ok so I just got a Pista , it should be here in a few days. So, I know some people will bash me for this, but I definately plan on putting on a front brake.

Anyone have any suggestions for something that wont cost me too much? I want to spend like, 45.00 max, Im sure I can find something.


By the way, I dont want the road style lever, I want something more like a small, descrete,plain simple bmx style handle. also something that preferably goes on and off without having to slide it all the way onto the bar, I havent really messed with brakes before, so im hoping I can just buy one and take it to the shop and have them wire it up for me for a few bucks.

anyone have any suggestions?

Come on man ... 5 posts down is "Brakes questions"

crap, yeah, i was searching earlier in this section, didnt see anything so later tonite I just came and posted, little be known that in the middle of those times, a post was made on the topic. and after I posted this I saw it.

Just stay away from the Nashbar house-brand brakes. They flex like you wouldn't believe.

I'd say do what I did... go to your local used bike store and ask for a brake that has X amount of reach... just measure loosely at home and add a mm or two to be safe. BOOM 5-10 bucks for the brake, 25 or less for the cyclocross lever and your set... you can even buy the lever before hand and take it and the bike down and get them to do the whole shbang...

I would either get something secondhand (old good shimano 600, 105 etc) or Tektro make good cheap brakes which should leave you enough to get a lever, cable and housing.

From what you describe about a brake lever your looking at either: a BMX brake, a cyclocross inline lever or an old MTB brake. Hardest thing is ensuring the clamp on these brakes work with your bars which I believe on the Pista are 26.0.

Again second hand is your best bet as otherwise you're going to be out 15 bones plus. Its going to be hard to find a BMX brake which works with these bars but the old DiaTech MX brake levers are adjustable enough (though pretty flexy), maybe some of the snafus?

Talk to your LBS and maybe look around for a shop dealing in used parts.

youve got some nice work, im usually into more conceptual stuff, I love some of yours, and love the polaroid transfers, but your documentary style, and your exposures are beautiful, never seen anything like it! really. Ive never seen documentary style photography as rich as yours. Do you have a BFA?

Im also a photographic artist. nickmaimone.com

There is no shortage of art students on BFFG.

wait, isnt this about brakes? howd it get onto art?

Heh, I was just going to recommend them as really cheap, with the caveat that not being familiar with any other road calipers that I passed a fix on the street the other day, and saw it had an old dura ace brake on it, and squeezed the lever for the feel, and man, not even riding the bike I could feel how different braking would feel.

Like, it makes my nashbar brake seem like it came in a pair for $20 or something.

Roger that as well on the cheap nashbar levers - the action and lever feel of someone else's nicer brake made me realize my brake and levers are totally of Wal-mart bike quality.

But have been sufficient until now.

OMG only loosers run brakes. Only HERD people run brakes. Brakes are for losers, and you shouldn't use one.

for the money a tiagra caliper is hard to beat.

https://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=BR3794
bmx lever that fits 25.4 bars.

i got a used caliper and lever, plus housing and cable at my LBS for 20 bucks. it's nothing fancy, but it works.

I have some diacomp road levers on my fuji track...I want to flip and chop the bars and put the levers on the new bar ends, but I think the lever arms will be too far from my fingers, due to having to rotate them 180 degrees...I don't want them up on the flat by the stem, what is a good substitute lever for the bar end position?