Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - High Quality Brake Levers?

I'm currently trying to piece together a dream (budget of $3600) Rando/Light Touring/Commuting bike. Most of the brake levers I've used all have a pretty low quality feel to them. (NO STI, I'm using DT shifters)

Does anyone make a solid feeling and somewhat ergonomic brake hood/lever these days?

Interesting question. I'm pretty happy with the Tektro levers I get for $25, but you'd think there would be higher quality ones out there. I used to use my brake levers to let people know I was coming. The modern levers don't make that nice metal on metal clack.

Ya, I've got Tektro ones on my LHT, and they work great, but they just don't "feel" all that great.

Cane Creek SCR-5 roadies on my COHO frame. I def. wouldn't call them high-end, but they are comfortable.

Cane Creek SCR-5 roadies on my COHO frame. I def. wouldn't call them high-end, but they are comfortable.

These are exactly the same as the above tektros. (okay, different hoods, little lizards...) I also love the Tektros- they got the ergonomics just right. Frankly this is one of those areas where more expensive is frankly not much better... I would invest your money in some other cool tidbits... my 2c.

Shimano Dura Ace levers feel the best. Many people don't like the hoods or the price though.

I'm also a fan of Cane Creek SCR-5. The first bike I got with them, I didn't know anything about them and figured I wouldn't like them as much as the Shimanos I'd been using, which I liked just fine. I quickly realized that I liked the Cane Creeks better because the "platform" is wider and more comfortable when I'm riding on the hoods. I also think they work well. I don't always get my choice of levers, but when I do I go with these.

Sram S500/S900, Shimano BR600

I'm very happy with my Tektros

Campagnolo still makes Record brake levers in carbon fiber.

I'm fine with the Tektros too. They'd probably feel better to you if they cost more. Nothing that cheap can be good -- right? :p

Ebay always has dozens of top quality brake levers from the "old days", usually for super prices. I always liked the way the Campy Record levers felt, myself. The Modolo levers with anatomic hoods had a lot of fans too. And the Suntour Superbe Pro levers were probably the highest quality I ever used.

HTH!

I have some Shimano BR600 levers - a minor ding to the plastic on one. PM me if you want to try them out - I will let you have them cheap.

I have the Tektro levers on my tandem and the Shimano BR600 levers on one rando bike and Dia-Compe levers on the other rando bike. By far the most comfortable on long rides are the Tektro. Buy the Cane Creek version of the Tektro's so that you'll spend a little more money and feel better about the quality :-)

I have Tektros on my LHT. I'm not saying they're a bad brake or anything, but there is a certain looseness and general lack of tight tolerances. Regardless of the price, they have a cheap feel to them.

I have Tektros on my LHT. I'm not saying they're a bad brake or anything, but there is a certain looseness and general lack of tight tolerances. Regardless of the price, they have a cheap feel to them.are you talking about the brakes or the levers? I'm running Tektro cantilever brakes, and they could work a little better. The levers are fine, I went from vintage Campagnolo Record to the Tektros, and I have been very happy with the way they work.

SRAM makes some also. Rivendell has them on their website.

The most important aspect of brake levers, IMHO, is which ones fit your hands best. I like the Shimano ones, personally; don't like the Cane Creek/Tektro ones at all. They all feel equally "quality" or whatever; none of them has wobbly, bendy levers when you're trying to slam on the brakes. But picking the ones that are the right shape for your hands is important.

you could always just add some after-market hoods to your levers, like Hüdz: http://www.grabthehudz.com/products.html

Another vote for the Tektro / Cane Creek levers - WAY more comfortable hoods than the Shimano R600 or Dia Compes that I've tried. You can even get them with black levers :)

Ive used Tektro, Shimano, and the Cane Creek ones. I think the Shimano BR600s or whatever were the best quality, but I like the ergonomics of the Cane Creeks better.