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Using Mafac centre pulls with straight bars

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Eastway82
  
Hi, hope someone can help. I'm converting my mum's old racing bike (a 531 Peugeot from the 80s) to flat bars (at 65 she's decided to start riding again but thinks drops will be a bit too much of a challenge, and refuses to ride an mtb or hybrid due to being a stubborn old...).
It's currently equipped with Mafac racer centre pull brakes. If I fit mtb-style flat bars and a more upright stem, obviously I'll need some new levers too – am I right in thinking that levers for old-style cantilever mtb brakes will provide the right sort of pull ratio? Anyone got any thoughts before I go and shell out and find out the hard way?

gclark8
  
Shimano make lever sets in black or silver for use with Flat Bars and Road Calipers: http://www.shimano.com.au/publish/content/australia/en/cycling/products/road_components/flat_handlebar_.html

Eastway82
  
Shimano make lever sets in black or silver for use with Flat Bars and Road Calipers: http://www.shimano.com.au/publish/content/australia/en/cycling/products/road_components/flat_handlebar_.html
Thanks for that, although I'm still not sure whether the cable pull necessary for the Mafax centre pulls is the same as for conventional calipers. I suppose I'll have to get off my **** and go and measure it!

gclark8
  
If not, replacment Promax Dual Pivot Calipers with cartridge pads were about a third the price of Shimano calipers and work perfectly with the Shimano Flat Bar Levers (on my Try bike). :) Shimano BL-R440-S brake levers: A$34
Promax BR-451 AG F & R dual pivot road brake calliper set (Southcotts): A$55

Eastway82
  
If not, replacment Promax Dual Pivot Calipers with cartridge pads were about a third the price of Shimano calipers and work perfectly with the Shimano Flat Bar Levers (on my Try bike). :)
Thanks. Got to keep the cost to a minimum though, don't really want to have to get into wholesale parts replacement. Also, it's an old frame, wide clearance (so standard short reach calipers won't fit) and is also for brakes with an external nut fixing, not modern recessed allen keys. Although you've ot me thinking now, I'm sure I've got a spare old pair of Weinmann 605 calipers somewhere in the barn...

gclark8
  
If you can't find them I have pair of new Shimano 600 brake levers here. :D

Eastway82
  
If you can't find them I have pair of new Shimano 600 brake levers here. :D

For straight bars...? If you happen to be passing Normandy, drop them in, and I'll swap 'em for a bottle of cider!

gclark8
  
OK your on! Only if its bottle fermented!! We had a cellar full of it, Mimi had a creperie, I used to live in Pontivy.

Often caught the train from Pontivy to St Brieux and St Malo. Ferry from St Malo to Jersey where I worked most of 2 years. (86-88). :cool:

Eastway82
  
OK your on! Only if its bottle fermented!! We had a cellar full of it, Mimi had a creperie, I used to live in Pontivy.

Often caught the train from Pontivy to St Brieux and St Malo. Ferry from St Malo to Jersey where I worked most of 2 years. (86-88). :cool:

Oh we're talking proper Normandy cidre bouché here... made by a mad kilt-wearing, 2CV van-driving cockney scots canadian, and it doesn't get much more authentic than that! I'm near Coutances, the Manche - can see Jersey from here on a clear day!

gclark8
  
It gets worse, I bought my Yellow RHD 2CV in Jersey for 50pounds, drove it all over France, brought it back to Aus and sold it for $8000. I wish I was there now!! :D


Back to the topic. I just got the levers out, they are on my old TT bars. They would work OK as flat bar leves if you had down tube shifters. They (hoods) may foul flat bar shifters. :)

Eastway82
  
It gets worse, I bought my Yellow RHD 2CV in Jersey for 50pounds, drove it all over France, brought it back to Aus and sold it for $8000. I wish I was there now!! :D


Back to the topic. I just got the levers out, they are on my old TT bars. They would work OK as flat bar leves if you had down tube shifters. They (hoods) may foul flat bar shifters. :)

Still got my 2CV, and the other 2CV, and three 2CV vans, and 2 H vans....
:)

gclark8
  
Any 2CVs RHD?? ;)

Eastway82
  
Any 2CVs RHD?? ;)
Yep, the 1985 grey/red Dolly and the 1982 black/yellow Charleston. Brought 'em over from UK. If you want one, a mate of a mine is a big 2CV specialist in UK - he's got hundreds of 'em! I gather it's a bit trickier registering them in Oz now than it used to be though...

alfeng
  
Thanks for that, although I'm still not sure whether the cable pull necessary for the Mafax centre pulls is the same as for conventional calipers. I suppose I'll have to get off my **** and go and measure it!To get back on topic for just a moment ... YES, the pull is the same for the OLDer MTB levers which were used with cantilever brakes as the pull is for the Mafac center pull brakes (and, single/double pivot road calipers).

Of course, you certainly can tweak the "feel" a small amount by adjusting the yoke length for your Mafac brakes.

Eastway82
  
To get back on topic for just a moment ... YES, the pull is the same for the OLDer MTB levers which were used with cantilever brakes as the pull is for the Mafac center pull brakes (and, single/double pivot road calipers).

Of course, you certainly can tweak the "feel" a small amount by adjusting the yoke length for your Mafac brakes.

Cheers Alfeng, I knew if we wittered on for long enough someone would get bored enough to come up with the goods!

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