Quick release tab on Dia Comp levers?
08-26-21, 01:05 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
Quick release tab on Dia Comp levers?
I can't find an explanation on how these work. I have a set similar on my Gran Turismo.
08-26-21, 01:09 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,265
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
701 Posts
You rotate the "T" shaped part at the top of the lever to activate the quick release. Your lever goes up and back a little further, opening your brake caliper more. I have these on my Motobecane -- simple and elegant, I like 'em.
EDIT: Adding pic from the web, not my pic:
EDIT: Adding pic from the web, not my pic:
Last edited by noobinsf; 08-26-21 at 01:14 PM.
08-26-21, 02:01 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
You rotate the "T" shaped part at the top of the lever to activate the quick release. Your lever goes up and back a little further, opening your brake caliper more. I have these on my Motobecane -- simple and elegant, I like 'em.
EDIT: Adding pic from the web, not my pic:
EDIT: Adding pic from the web, not my pic:
08-26-21, 05:15 PM
#4
Senior Member
These are for use when your brakes don't have a quick-release (like most Cantilevers) ..which is why they are necessary on a Miyata 610 / Univega Gran Tourismo...
08-26-21, 05:24 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,157
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,691 Times
in
2,611 Posts
Campy Ergo has had them for years, including the latest Potenza 11-speed group.
08-26-21, 06:47 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,476
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1829 Post(s)
Liked 3,375 Times
in
1,580 Posts
Weinmann certainly set a precedent by having QR's built into that part of the lever, although theirs worked differently.
Steve in Peoria
Likes For steelbikeguy:
08-27-21, 11:27 AM
#7
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I use those levers on my rando bike with centerpulls. The lever shape isn't my absolute favorite for braking from the hoods, but they're lightweight, and having a quick release makes it feasible to run 38mm tires on 23mm rims without needing to deflate the tire to remove a wheel. Just swing the QR open, squeeze the brake arms together to free up enough slack to pop the yoke off the straddle cable, and we're open. (Assembly is the reverse of disassembly. 
)
BTW, one thing I like to do to ensure the ball end of the cable won't pop out of the barrel in the field while fixing a flat, is to install a ziptie just above the barrel and trim off the excess. It just rides along with the brake cable and doesn't get in the way. And it's easily pushed out of the way in case I actually do want to unhook the brake cable from the lever:
)BTW, one thing I like to do to ensure the ball end of the cable won't pop out of the barrel in the field while fixing a flat, is to install a ziptie just above the barrel and trim off the excess. It just rides along with the brake cable and doesn't get in the way. And it's easily pushed out of the way in case I actually do want to unhook the brake cable from the lever:
__________________
RUSA #7498
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 08-27-21 at 11:34 AM.
08-27-21, 08:37 PM
#8
Senior Member
also useful for so many bikes with centerpull brakes! It would be nice to have QR's on the cable hangars, but that was a bit of a luxury.
Weinmann certainly set a precedent by having QR's built into that part of the lever, although theirs worked differently.
Steve in Peoria
Weinmann certainly set a precedent by having QR's built into that part of the lever, although theirs worked differently.
Steve in Peoria
