What type of brake levers?

[Renata]

I just bought a vintage Italian racer which has got Weinmann type 500 caliper brakes (I believe). I would like to add some brake levers on top of the handlebar, what type of brakes should I use?

 

[Paulus]

Good morning Renata, maybe you should post this in Know How, they are a knowledgeable bunch there. ps. I take it that there are the original brake levers still fitted, and you want to add some extra levers like cyclocross bikes? Something like these?---http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cane-creek/crosstop-levers-ec008804#features

 

[Paul.G.]

Does the bike have gear levers on the frame down tube? if it does, you can still find 70's ear;y 80's type brake levers that have additional levers fixed to the inside of the hood by a pivot screw, these additioan levers then bend in and back around the inside of the bars and look similar to the small levers you see on cross bikes as posted above. Sorry but i don't know the proper name for these but I'm sure a good bike shop may be able to advise. If this works on your bike it will be a much cheaper and easier option than adding additional in-line levers.

Hope this helps

 

[PpPete]

ear;y 80's type brake levers that have additional levers fixed to the inside of the hood by a pivot screw, these additioan levers then bend in and back around the inside of the bars .....Sorry but i don't know the proper name for these ..... If this works on your bike it will be a much cheaper and easier option than adding additional in-line levers.

Know as suicide levers - with good reason !

 

[Paulus]

Know as suicide levers - with good reason !

They were pretty useless at stopping the bike.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

They were pretty useless at stopping the bike.

I thought it was just me that bought bikes where the suicide levers never worked , good to know they are all poor., Swapped my Weinmann calipers for some Shimano 501 i got of e bay , just had to drill the frame out to take the fixing , much better brakes.

 

[TheDoctor]

Paulus speaketh the sense.
Cross-top levers are very good, but suicide levers are purest pants.
I will add that fitting a modern dual-pivot brake will improve the stopping beyond all belief!

 

[tyred]

Know as suicide levers - with good reason !

I disagree. I have one bike with them, a 1970s Peugeot with Mafac centre pull brakes and they will stop the bike perfectly well and it means you always have a brake lever to hand, no matter what position you are riding in.

To work well, the wheels need to be perfectly true and the pads run close to the rim.