What front brakes do I need for this bike?

I want to put a front brake on this bike:

http://static.londonfgss.com/attachments/14231d1251384982-raleigh-1.jpg

Does it have a 43-57 or 47-57mm drop? Thx.

It seems to be a standard 70s road bike and so hopefully someone should know.

This suggestion might be a little out of left-field, but why don't you measure the drop?

What a ridiculous suggestion.

This suggestion might be a little out of left-field, but why don't you measure the drop?

He'll need one of these

Or this...

Mark Twain knew a thing or two about measuring things.

Mark Twain knew a thing or two about measuring things.

He had it all fathomed out...

But its already got brakes on it, good ones are that. Centre pulls are awesome.

It's an oldy and it has fenders, so I bet it's not 39-49mm. Not available in the 1970's and fenders don't fit.
If you're lucky (questionable) it's 47-57mm. Still available and very small fenders fit somehow.
Maybe it's even longer (centrepullbrakes). Brakes hard to get, function a bit old fashioned, but sufficient space for tyres and fenders.

That frame looks suspiciously like my 1976 Raleigh "Connoisseur" which i stripped down (binned the fenders etc) sprayed and now run as my SS. Mine originally had 26" wheels on but your look bigger than that? In any case i fitted 700c's a couple of weeks ago and had to buy a shimano rear brake with a shorter drop, although i can't remember off hand which model number it was as the key is in that i do believe. I took it into the workshop at "on your bike" at london bridge and asked the mechanic to find me a brake that had the right drop and then sell me it as i wasn't going to pay him to do it the jockey!

So in short i have not answered your question, but beware as these old Raleigh frames are a damn mystery half of the time...

Get a bloody ruler and stick it up against the forks, you moron!!!! how are we supposed to know what drop it has from that picture?!

Knowing the standard height of a london brick, you take half the width of stock Raleigh racing drops you can calculate the distance the bike is away from the wall.
Given the standard lens on a digital camera is 35mm you can calculate the field of view and from that the distance away from the bike the photo is taken

Take into account variations in London brick through the 1980's and the cheap import of South African product with the likelihood the lens has linear optical technology on board. I can tell you you need a 65-72mm drop cantilever brake

I stand corrected.

Presumption is the mother of all............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe, just maybe...perhaps...I don't presently have access to the bike to be able to measure the distance.

Why is everybody ignoring the fact the bike already has brakes on it?

it's assumption

and brakes are for gayers

Why is everybody ignoring the fact the bike already has brakes on it?

If the owner of said bike is going to ignore them, then it is only right that we respect his wishes and do the same.

There are no brakes.

matrix voice

I don't presently have access to the bike to be able to measure the distance.

...and we do?

The original brake looks like it will have enough drop on it to use with 700c wheels.

Can we kill him now?

Riding without a front brake is one thing,but riding without a rear tyre?
F*cking hardcore!

Knowing the standard height of a london brick, you take half the width of stock Raleigh racing drops you can calculate the distance the bike is away from the wall.
Given the standard lens on a digital camera is 35mm you can calculate the field of view and from that the distance away from the bike the photo is taken

Take into account variations in London brick through the 1980's and the cheap import of South African product with the likelihood the lens has linear optical technology on board. I can tell you you need a 65-72mm drop cantilever brake

NERD ALERT

Likley to be 47mm to 57mm drop but might be longer. Measure the forks to the rim or the brake that is already on there.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ra-e.html#reach