I am now "that guy" at the LBS
11-04-22, 05:40 PM
#176
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,381
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 999 Post(s)
Liked 1,207 Times
in
693 Posts
It makes mechanical brake levers work with hydraulic brakes (I don’t even know if “junction box” is the right word for it). For this bike, it’s integrated into the stem faceplate, which means I can only use the proprietary stem, and it interferes with mounting most items on the handlebar.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
11-05-22, 01:32 PM
#177
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,381
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 999 Post(s)
Liked 1,207 Times
in
693 Posts
Lombard I looked it up and apparently it's called a master cylinder. As you can see, it takes up the thick area of the handlebar, and the cables going into it block anything but a thin strap from mounting something to the skinnier part of the bar. Plus, I need to use the same model of stem or take a gamble that whatever other stem I want happens to match up to that faceplate.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
11-05-22, 05:01 PM
#179
Sock Puppet
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,701
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 863 Times
in
573 Posts
Lombard I looked it up and apparently it's called a master cylinder. As you can see, it takes up the thick area of the handlebar, and the cables going into it block anything but a thin strap from mounting something to the skinnier part of the bar. Plus, I need to use the same model of stem or take a gamble that whatever other stem I want happens to match up to that faceplate.
11-05-22, 07:56 PM
#180
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,905
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6985 Post(s)
Liked 10,978 Times
in
4,698 Posts
Lombard I looked it up and apparently it's called a master cylinder. As you can see, it takes up the thick area of the handlebar, and the cables going into it block anything but a thin strap from mounting something to the skinnier part of the bar. Plus, I need to use the same model of stem or take a gamble that whatever other stem I want happens to match up to that faceplate.
That is hideous.
11-05-22, 07:59 PM
#181
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,646
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4746 Post(s)
Liked 1,535 Times
in
1,006 Posts
It's very aero though. 
Likes For Sy Reene:
11-06-22, 12:50 AM
#182
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,381
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 999 Post(s)
Liked 1,207 Times
in
693 Posts
Wow, I've never seen this. My disc brake bike has reservoirs in each shifter independent of each other. I don't know what Giant achieved other than one more proprietary part you have to go back to Giant for when it breaks. Nor do I get the point of having a partial cable/hydraulic system.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
11-06-22, 05:49 AM
#183
Sock Puppet
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,701
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 863 Times
in
573 Posts
Hmmm. I would never buy a new bike without test riding it first, but that's just me.
Likes For Lombard:
11-06-22, 06:38 AM
#184
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Pioneer Valley
Posts: 1,029
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 335 Post(s)
Liked 756 Times
in
393 Posts
The one benefit I’ve found is that you can use your choice of shifters and still have hydraulic brakes. Agree that it’s hideous.
Likes For bboy314:
11-06-22, 03:32 PM
#185
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,381
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 999 Post(s)
Liked 1,207 Times
in
693 Posts
It was the height of the pandemic and I decided to get back into riding, but my old bike didn't fit me comfortably anymore (needed a much higher handlebar after aging 10 years). Pretty much nothing was available locally. I'm pretty adept at reading geometries and figuring out if it will fit me or not, but that grotesque thing on the front wasn't even something I was aware of.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
11-06-22, 04:19 PM
#186
Newbie
I really didn't want to do this. My LBS has free labor for life if you bought the bike there. But they just can't get parts! I have waited about 5 weeks and still nothing.
So today, I stopped in and asked if I could pay labor to install parts if I can provide them. 3 or 4 online sources, from reputable places, have the part available and can be here in a few days. In fact, right now there is an ad above this message advertising the exact part I need! They said sure, other folks do that too.
Why can shops not get parts, but I can? Note, Amazon was just one source, and I did not choose that one.
So today, I stopped in and asked if I could pay labor to install parts if I can provide them. 3 or 4 online sources, from reputable places, have the part available and can be here in a few days. In fact, right now there is an ad above this message advertising the exact part I need! They said sure, other folks do that too.
Why can shops not get parts, but I can? Note, Amazon was just one source, and I did not choose that one.
