Aero Gran Compe brake blocks

Finlay Mackay

Dear rbt-ers,

I have a Dia-Compe Aero Gran Compe brake on the front of my fixie:

<http://tinyurl.com/45befb>

It does the job and is ever so tiny and lovely, but I forsee a problem
down the line, when I have to replace the brake blocks. The only online
supplier I can find (I notice that the ?proprietor is a regular on this
group, so shall spare his blushes) wants $50 a pair for the blocks - more
than I paid for the complete brakeset. Can anyone with experience of these
brakes confirm whether the mounting system they use is unique, or can other
blocks be made to fit? I am prepared to forego the aero advantage of the
elliptical blocks

cheers

Finlay

Tom Kunich

"Finlay Mackay" <fmackayatclaradotcodotyookay> wrote in message
news:slrng6deff.4f7.fmackay@localhost.localdomain...
> Dear rbt-ers,
>
> I have a Dia-Compe Aero Gran Compe brake on the front of my fixie:
>
> <http://tinyurl.com/45befb>
>
> It does the job and is ever so tiny and lovely, but I forsee a problem
> down the line, when I have to replace the brake blocks. The only online
> supplier I can find (I notice that the ?proprietor is a regular on this
> group, so shall spare his blushes) wants $50 a pair for the blocks - more
> than I paid for the complete brakeset. Can anyone with experience of these
> brakes confirm whether the mounting system they use is unique, or can
> other
> blocks be made to fit? I am prepared to forego the aero advantage of the
> elliptical blocks

The exact match is unique. But I think that you can get a regular set of
Ultegra blocks to work.

John Forrest Tomlinson

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:53:33 +0100, Finlay Mackay
<fmackayatclaradotcodotyookay> wrote:

>Dear rbt-ers,
>
>I have a Dia-Compe Aero Gran Compe brake on the front of my fixie:
>
><http://tinyurl.com/45befb>
>
>It does the job and is ever so tiny and lovely, but I forsee a problem
>down the line, when I have to replace the brake blocks. The only online
>supplier I can find (I notice that the ?proprietor is a regular on this
>group, so shall spare his blushes) wants $50 a pair for the blocks - more
>than I paid for the complete brakeset. Can anyone with experience of these
>brakes confirm whether the mounting system they use is unique, or can other
>blocks be made to fit? I am prepared to forego the aero advantage of the
>elliptical blocks

If you have another bike, just try its brake shoes/holders on the
fixed gear and see.

landotter

On Jun 28, 5:53*pm, Finlay Mackay <fmackayatclaradotcodotyookay>
wrote:
> Dear rbt-ers,
>
> I have a Dia-Compe Aero Gran Compe brake on the front of my fixie:
>
> <http://tinyurl.com/45befb>
>
> It does the job and is ever so tiny and lovely, but I forsee a problem
> down the line, when I have to replace the brake blocks. The only online
> supplier I can find (I notice that the ?proprietor is a regular on this
> group, so shall spare his blushes) wants $50 a pair for the blocks - more
> than I paid for the complete brakeset. Can anyone with experience of these
> brakes confirm whether the mounting system they use is unique, or can other
> blocks be made to fit? I am prepared to forego the aero advantage of the
> elliptical blocks

You shouldn't have a problem using modern blocks--question is if you
can find ones that have will take the existing aero bolt so you can
maintain your aero aedvantage!