ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
A technical and aesthetic question here:
I'm currently in the process of doing up an old Cinelli Riviera - here it is:
Next on my wish list is to replace the slightly naff plastic brake levers, and to put on some new bar tape at the same time.
I'm thinking of a pair of Mafac Racer levers like these (to match the calipers):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAFAC-Cou...303?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e748729f
and then maybe some fizik microtex bar tape in brown (to match the brooks)
However, I'm curious - does one have to replace the entire brake lever and hood as a unit, or would it be possible for me to swap out the plastic levers I currently have and keep the hoods? If so this could save quite a bit of money, by substituting in a lever like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALLI-DRI...694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4182a2d50e
So question one - is this substitution of the lever only likely to be possible, or will I have to replace the lever and hoods as a unit?
Question two - anyone got any other recommendations for a nice brake lever and/or bar tape?
Cheers!
I'm currently in the process of doing up an old Cinelli Riviera - here it is:
Next on my wish list is to replace the slightly naff plastic brake levers, and to put on some new bar tape at the same time.
I'm thinking of a pair of Mafac Racer levers like these (to match the calipers):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAFAC-Cou...303?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e748729f
and then maybe some fizik microtex bar tape in brown (to match the brooks)
However, I'm curious - does one have to replace the entire brake lever and hood as a unit, or would it be possible for me to swap out the plastic levers I currently have and keep the hoods? If so this could save quite a bit of money, by substituting in a lever like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALLI-DRI...694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4182a2d50e
So question one - is this substitution of the lever only likely to be possible, or will I have to replace the lever and hoods as a unit?
Question two - anyone got any other recommendations for a nice brake lever and/or bar tape?
Cheers!