Long reach brake caliper, and lever
 

Hello,

I've been converting my old 1979 Raleigh Grand Prix to a FG/SS. I now have 700 wheels with a rear flip flop, instead of the 27's, and I need a new front brake. Being a bi on a budget, I was thinking of going with a Shimano BR-R450 Front Brake Caliper (http://www.bikesonline.com/index.php...-Brake-Caliper) does anyone have any experience with this? Or should I just save up for the Shimano R650 Long Reach Road Brake Caliper ? (http://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-8...e-caliper.aspx)

Also, I have these road levers, some old ones that have with the bike, and a Shimano that I bought for 5$ off a shop mechanic, and they seem to have recess in the top for a plastic bit that the cable cover goes into. Does anyone know where I can get more of these?

Thanks a lot!
Ross

bump

please help me!

need to do a search on this, it has been covered many times
measure the reach
choose your calliper
buy it
instruction for dealing with a recessed nut

hope that helps

Ross, Shimano's lower end dual pivot calipers are totally nice and will work fine. You save a bit of weight by going to the more expensive ones, and the pads might be a bit nicer, but that's all.

The recessed nut thing is likely to be an issue. If you know what you're doing it's not a big deal to drill out the frame; I've done this myself converting an old Nishiki mixte to modern brakes. Alternatively, I think Harris has a kit to convert recessed nut brakes to non recessed nut brakes.

I've lost those plastic cable stop thingys as well, and just wound up scrounging other ones off an old bike that someone was throwing away. You might want to have a look around your local co-op. Alternatively you could get some Tektro aero levers---they are super cheap for what you get, and ergonomically and functionally they are likely to be a huge upgrade over the ones you have.

I've thought about those Tektro levers, but how does the brake cable work? Mine come out the top, and I would kind of like to keep it that way..

Yea my brake is nutted, and I wold kind of like to keep it that way, I don't want to drill out my frame.

Any idea where the kit is on the harris site? I couldn't find it.
I might be **** outta luck, I don't want to ride my bike much more till I get this brake issue fixed, as it looks like my current bike is giving it a funny wear pattern...

The cable goes straight back out of the lever, and tucks under the wrap. That's why they're called "aero" levers, there is less stuff catching the wind.

Sorry, now I can't find it either. Maybe it was all a dream. Sheldon has some info here though.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ra-e.html#recessed

Edit: Just get Tektro 800a's if the reach is right. http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup.asp?IGPK=2126175524

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=465063

so I was messing with the bike, and I looked at my rear brake, and it turns out its actually a long reach! so that worked out pretty well. But the pad doesn't sit as flush as I would like against the rim, the top touchs, but not all the way down to the bottom. Does anyone make angled pads?

Also, does anyone know about City Bike brake levers, by Velo Orange?http://www.velo-orange.com/cibibrle.html

How does the brake cable come out?

Thanks!