Bicycle Mechanics - Barend/DT shifters on mounted on inside of bullhorn bars.

I currently have bar end shifters in the end of my bullhorns with inline levers mounted right below them. This setup works, but I was thinking I would probably prefer to have actual reverse levers in the end of the bars and have the shifters mounted right below them on the inside of the bars.

Something like what Im thinking is in this picture:
http://velospace.org/files/built-guch.jpg

I looked at the Kelly Takeoffs and those are similiar to what I would want, but I want something closer to my hands. Would there be a way to afix a DT braze on thinger to the inside of the bars?

to the top!

I don't think Kelly Take-Offs would work as they are anchored under the clamp band of regular brake levers. There would be no way to hold them in place under the bar-end plugs of the type of brake levers you show. Possibly you could use worm clamps but that seems to be a awkward solution.

One alternative is Paul "Thumbies" which are brackets that allow you to mount bar-end shifters elsewhere on the bars. Harris Cyclery lists them: http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2173

Or you could use the Jtek Aerobrake, which mounts to the side of the barend shifters:

http://jtekengineering.com/AeroBrake.htm

I've been looking into trying the same setup for a long time now. I don't know why someone doesn't make a reverse lever that will work as your primary brake and that clamps onto the bar instead of plugging into the ends. I've never found a satisfactory solution.

The products made by Jtek Engineering are meant to work as a secondary levers, to modulate your speed when in an aero position tuck. They will not apply enough braking force to serve as primary levers. If you read the information, they specifically say that they have been set up so that braking force is dramatically reduced for their intended purpose of modulating speed.

There is another jtek product -- this one: http://jtekengineering.com/Jtek_Brake_Levers.htm
that looks more like it would work, but it too is set up to be a secondary lever. But looking at the two products, it seems like it would be easy enough for somebody to make a product that would work as a primary lever in this position.

The jtek products are also ridiculously expensive, as they are marketed to the racing/weight-weenie crowd.

Hmm both of those seem to be quite expensive options. As Bar end shifters are essentially downtube shifters with a different mounting system, is there a way to get the mounting system for down tube shifters attatched to the inside of the bars?


I don't know why someone doesn't make a reverse lever that will work as your primary brake and that clamps onto the bar instead of plugging into the ends.

You can kind of do this with some inline (also called cross) levers. This is how I have my current set up, and it works acceptably, but I dont like the placement.

What if you attatched http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Shifter&sc=Miscellaneous%20Shimano&tc=Mounts&item_id=SH-6433810-1&id=674374612032 to the bars and mounted the shifter on that?

You can kind of do this with some inline (also called cross) levers. This is how I have my current set up, and it works acceptably, but I dont like the placement.

Admittedly, I've never tried this because it has always been my understanding that the inline/cross levers are also not designed to serve as primary brake levers. But you find this works ok? What is your issue with placement?

As Bar end shifters are essentially downtube shifters with a different mounting system, is there a way to get the mounting system for down tube shifters attatched to the inside of the bars?


Well, the Paul Components "Thumbies" do serve this purpose, albeit using a clamp-on apparatus rather than something like a boss brazed directly to the bars. For a bullhorn bar, however, I would think the placement/positioning would be awkward. Somebody just needs to manufacture this -- I would think there would be plenty of demand. Something more or less just like Shimano's bar-end shifter, but which combines the brake lever coming off the base of the cast body.

Lots of people use cross levers for their primary brakes for fixed and single speed bikes. That is where I initially got the idea. Im not sure if they are intended for the purpose, but they work.

The placement issue is that I have to move my hands to brake and shift. The bar end shifters are so much farther out than my brake levers that it is really just rather inconvenient.

Earlier today I convinced a mechanic at the LBS to close up (was just a for like an hour and it was freezing rain, he is actually pretty responsible) and come to the hardware store with me. We have some pretty good ideas on how to do this for the cheap and I will be sure to post any progress that we make.

The jtek products are also ridiculously expensive, as they are marketed to the racing/weight-weenie crowd.

No they are expensive because they make super niche items.

Pipe fittings, nuts, a bolt, liquid weld, and some Dremel work and I think I will have exactly what Im aiming for. It will look like crap, but who cares? Im going to cover up the mount/fitting parts with tape anyway. Pics soon to come (still waiting for an essential piece to be delivered in teh mail.)

Admittedly, I've never tried this because it has always been my understanding that the inline/cross levers are also not designed to serve as primary brake levers. But you find this works ok? What is your issue with placement?

Works well. Remember to buy 24mm clamp size levers as the 26 and 31.8 sizes are intended for the area of the bar near the stem. I use some TRP carbon levers on my TT bike because I had some laying around and didn't have to buy reverse levers. Its also nice if the levers you pick have a built in return spring. That helps to make up for some of the cable drag.

Pipe fittings, nuts, a bolt, liquid weld, and some Dremel work and I think I will have exactly what Im aiming for. It will look like crap, but who cares? Im going to cover up the mount/fitting parts with tape anyway. Pics soon to come (still waiting for an essential piece to be delivered in teh mail.)

Sorry to drag up such an old thread but it showed up on a google search and I wondered if the op had actually done this mod? I am looking into something similar.