Bicycle Mechanics - Brake/lever combo question

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CliftonGK1
10-18-06, 11:12 AM
I'm going to put an IRO Rob Roy together for my new commuter. I want to put bullhorns on it rather than drops since I'm more comfortable on my current flat bar MTB with bar ends.
The Rob Roy uses canti's, and I'm wondering if Cane Creek 200TT levers are compatible with Cane Creek Direct Pull 3 canti brakes.

cuda2k
10-18-06, 12:53 PM
I'm fairly certain that the Cane Creek Direct Pull 3's are actually linear pull (aka V-brakes). To use Road levers with V-brakes you typically employ the use of a 'travel agent' adapter in place of the noodle. Since the Direct Pulls don't use a noodle, you may be out of luck.

My suggestions:

1) Go with V-brakes with a noodle and use the travel agent

2) Go with actual "cantilever" brakes which have the same cable pull as road levers. I'm looking at upgrading my touring bike from old Dia-Compes to NOS XT or LX cantis myself.
CliftonGK1
10-18-06, 01:12 PM
I'm going with (probably) Avid Shorty 6 canti's. If I really wanted to use the Direct Curve brakes, I suppose that I could get the matching levers and mount them on the center flat of the 'horns, but that would mean a lot of hand motion to hit the brakes. I'm putting the 'horns on because I'm used to that type of hand positioning, and it will allow me to go with the IRO frame which has a slightly shorter top tube than the Cross Check (both were in the running, but on price the IRO wins.) Riding forward on the horns gives me the space to stretch out, and since I spend most of my time there, I'd like my brake levers to be right there when I need them.