Question about brakes

[RetFor]

(02-24-2014, 12:37 AM)cny-man Wrote:  You have presented some good reasons for staying with the current bike. I can assure you that you will need a new freewheel to go with the chain if it's skipping on the old one. Need a freewheel removal tool and to use the correct procedure to replace it. The rear derailleur is not the only thing left - you're forgetting bottom bracket, headset and hub bearing, which on a bike that age may become a problem. Cross levers are meant to be fed from near the handlebars, thus the need for aero levers. As for narrow bars, you're not limited to drop bars, just need to take a hacksaw to straight bars such as these: http://smartbikeparts.com/search_details.php?itm=SBP11112&gclid=CK2sxKj447wCFedAMgodzFYADQ

I don't get down to Brooklyn, but you have not responded to my suggestion of checking out a bike co-op. All you have to do is Google "Brooklyn bike co-op."

thanks for the reply.

come to think of it, i think i actually did look into some kind of bike co-op at one point, but they charged a monthly fee to join or something. it may have been something i stumbled across, though, not that i was actively seeking out something like that. i took another look, now, though, and found one that doesnt charge just to come use the tools and get advice, so maybe ill look into that if the hours fit my schedule.

ill need the parts first, though. can you recommend what id need on amazon? im not sure how to tell what will and wont fit, i wouldnt have know about the sizing of the handlebars etc. i have cables, chain, grease, and front derailleur already, so i think what id need is levers, freewheel and freewheel removal tool. is there anything else id need? id prefer stuff that is decent enough not to break after a month but still relatively inexpensive. i definitely dont want to spring for top-of-the-line parts.

also, not to beat a dead horse, but if cross levers are meant to be fed from the wrong way, creating the need for aero levers with them, would it be possible to just switch them (ie put the one intended for the left on the right and vice versa) so that they feed the right way without aero levers? (i just did a bit of research to see if i could figure out why they couldnt be used standalone, and it seems they only push on the housing, they dont actually grab the cable. is that part of the reason also or can it be made to grab the cable also? i did see this on sheldon browns site, although im not sure exactly what he means by it, whether you can use them totally without the aero levers or not - "These can also be used as primary levers without the normal drop bar levers.")

thanks again.