Deep drop brakes

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pubrunner

Legendary Member
My bike (old steel frame - early 70s) (700c x 23) currently has centre pull Weinmann brakes.

The chappie in my LBS said that dual pivot brakes couldn't be fitted 'cos they wouldn't drop enough. But, I've read (if I remember correctly) that Alhonga and Tektro ? do brakes that might fit.

And be grateful for any advice, particularly any specific brakes which might fit.

Thank you
 

jayce

New Member
Location
south wales
i got tektro for sale had a pair tried them on my bike and the drop were to deep for my bike ..model r 356
 

John the Monkey

Frivolous Cyclist
Location
Crewe
The brakes will be nut fitting, I would have thought, rather than the more common recessed allen key fitting. They can be quite hard to get hold of, but Byers Cycles do offer Tektro brakes in nut fitting with a 49mm to 57mm drop (this was enough for my Nigel Dean frame, 1980s vintage).

http://www.byercycles.co.uk/02R0908.html

Do measure the drop carefully - I bought the Alhonga brakes first, only to find they were just slightly too deep to work on the front.
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Location
Chandler's Ford
John's surplus Alhonga set turned out to be just right on a 70's (531 Plain Gauge) Galaxy.

They are right at the top of the slots on the 27 x 1-1/4 wheels, so there is plenty of room should it be changed to 700c later on.

Thanks again John!
 

jimboalee

New Member
Location
Solihull
I had a 531 framed bike from the early seventies. It had 27" HPs and Weinmann sidepull stirups which weighed less the Campag Record.

I considered changing to 700C, but when I faced the prospect of installing a set of brakes that added on 1/4 lb to the bikes weight, I scrapped that idea.

(As I have already mentioned somewhere else, the single wall Rigida 27" HP rims weighed less than Mavic MA2.)

What was the point?

I sold that bike, but later regretted it because the wheelset would have gone into my Pug.

Its like restoring and using old cars. You end up paying more than the car is worth.
 
OP
OP
pubrunner

pubrunner

Legendary Member
jimboalee said:
I had a 531 framed bike from the early seventies. It had 27" HPs and Weinmann sidepull stirups which weighed less the Campag Record.

I considered changing to 700C, but when I faced the prospect of installing a set of brakes that added on 1/4 lb to the bikes weight, I scrapped that idea.

(As I have already mentioned somewhere else, the single wall Rigida 27" HP rims weighed less than Mavic MA2.)

What was the point?

I sold that bike, but later regretted it because the wheelset would have gone into my Pug.

Its like restoring and using old cars. You end up paying more than the car is worth.

Both my old steel bikes already had 700c wheels fitted when I bought them.

I see that Alhonga brakes cost in the region of £20. Surely not a lot to pay for improved stopping power ? I live in the foothills of the Berwyn Mountains; coming down steep descents in the wet is quite nerve wracking.

Regarding your comment :

"I considered changing to 700C, but when I faced the prospect of installing a set of brakes that added on 1/4 lb to the bikes weight, I scrapped that idea."

To me and for what I use my bike for, 1/4 lb is neither here nor there; particularly as I'd like to lose over a stone. You must be riding at a much higher level than me to worry about 1/4 lb. I can gain 1/4lb just by eating breakfast and having my customary pint mug of tea:smile: - rather more, actually. Am I the only 'non-serious' cyclist on this forum ?

Regarding :

"You end up paying more than the car is worth."

I'm not improving my bike to sell it, I'm doing so because I wish to use it more. The more I use it, the more it is 'worth' to me. For the amount of cycling that I do actually do, it would be a waste of money to buy a new 'bling' machine.

I primarily cycle with my family at a very sedate pace and I've done just two reliability runs. I had no problems in keeping up on the reliability runs - despite being in the company of many who did have 'better' machines. I've no desire to enter time trials/races etc. so my bike is fine - for what I use it for. I've entered The Cheshire Cat - I'll be using one of my elderly bikes - I'll let you know how I get on !;)
 

threebikesmcginty

Corn Fed Hick...
Location
...on the slake
Thought I'd recycle an old thread rather than start a new one...

Just fettling around with my latest project and I want to fit this bike with mudguards, a first for me!
The frame is Raleigh 501 from around 1990 - despite having read all I can find I'm not sure how deep drop brakes work. Are they likely to be ok on a frame like this and provide enough clearance for mudguards?
Is there anything I need to measure to ensure I get the right thing?
Any recommendations - I'm using an old Shimano RSX groupset from 'stock'

Any recommendations on mudguards too please - normal ones I think, not fancy raceblade type things.
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Location
Chandler's Ford
The very deep drop brakes I referred to above work just like any normal dual pivot, they are just "taller".
First things first - nut fitting or allen key? Probably nut fitting on a older frame.
Then wheels in and measure from mounting hole to center of the braking surface of the rim. Vernier calipers make this easier - but it doesnt have to be that accurate.
Choose a brake set to suit what you measured...., anything described as "deep drop" will likely accomodate mudguards - you may not need to go as deep as those specialist ones that will cope with changing from 27" to 700c wheels.

Mudguards....
SKS Chromoplastics - never tried anything else. I prefer the narrower ones in silver with the black stripes in. Very trad looking. The stays are quite long, and I shortened mine to fit more neatly around 25-622 road tyres, then found I couldn't fit 30-622 CX tyres without them rubbing. Grrr!
 

John the Monkey

Frivolous Cyclist
Location
Crewe
Another vote for Chromoplastics. Full guards don't really get better 'til you start shelling out for stuff like the hammered metal ones (chromoplastics easier to fit though).

The cheaper SKS ones have a less elegant mounting, and (imo) are a bit of a false economy.
 
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