Brake Levers
 

so I'm building a fixed gear and i want to run a front brake, at least for a while. It's sorta going to be a commuter thing, British racing green, honey B17 etc etc etc fenders. in any case what brake lever would you guys suggest that mix stylishness with cheapishness.

thanks.

oh by the way i think im going to run the drops on it still.

The popular thing to do is to use a single in-line lever by the stem. But that setup is suboptimal. I've tried that and it sucks. The lever is never where you hands are. Notice too that a lot of stock bikes that used to come with in-line levers now come stock with hoods...because its better. Drop bars work most effectively when you have a pair of hoods to hold onto. I suggest you buy a pair of tektro road levers (~$25). Install then both and saw off the right lever, leaving the hood. Its cheap and effective. I don't know if its stylish, but it doesn't look too bad. I have that setup and most people don't recognize it as a hack-job. They think that the right lever was intentionally made that way.


http://www.eatonbikes.com/images/med/31181540.jpg

+1

Although I wouldnt (and dont) take the lever off. The tektros have an excellent spring mechanism so it doesnt rattle or disengage. I dont recall squeezing that lever when riding at all either. Plus, the symetry is more aesthetically-pleasing.

If you have normal hands, get the R200A. If you have smaller hands, the R100A is what you want. The hoods are the same size - the levers on the R100A are just angled a 1/2 inch more toward the bars than the R200A creating a shorter reach.

+ another 1 to the Tektro levers.

I've got them on my brevet bike, and they're really comfy. Like Geordi said, they don't rattle at all; and I ride a lot of miles on chip-sealed roads.
If you can find a pair on Ebay or CL, old (early to mid 90s) 105 levers are comfortable, too.

Hey,

How about this?

http://www.paulcomp.com/crosslever.html

I couldn't afford so I went cheapo with a metal file.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...i/KC280178.jpg

Everyone dislike this setup. And prefers to put them in the ... "right" side. My track bar is too narrow I think.

T

Why would you do something like that? Do you hate things that work the right way or something?

..at least it's on a desk and not on a bike.

tektros are on sale for 17 dollars, jensonusa. or at least they were when i ordered them last week

Those Tektro levers are knock offs of Campagnolo levers. They are excellent. Cane Creek makes identical knock offs, but sells them for more. Get the Tektros.

and acetone takes the tektro silkscreened logo off the levers in a single wipe.

i have a weird issue with symmetry. i might wind up putting a back brake on even if i dont use it just to make it look better. i know some FG riders would flay me for that but oh well...

btw thanks for the reply's i think i'll go with the tektro's, i like em

I would do that too, although I happen to like using the rear brake too (singlespeed, not fixed).

niiice, didnt even think of that.

I only have the right lever sawed off on one bike. I have Tektro levers on two other bikes with both front and rear. Considering the price, you just can't beat 'em.

BTW, If asymmetry is a problem, the drive train must really bother you!

i've gotten over it.

I prefer a TEKTRO RL-726 Top Mount Lever on Left Bar up close to the Stem. They come in 26mm so if you are using a road bar with 26mm center section, the lever can sit right next to stem and give good grip access, and an uncluttered bar.

hoodz > cx levers

What you do is mount a bell to your downtube shifter mount (or somewhere on the downtube if it isn't a conversion), then run your second brake lever to the bell. I saw someone with their commuter set up like this, and it was amazing.

i rate my TEKTRO hoods

that sounds radical, i need to seriously consider that. wish there was a pic or something.

More love here for the Tektro levers. If you're running drops, I'd mount both and run one as a dummy lever so you still have the option of riding on the hoods. That's how mine came, but I didn't like having a non-functioning lever and empty cable stops so I mounted a rear brake too.

I got the Nashbar hood levers, but had I known about the Tektro's, I would've gone that route.

Old school, non-aero Dia-Compe 204 levers with natural (brown) rubber hoods would look good on your bike as you describe it. They can be purchased new from Velo Orange for $24 / pair.


bf

just installed mine with some nice gel tape, love em!!!

Get something with a small lever, like something you can only use with one finger. Those are fun.