[daveed]

Forgive me if this subject has been broached, but I'd like to attach a cyclocross brake lever on the top of my new drop bars (26.0). Only thing is, I have a v-brake (an Avid SD 3) on the front fork of my fixed-gear bike (a converted hybrid).

Question: Is there there a top-mounting lever that pulls enough cable to work effectively with a v-brake? If so, which do you recommend?

Thank you.

Dave

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[islenska]

are you using only top-mounted levers? or are you using road levers too? because top-mounted cross levers just patch into the existing brake cable....which means problem #1 is getting the road lever to pull enough cable for the v-brake. you can do this with those travel agent things i think.

[daveed]

No, I'm not using road levers and have no intention of doing anything lese but running the existing brake cable from the V-brake to the lever and squeezing -- as I did with the flat bar and mtn levers. Am I dreaming here?

[islenska]

cross levers are secondary levers, which means that they are meant to work in conjunction w/road levers (using one cable for each brake). however, in the old days 'crossers used to set up both mtb-style top mounted levers and road levers, with a cable for each (ie. 4 cables)...but, they were using cantis, not v's. it seems like if all you want is a top mounted lever for a front brake, you should be able to use almost any mtb-style lever that will fit on your bars, but you might also have to use a travel agent. also, check out paul's love levers here...there's a compact one that might work nicely for you. http://store.paulcomp.com/brakelevers.html

[mgwadz]

cross levers are secondary levers, which means that they are meant to work in conjunction w/road levers (using one cable for each brake). however, in the old days 'crossers used to set up both mtb-style top mounted levers and road levers, with a cable for each (ie. 4 cables)...but, they were using cantis, not v's. it seems like if all you want is a top mounted lever for a front brake, you should be able to use almost any mtb-style lever that will fit on your bars, but you might also have to use a travel agent. also, check out paul's love levers here...there's a compact one that might work nicely for you. http://store.paulcomp.com/brakelevers.html

before top mount levers were widely available (and I felt like buying them) I used regular XT brakes levers with canti brakes- but the levers were designed for V-brakes. I had the dual cable set-up.

Mtn bike bars are narrower than the road bar sI had, so I drilled the XT levers out a bit..

as for top mount levers- the Paul componenet slevers has 2 setting, so you could change it to work with a V-brake.

but all that being said- it does sound like islenska is right- you dont' need anything CX specific- just find a v-brake lever that fits on your bars (or drill one out..)

marc

[daveed]

Thanks to all for your useful replies. Will go with the Paul Comp cross lever -- while keeping my fingers crossed.

Dave

[roadfix]

cross levers are secondary levers, which means that they are meant to work in conjunction w/road leversActually, they can be used alone as a primary levers. I think most CX levers will pull V-brakes. My IRD lever on my fixie actually pulls too much cable using my Campy caliper, but that's ok....I like that firm solid action. I have an identical setup on my Cinelli as photo illustrates.

[jfmckenna]

Ive done the same thing with one of my fixed gears as above (fixers post). I used a Salsa lever which has shims for two different sized bars. The brake was a Suntour Cyclone side pull and I had to set the pads way off the rim to get the desired feel in the lever because they pulled so much cable. I am guessing it will work.

[darkmother]

My tektros pull enough for v brakes. They are sort of half way between canti and v brake pull, and work with both.