Upgrade queries

eezeeriderr · Post by **eezeeriderr** » 12 Jul 2010, 9:38pm

Hi everybody.
I have'nt posted before so this could be interesting.

I've got a 25 year old Orbit Gold Medal and want to upgrade it without spending too much.

Firstly it's got 27" wheels and rather than replace them I wondered if I could just change the nutted axles to quick release?

Gears are 36/48 front rings with 5 rear sprockets and down tube levers. I want to change the levers to perhaps thumb shifters on top of my drop handlebars, is this possible and would I need a band-on component where the existing levers are located to engage with the outer gear cables?

If I changed the drop bars to a straight bar I would need to put new brake levers on; are v-brake levers compatible with caliper brakes?

Advice would be gratefully received on these topics. Thanks.