Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - TT lever in drops - any thoughts?

As seen here:
http://designcrack.com/v2/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/trackpinkyellowside.jpg

Anyone ever done this as an alternative to running a road lever or a bar-top lever? If so, how it is?

You might as well put it on your top tube. Both ways are pointless and inconvenient.

"style", if that is what you want to call that, at the sake of not being able to stop by actually putting a brake lever where you need it is plain shortsighted. Might as well go brakeless if style is what matters. Besides, as pictured, you have a REALLY big hook on the front of your bike that may catch something and rip the bike out from under you.

I guess it makes sense if you actually ride all the way down there. Otherwise, the top tube statement is about right.

absolutely ********.

and it looks stupid.

Would people actually set something up like that for looks/style? Yeesh. I was interested in it mostly because I keep my hands mostly on the drops and the ends, which would make it a lot easier to grab (esp. on long descents) than a top lever. Plus I have an unused TT lever.

So no one has actually tried this? The 'hooking' aspect pointed out above could be gruesome, but I can't think of any actual circumstance in which it would actually happen other than someone casting a fishing net at you as you ride by.

Not on drops but on Sparrow Bars. Works great, better leverage than the in-line set up I had before. You can get all your fingers on the lever.

^ a regular road lever would accomplish that without looking stupid
with the added benefit of giving you an additional hand position (hoods)

and, to top it all off, i can reach my levers both from in the hooks and from the ends without moving my hands.
do you think you could reach that lever from the curved part of the drops? maybe with your pinkie, but that's completely useless too

True, I have the road levers on my cross bike with the same bars.

I generally ride with hands in the curved part so the road lever hood was in the way. Don’t use the brake much so the pinkie grab is sufficient.

It does look stupid. I agree with that, but having just one road lever would look even stupider and would give an asymmetrical hand position.

True, I have the road levers on my cross bike with the same bars.

I generally ride with hands in the curved part so the road lever hood was in the way. Don’t use the brake much so the pinkie grab is sufficient.

It does look stupid. I agree with that, but having just one road lever would look even stupider and would give an asymmetrical hand position.

sorry my post was directed at the one above yours.
you just replied too fast :)

sorry my post was directed at the one above yours.
you just replied too fast :)

Oh, thanks.

What do you think of the TT lever on the Sparrow bar?

That makes more sense to me because that's where your hand is.

By putting the lever there you now lose the advantage of using aero levers in the regular position. Namely being able to brake from two distinct locations on those bars.

I've been accidentally attached to moving vehicles before and now would nevvvver have a hook, or a loose strap hanging on the side of me etc etc. I don't think it looks too bad necessarily, but they are more functional in the usual position by most bar positions. As for leverage I've always solved that issue (well, not always, but I try) by having 1 finger brakes, properly tuned & functional you can have all of your stopping power and be able to fully modulate it with one finger...I use my index fingers most days & it seems to work

the paint job on the bike in the OP is pretty alright

I see why they did it, to avoid brake hoods. If you ride in the drops on your track bars ALL the time, and wouldn't accept any substitutes, this isn't a bad option.

The others are right, you really only have one hand position to brake from, but braking power shouldn't be any different. Might take some getting used to. And if you ask me, it looks terrible.

Seems a bit silly to put the lever there unless you also have an inline on the tops. Then if you have two levers you might as well use proper road levers...

Somewhat off topic, but I'd like to see more interesting combinations done with inline levers, they really open up some possibilities.

Man...... what do you guys know about partying or anything else?

Just kiddin'. Perhaps I should see if I can find some aero brakes somewhere. The original bike is of some designer-blessed limited edition Mercian that costs $5K or something, so if it is indeed a stupid idea, it's at least a stupid idea that will be popular with the athletically-inclinded wealthy.