How possible- 2 brake levers on 1 handle
 

I have a distal phalanx amputation of my middle & pinky finger on my left hand. Aka those two are stumpy, and near useless for and-of-finger gripping like for a brake lever. The only finger I can get around the brake lever is my pointer, and juust barely a very weakened ring finger.

Since it's my left hand it's not too dangerous to ride, since the back does 90+%, but I'd like to be able to use both if necessary.

So, in order to be able to safely & effectively put enough pressure on my front brakes (rim-brake), I think I have 2 options- 1) double up brake levers so my right hand can use both 2) rig a hydraulic set-up got the front brake only do the weaker grab is multiplied into effectiveness. I'm riding an old Peugeot with a Suntour friction shift so luckily I don't have to worry about the shifter and a double brake cluttering the right handlebar.

Anyone do anything like this or want to tell me I'm crazy for trying?

One misconception you have is that the front does less braking, it actually does more just like your car. Converting your current bike to hydraulic would be extremely difficult, there are road hydraulic that might be able to be made to work and would work fine with one finger pulling, that's actually the upside of hydraulic but it will be expensive and requiring someone who really knows what there doing to determine if it can be done.
Your other idea is quite common both with tandems which might have it set up with a drag brake and with brake levers for people with can't use one side. Won't take much of a search to find them. Just set the front brake to catch slightly before the rear or youll skid out too much.

Been riding with 2 brake levers on the same side for over 10 years, works great

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d03ea5da1c.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cbacdd6688.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07a519cecf.jpg

My left arm is paralysed, experimented a fair bit with different setup's, but this still works best

Also run this setup on my other bike with V-brakes, more power needed through the brake lever so a bit tough on long downhills, but again works great

Dia-Compe has several double cable levers.

• TECH-77W
• 282W , the 77W with a slightly longer handle
• 182s-zw , same as above but with thumb-lock stopper
• 282SW , the long-pull version of the 282W for V-brakes

I have a friend with a very similar condition and she uses a lever like this on her MTB.

The problem i found with having 1 lever do both brakes is that your brakes are only as good as the first wheel that locks up

Going around a corner on a wet downhill you really really don't want that rear wheel to lock up
If both breaks are connected you can't feather each individual brake, so it's a massive reduction in braking performance

I went with the dual levers as i had too many crashes with combining both brakes into 1 lever

With the 2 lever setup i use it as shown in the first pic
Takes some hours to learn, but once you have i can feather and modulate each brake to the point just before lock up

Thanks all for the help, especially gixer , it's good to see someone else has accomplished what I've been thinking of.
While the double pullers look interesting I think I'd rather be able to work either independently.

My Daughter was born with a short arm, missing just below the elbow, She uses a dual brake system on the right for both brakes. It works very well.


Here is a manufacturer that makes dual hydraulic brake levers that while mounted together work separately and also a splitter to run 2 hydraulic brakes with one lever.
https://bikerumor.com/2019/11/25/hop...-uno-does-too/

Why not quality dual pivots. Combine with a 1 finger brake lever for that side and you'd probably get what you need. I think I may have one in the stash.

There are 2 cable brake levers for tandems , have been for decades..
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.8...4&pid=3.1&rm=2

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/281393...-1/s-l1000.jpg

Tektro do a dual hydraulic brake, but only one lever. Twin piston front and sinlge piston rear, I assume that handles the different braking forces needed.