In article <
[email protected]>, John Bartley K7AAY (ex-KGH2126)
<6212hgk{invert}@newsguy.com> wrote:
>Is it practical to consider adding disc brakes to a 1979 Fuji Royale touring bike?
It could probably be done, yes. I don't know what tubing that bike is made of, but I bet it is
plenty thick enough to support the pressure on the brake mounts.
> Have moved from wet-and-flat to wet-and-hilly, and like the idea of better braking, especially
> since I added 100 lbs since I built this in '79 and need to *safely* remove many of those.
I have to ask, what kind of brakes and pads have you tried on this bike? Unless you are already
using a really excellent cantilever (or V) brake with high quality pads, I would do that before
torching the bike, buying expensive disc brakes and new wheels. The disc brakes will also be quite
expensive compared to installing top of the line cantilevers or v-brakes.
It would be very unusual if you were unable to get relief by installation of a high quality brake
set with good pads, good cables, and meticulous adjustment.
If you have normal brake levers (no shifter integrated) you could consider getting a set of the Dia
Compe brake levers designed for use with v-brakes, and then get a high quality modern MTB v-brake
set. If you eat the soft brake pads on your wet hilly rides, replace with Kool Stop salmon pads for
longer pad life. Example parts:
Dia Compe 287 brake levers -
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=BR5062
Avid Arch Rival v-brakes -
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=BR7040
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=BR7041
Those SKU's are orderable from your local bike shop, out of the QBP catalog.
Naturally if you do a disc conversion, you could still use those linear pull brake levers if the
disc brake is also linear pull and mechanical design.
--Paul