I have a 1993 Cannondale M500 aluminum frame. Its a wonderful bike and I love it. However its a 21 speed and the speed shifters and the brake levers are made ito one single unit. I am needing advice on what it will take for me to change over from the current cantilevers to V brakes. The bike has the bosses for the conversion but I need to know what brakes and shifters can replace the current set up. Can I do this and stay inexpensive with maybe some Tektros or another brand?
Thanks,
Chris
You could just put v-brakes on and leave your shifters and levers alone, try it out you might like the feel. then if you do not like it you can swap out the shifters and levers
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"
yes that is true, however they can still be used. i have done it with lx shifters like yours and it has a soft spongy feel but stop quite good. I still use them. I replaced my canti with deore xt v-brakes.
they cost more than other brands but my whole bike was shimano and i wanted to keep it that way. Nigel likes the cheaper ones and seems to work great for him and should for you also.
If you swap 7spd shifters your only option is to go cheap or very costly.
thats why i say for now just buy the v-brakes and try them out. you just may like the feel.
If you want trigger style shifters higher end you have to search hard for 7spd ones and pay through the nose if you find them. Have you any thoughts of going to high end top mount thumb shifters, one of my favorites. my last thumb shifters v-brake and lever swap cost
Deore top mount thumb NOS $100
Deore v-brake levers $25
Deore xt V-brakes $90
just to go higher end 7spd Shimano
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"
here is the difference in brake lever feel between what you have and if you swap out levers with v- compatible
notice how much farther the lever goes in with what you have right now matched with v-brakes. they still stop good but will pinch your fingers in hard riding conditions when braking hard
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"