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Current setup;
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Singlespeed (Ringle cassette hub, tensioner and SS chain)
Avid BB7 ROAD brakes
ITM levers
I'd like to add gears (fine with 1x8/9 etc, and i'm not too fussed about keeping the bars as they seem to limit my choice gears wise (although i'm not clued up on my options are shifter wise). But change of bars = change of brake levers so more cost- I just want something simple and reliable.
bugger, i've just gone the other way.
simple and reliable, alfine? will save some hassle with the frame, flat bars are different diameter to drops normally to, so mtb brakes required.
If you are off for flat bars you'll need new brake levers which , as Saccades points out,will be MTB type - this may not only mean you need bars and levers youmay need new brakes too as [IIRC] the BB7 disc brakes are made in two versions for drop bar levers or flat bar levers , not both.
As for gears - fitting an Alfine will save hassle on the frame but it will mean a new wheel build onto the hub. That said it'spossibleyou may need a new hub anyway to convert from singlespeed back to geared - if you have a dedicated ss hub fited you will neeed to replace with a hub with a freehub body that can take a cassette.
From the picture [ and from seeing a Dr.Dew in the flesh] I'm certain you could fit a rear mech as there are cableguides on the frame. If there is no cable guide on the underneath of the bottom bracket shell[highly likely its been removed when bike was originally converted to ss] you can pickone up at most bike shops - ask with a smile and you'll probably get it for nowt.
Let us know how you get on - I'd for one be intresed in seeing what you decide.
I'm sort of reverse engineering this thought process, hang on... I'm using Tektro BMX Vs with 5600 105 levers, and they're reasonably compatible in terms of cable throw. So theoretically, that should mean that BMX levers should work with road brakes?
Its a standard mtb, 135mm mtb hub on the rear and theres a mech hanger and cable guides so no hassle there. BB7 road do indeed have a different cable pull from mtb brakes.
stick some on one bingo bars on it, they are about the same shape, brake levers should fit and they will take a normal mtb shifter,could be done fairly cheaply with second hand bits I would have thought.
Dr Dew owner here. Frame is for gears, mech hanger and cable guides on the frame.
The rear hub, is it a SS specific one? If not 8/9 speed cassette should fit. Not too sure on the BB7s though. Did you got them? Are you sure they are the road lever pull ratio? Not sure if they would work with flat bar levers.
Being cheeky, I've got some parts from my Dr Dew I'm about to put up for sale. Hayes Sole Hyd brakes, Deore rear mech, 9/3 speed shifters, 11-32 9 speed cassette. Email in profile if interested.
Its a 8/9 speed cassette hub.
They are definetly road pull BB7 brakes. Its a custom build, which I did.
IF I end up switching brakes, they will be Shimano.
On One Bingo bars look promising BUT I presume I would need to run the shifter on the "extensions" rather than the flat section? Not sure how that would work in use..
You can get road pull flat bar levers
Infact how many gears do you want ? I have a pair of 3x8 speed sti units that would do the job for much cheapness
If you're selling the parts Im interested in one of the BB7 calipers 🙂
Keep the bars, cyclocross style cross top brake levers on flat part of bars, shimano road bar end shifters where existing brake levers are. Worked for me in the past with similar charge slice bars
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34695 ]Brake levers[/url] £15. They should work if your BB7's are road pull.