Ever bought something that turned out better than you wanted

[hartleymartin]

I was hunting around on ebay for some non-aero levers in nice condition so that I could spoil one of my babies in the garage. I bought what I thought were just a generic pair of non-aero levers - they were listed as "fixie bike brake parts". I received them, and groaned for I did not want shimano components (I had thought them to be weinmann) I dutifully looked up their component number on velobase. It turns out that I just bought a pair of NOS Shimano levers that were originally sold with the 105 Golden Arrow group-set from 1983 to 1986. Exactly the vintage that I was hunting for, and probably far better quality than the other non-descript levers I had in my junk box collection.

[brauluver]

SCORE!

[ghettro]

Some 105 Golden arrow stuff is almost identical to the Shimano 6200 series stuff, like the levers you got are basically the same as the BL-6207's. The golden arrow cranks are almost identical to the Shimano 600 arabesque cranks.

The levers you got a nice ones though, they have nice pivots on them - they have a lot nicer action than most others of that era.

[singlespeedscott]

The levers you got a nice ones though, they have nice pivots on them - they have a lot nicer action than most others of that era.

I have had all 3 of that era - 105, 600 and dura-ace. Although they all look nice they still don't pull enough cable for nice positive braking.

[hartleymartin]

The levers you got a nice ones though, they have nice pivots on them - they have a lot nicer action than most others of that era.

I have had all 3 of that era - 105, 600 and dura-ace. Although they all look nice they still don't pull enough cable for nice positive braking.

I'll hook them up to a set of Weinmann 610 centre-pull brakes and see how they work.

[il padrone]

Are you up watching TdF or the World Cup, Martin?

[hartleymartin]

Are you up watching TdF or the World Cup, Martin?

Nope. Although, I do catch the highlights for the TdF on the news. I got a few of my mates to watch it and share my morbid curiosity when it comes to crashes and injuries (a few years of volunteering with the St John Ambulance will do that to you).