Cycling UK Forum

I would like to upgrade the pads on my newish tektro 556 calliper brakes. I've heard Kool stop are the ones to get but I can't figure out which models are compatible? Any recommendations of for specific pads (Kool stop or other)?

What are the pros and cons of alloy vs resin?

531colin wrote:I think these things will fit on your existing band, if you take the gear levers off. The boss that downtube gear levers fit has been standardised for years, and the levers are the same if they go on a brazed on fitting or a band.

thanks - do you know what those things are called?

I am changing to ergoshift from friction downtube levers , lugless band-on , early 80s Holdsworth mistrale.

I think I need to put something on the downtube at the position of the previous friction levers, to hold the cable outers at that point ie. where the outers stop and the bare cables continue down either side of the downtube.

I don't know what this cable outer support is called, and which particular type I should be looking for.

Any advice gratefully received.

All the best
Jon

Thanks for all the advice.
Tektro 556s it is then!
Jon

I have recently changed the wheels on my early1980's Holdsworth Mistral tourer from 27inch to 700mm campag sirrocos.
The existing front Wienman center-pull Vainquer610 brake doesn't quite reach the rim while the rear "vainquer700" does (just).
The distance from the brake fixing bolt to the centre of the rim is 65-70mm.
Even with the old wheels, new cables and new pads, the lack of stopping power was making me nervous in commuter traffic.
Are there any quality brakes (either centre pull or calliper) with enough reach and stopping power that would fit?

I have upgraded a 1980s Holdsworth Mistrale by fitting Campagnolo Scirrocco 700 wheels and a 9 speed campagnolo veloce cassette. I had to spring the stays apart a little to get it in. The chain is a new 9 speed.
The problem is that when on the smallest cog the upper edge of the chain rubs the stay, due to snugness of fit in small space.
Would it be possible to put some sort of spacer in to make more space between smallest cog and stay?
Would it be wise to spring the stays yet further apart from their original position?
Any advice gratefully received. Jon

Thanks for all the advice.
Will try adjusting existing levers etc before taking the plunge and getting a pair of ergoshifts on ebay

Having put a 9 speed cassette (campag veloce) on a 1980s Holdsworth mistrale, which already has a 9 speed rear mech (campag mirage), i find the old downtube shifters struggling to get the mech across all the back cogs (it almost does).
Do 9 speed downtube lugless/band-on shifters exist?
Or am I committed to bar end or combined with break lever shifters if I want 9 speed?
jon