic cable cutter do? Or leave it to the pros...(..even though I'd quite like to learn...)

is there a bike kitchen or co-op nearby? I'd go there.

Honestly I have found that I am able to cut the brake cables, as well as the housing, with a good hefty pair of dikes. It requires a good hard squeeze, but the cuts are clean, and I clean the end of the housing up with a grinding wheel and a file.

Hello again

Sorry to bump this thread...but I still need help with removing the brake cable.

I tried unscrewing the pinch bolt (I assume this is the bolt at the bottom left hand side of the brake caliper?) but the brake cable does not move at all when I do so? I know I must be missing something really simple....

Anyway - I've attached a picture ... *sorry its a bit dark, took it with my phone..*

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1162/bkeow.jpg

Help ! :)

If it's pinched in there really tight, a couple drops of oil might help, then give it a tug with pliers. Depending on if it has to travel through a small hole or not, you may have to pull/cut the end cap off the cable to get it through.

The pinch bolt often deforms the cable or cuts a strand and it requires a healthy tug with your hands on the housing or with pliers on the cable. And you'll need to remove the cap at the end as well. With some pliers just slightly squeeze the crimp bulges in to "round" the cap and it'll come off.