Cyclocross Racing - Cross - Top levers - You run them?

I just don't see using cross top brake levers while racing. I am about to remove mine, but them I lose brake adjusters. I could swap the front cable hanger for one with an adjuster, but the rear hanger is built into the frame sans-adjuster.

...so....do you guys use top levers?
Good or bad?

If not where do you run your adjusters?

Anyone have good pictures of their routings that they can reference?

It's going to depend a lot on bike setup IMO. If you have a very aggressive position, which I imagine you might, coming fromt he road scene, they can be helpful for the times when going to the drops for full braking power would simply be too forward biased.

I actually just recently changed from a neg 110mm stem to a 100 stem with 7 degrees of rise, which means a shorter reach and only about an inch of saddle to bar drop, and I have long arms. This means I the drops offer a bit more control, and I am less likely to need to use top levers.

Another important thing to note is bar width. Wider bars slow down handling and are better in technical stuff, usually. If you have relatively narrow bars, your cross top levers are going to be in an even narrower position than your hoods, which is in my experience counterproductive to the idea of being in on the bar tops for technical sections.

All that said, if you've got them, you may as well leave them. Only actual race experience will let you know whetheryou're a fan or not. Other aspects of your bike setup will likely change as well, I bet.

I just don't see using cross top brake levers while racing. I am about to remove mine, but them I lose brake adjusters. Were you planning on replacing your brake cables anyway?

other:

i don't run them, but i wouldn't sugguest you don't do it. it depends on your riding style. i've never used them (or wanted to use them) in a training/race situation as i'm almost always in the hoods. i say have them on & see if you use them. if you don't use them, get rid of them.

I was planning on removing mine, but when my bike arrived at the shop and I unpacked it to build there weren't actually any cheater brakes.

The majority of PRO's do not use them and since it is my ultimate goal to look PRO I don't use them.

:)

I was planning on removing mine, but when my bike arrived at the shop and I unpacked it to build there weren't actually any cheater brakes.

The majority of PRO's do not use them and since it is my ultimate goal to look PRO I don't use them.

:)

Ha, this is why I run a 120 -7 deg stem. Actually, I run it because it fits me, but it also looks pro.

Speaking of pro, I felt extremely pro at yesterday's race when I took the inside line and lifted my bike over a stake marking the course. So what if I didn't even come close to winning? It looked bad ass.

I don't use them but I've got nothing against them.

Were you planning on replacing your brake cables anyway?

Yes...long story....

When I bought the bike I had to do some extensive remodeling on the front end and the net result was that the cable housings were way too long. I left them as they were all year as I used the bike for commuting, but time for them to be redone....not to mention I was swapping canti' as well.

I hated the top levers for the first week or two, but never had the time to ditch them. Then I got used to them and I used the heck out of them commuting. Knowing my cornering style from road (I know it will be different) I can see them more as a hinderance.

I especially can see M_S's point abot narrow bars (I'm riding 42's) and how riding the tops with levers can make handling a little dicey. I experienced that a lot while commuting via trail on them. I can only imagine it would get worse.

My issue now is finding adjusters/hangers. I stopped by my team's shop today, but the owner - main cross hound was out. I went through every cross bike I could see in the back and such and found all of them to be running both without top levers as well as running without adjusters....I was puzzled.

So...for those of you who run without adjuster....how do you set up your brakes - how much of a gap do you leave? Do you find you need to adjust them often? Where's the balance between brake travel.power and ability to pull the stradle for wheel swaps? Can you really run without adjusters?

Also - the rear cable hanger is a braze on for the bridge across the stays in the rear. It is non-threaded. Any suggestions for an adjuster I could use there if I ditch the cross levers?

Jagwire "Mickey" barrel adjusters are designed to fit into cable stops:

http://jensonusa.com/store/product/BR408Z59-Jagwire+Barrel+Adjusters.aspx

Or you can simply splice in a regular barrel adjuster anywhere along the cable housing if there's room.

I put some cross top brake levers on my just built SS cross bike but they're really close together so the cables will rub when i squeeze one of the levers. I'd spread them further apart but i had the brilliant idea of using those nifty FSA alloy wing handlebars (and i already wrapped them with the handlebar tape)... Oh well, maybe it'll be something to look forward to tweaking in afew years.

i have some salsa chicken levers on my cross bike. they came on my old bike, but migrated with the group to my new frameset. i don't use them while racing, but i do use them occasionally when i'm commuting and trail riding... probably because they're there. if i got rid of them, the only thing i would really miss would be the easy access to the barrel adjusters.