Removing rear brake, but still like having hoods to hold onto.
05-09-11, 10:10 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Removing rear brake, but still like having hoods to hold onto.
A year ago I switched my SS conversion to a fixed gear and haven't looked back. I figured I would wait until the I needed new bar tape (soon) to remove the rear brake/lever. I like riding on the hoods and would like to keep something to hold onto where the rear brake lever used to be, but don't want a useless lever just chilling there. I don't want to just kludge something ugly together, I still want the bars to have a clean look.
I have a couple ideas bouncing around in my head, but I would also like to see what others have done in this situation before I decide what approach to take.
I have a couple ideas bouncing around in my head, but I would also like to see what others have done in this situation before I decide what approach to take.
05-09-11, 10:21 AM
#3
Fresh Garbage
05-09-11, 10:43 AM
#6
Team Beer
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If you don't ever ride in the drops you may want to just get bullhorns with a single inline brake for the front.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
05-09-11, 10:47 AM
#7
Hiphopopotamus
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Personally, I think I would find a way to route both levers to the front brake. That way you keep the function of both levers, keep the symmetry and have either hand accessible to the brake.
Or go with bullhorns if you don't like the drops, as stated above.
Or go with bullhorns if you don't like the drops, as stated above.
05-09-11, 10:56 AM
#8
You can get one of these ugly things:
Or you can get one of these ugly things:
Or you can just use 2 brake levers and leave one unattached. It will not be ugly. In fact, most people won't even care or notice. Except you most likely.
If you use a tektro lever there is a return spring. If you use a SRAM lever there is not. I have used SRAM levers and had to use a zip tie to prevent the lever from rattling around.
Or you can get one of these ugly things:
Or you can just use 2 brake levers and leave one unattached. It will not be ugly. In fact, most people won't even care or notice. Except you most likely.
If you use a tektro lever there is a return spring. If you use a SRAM lever there is not. I have used SRAM levers and had to use a zip tie to prevent the lever from rattling around.
05-09-11, 11:56 AM
#10
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Just leave the lever. If it rattles, cram some old receipts in it. Easiest and best looking solution.
05-09-11, 12:00 PM
#11
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I did that briefly when I first built my VISP, and the only brake levers I had did not have a spring loaded lever. Now I have dual spring loaded aero levers. Neither setup looks all that terrible IMO, but climbing out of the saddle is really awkward w/o dual hoods.
05-09-11, 12:07 PM
#13
Old fart
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Just leave it alone. Nobody will force you to use the rear brake if you don't want to.
05-09-11, 02:03 PM
#15
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it's not that hard to decide...
buying a dummy lever is spenin $ for no reason. People who suggest those things really make me ? their logic behind it. It was developed for a tandem rider on the rear.
just keep your lever the way it is (no breaking apart levers possibly making it useless if you want to use it again)
buying a dummy lever is spenin $ for no reason. People who suggest those things really make me ? their logic behind it. It was developed for a tandem rider on the rear.
just keep your lever the way it is (no breaking apart levers possibly making it useless if you want to use it again)
05-09-11, 02:08 PM
#16
While I'm in favour of having a rear brake (for symmetry sake), if you really want to get rid of it, use the second brake lever to pull a bell. I've seen this done a few times, and it's pretty awesome.
05-09-11, 02:19 PM
#17
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I removed the lever from assembly because it rattled a lot. It works for me. I can't tell that there is no lever when just riding along. I have gotten a little flack whenever I post a pic of my fixed gear bike because of it though. But so what. I like it and had a few sets of old levers laying around.
05-09-11, 02:27 PM
#18
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Agreed. That problem solvers doo-dad is pretty cool, too (but hideous). Might as well use it if it's there.
