Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 2 brake levers but 1 only used

So I'm in the middle of my conversion, I really like the feel of having the grip on the hoods when I climb, but would it look dumb to have 1 set working and the other for display? So running two brake levers but the brake set in the front only? what do you guys think?

I don't think it's that dumb at all.. Perfectly fine to me. Cane creek even makes dummy brake hoods for this reason...

It is perfectly normal, it will look "broken" with just one lever.

ok good! now my other problem is that my hoods worn out. Where do I find hoods for my certain brake levers? They are from the 80's, shimano SLR.

well, good luck finding hoods. If you do be sure to inform me!!
I know about these http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Brake&sc=Lever%20Hoods&tc=Shimano&item_id=SH-86C9810&id=979336419848 but I'm unsure about buying them

for the price of some hoods it's better to just buy new levers

Here ya go.

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=402806

On second thought, you might want to make sure if they'll fit, I'm not sure if they would.

Those hoods are meant to be used with these.
http://www.velobase.com/CompImages/BrakeLevers/5480532E-D9CC-4E89-87BA-5806E5B966E6.jpeg
http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=6DD13BDD-2690-45B4-80F5-29F6C1AF93F8&Enum=118&AbsPos=7

whoa! those look like it! i should get it and let you know. its only $12.

damn, you guys are seriously the best!! I can't wait till my project is all worked out!

I don't think they will work, those hoods does not have a hole on the top to feed the brake cable through.

I don't think they will work, those hoods does not have a hole on the top to feed the brake cable through.

SLR is an aero lever

Oh...I didn't know which one he had because the earliest model is non aero.

http://www.velobase.com/CompImages/BrakeLevers/937A5F39-8887-44A0-A738-D38CAC3CF022.jpeg
http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=FACEF7F0-E30B-4986-92C0-4885FDC480C6&Enum=118&AbsPos=0

oh, got it :P

my brake line is feed inside the handle bar wraps, so i'm assuming it is aero. its a late 80's model Shimano SLR if that helps.

btw its a 1987 model to make it help even further. i personally now think its bl-1051.

don't do it you're crazy!!!

ive been running two levers and one brake for a while now.

but nothing I do is really that cool.

http://velospace.org/files/20100630-CRW_8535-Edit.jpg

nice, is that a bell?

http://velospace.org/files/20100630-CRW_8535-Edit.jpg

You are now my hero.

nice, is that a bell?

Awesome... have been literally waiting for years to see this executed.

Problem solvers makes a thingamajig that allows you to operate one caliper with two different levels, which I think would be a nice setup. I find that it's handy to be able to brake with either hand on my geared bike- why not on a fixed?

Here is my setup and I couldn't love it more. The left drop lever and cross lever both activate the front caliper while the right acts as a dummy lever to hand positions.

http://velospace.org/files/traveler3.jpg

Bell in action:


http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=16jj7n8&s=3

What's being used at the cable stop for that bell? Is it hand made or was some existing item just modified?