Multiple brake levers

[GiantDefy]

Im commuting to work (15k) on a road bike. I would like to have brake levers in an upright position as well as keeping the ones on the drop down bar. is this possible? does anyone have any info?

can I simply buy extra levers and fit them? is it easy, expensive?

any links or infor greatly appreciated!!

 

[GrasB]

two words my friend Cross Tops... there are other versions of the same thing.

 

[TheDoctor]

+1
Light-years ahead of the old-skool suicide levers - they work well. Got'em on my SS.

 

[GiantDefy]

Cheers lads much appreciated!! safe riding!

 

[potsy]

Im commuting to work (15k) on a road bike. I would like to have brake levers in an upright position as well as keeping the ones on the drop down bar. is this possible? does anyone have any info?

can I simply buy extra levers and fit them? is it easy, expensive?

any links or infor greatly appreciated!!

I asked this at my lbs when I bought the new bike-he called 'em sissy levers,so I didn't look into it too much after that

 

[TheDoctor]

More fool your LBS then. Mine are always pleased to sell me stuff I don't really need, but I want it cos it's shiny!!

 

[GrasB]

sissy my a$$! When you're doing highish speeds on the tops & need to slow sharpish changing your hand grip turns a controlled action into panic braking.

EDIT: Thinking about it, I'm on the 'tops' when I'm most likely to need the brakes 'unexpectedly' as I'm sitting more upright thus have better visibility .

 

[PK99]

I asked this at my lbs when I bought the new bike-he called 'em sissy levers,so I didn't look into it too much after that

I got them on my tricross and find them very useful at slow speed in town as they allow me to sit up for maximum visibility yet still be able to stop

 

[ASC1951]

they allow me to sit up for maximum visibility yet still be able to stop

I'm not light but I've never had a problem stopping myself with drop levers while riding on the hoods, at least up to 30 mph downhill. I can see why someone would prefer flat bars for commuting, but TBH I can't see any advantage for dual brakes on drops - and some disadvantage. In 40 years I have never exceeded the stopping power of hands on the hoods when something 'unexpected' happens.

Still, it's not my bike and that wasn't what you asked....

 

[ACS]

+1

When I first got my Tricross (09) I intended taking them off but never got round to it. Now I am glad I didn't for all the reasons stated above.

 

[numbnuts]

I have them on my touring bike

 

[GrasB]

I'm not light but I've never had a problem stopping myself with drop levers while riding on the hoods, at least up to 30 mph downhill. I can see why someone would prefer flat bars for commuting, but TBH I can't see any advantage for dual brakes on drops - and some disadvantage. In 40 years I have never exceeded the stopping power of hands on the hoods when something 'unexpected' happens.

This seems to assume your hands are on the brakes. My issue isn't the power, it's the extra time it takes to work out how to & to then apply the brakes when on the tops.

 

[jig-sore]

cool, not seen these before, anyone got any good photos of them on the bike??

just interested to see how they work really

 

[Arch]

cool, not seen these before, anyone got any good photos of them on the bike??

just interested to see how they work really

Not got a pic myself, but they fit to the top of the bars and are inserted into the cable run so that they pull on the cable from part way along it.

As the OP said, the benefit is that you can have brakes to hand while you're riding on the tops, instead of having to move the hands to the hoods. very useful around town when you might well be riding on the tops and need to react quickly. If I ever try drop bars again (never quite got on with them), I'll want some.

 

[ASC1951]

This seems to assume your hands are on the brakes. My issue isn't the power, it's the extra time it takes to work out how to & to then apply the brakes when on the tops.

Fair point. My bike is set up for me to ride on the hoods all the time, fingers curled over the drop levers, and I can always stop myself without moving my hands. I only have my hands on the flat of the bars when I need a change of position and I never ride in traffic with my hands on the flats.

Isn't this how most people with drops ride, except when they are racing?