Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Are cross levers a bad idea?

Is it a bad idea to run a pair of cross levers for your front/rear brakes on a SS, since you'd be using them all the time? I'm just wondering if the levers will hold up. I've got a cross lever now for a front brake on my FG which works fine, but it's for emergencies only so almost never used. Would a cross lever hold up to repeated daily use during every stop on a SS?

They wear faster than a cable pull style lever, but not by much, and defiantly not enough to worry about. Make sure you put ferreuls on both sides of your housing, its important for any style of lever, but even more so on cross style.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/visualarts/2009/01/large_cyclocross.jpg

They are ok to use on the street.

they are ok but you never get as good of a pressure point like an flatbar/riser brake lever. if you decide against the canty lever watch out caliper brakes have a similar cable pull to canties not v-brakes

You will also need a brake cable with a derailleur style end in order for it to sit flush in the lever. The space that the cable end sits in is usually filled with cable housing (when used on a bike with road brake levers), so a standard MTB brake cable end will not fit in.

I have no trouble at all with standard road cables.

Which end of the cable are you using. The standard side used on MTB is too large to fit in the hole, thus would be sitting akwardly on the outside of the lever

or if you use this end, the skinnier part( that you cant see below the rounded end) will still not sit flush with where the cable should hold on the lever.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5208/415097009664b68a11d6.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/i/415097009664b68a11d6.jpg/)

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I had to track down a cable that I found on quality, which is essentially a brake cable with a derialluer style end.

So in the picture it is clear to see that the other cable end( the one always used on MTB brake levers) would be even larger inside making it sit completely exposed outside of the hole for the cable.

The end shown in the pic above is also the incorrect cable to used because the diamemeter of the end closest to the cable itself (not shown in the pic above but visible in the one below) is larger than the diameter of the opening in the lever, so it will sit and stop there, but it isnt the strongest, safest option. To sum things up, yes you can use either end shown in the picture below, but it wont sit flush, and the pressure applied on the cable end wont be even. This may cause the cable to fray or have the end rip off.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2743/214iqb5c5olsl160.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/214iqb5c5olsl160.jpg/)

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this is the one style of cable that will sit flush in a cross lever.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3677/l31735.png (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/l31735.png/)

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Cables/housings are not the issue. I already sorted that out when I installed the cross lever I'm running now. Not sure exactly what type the cable is, but found it at Performance, it sits flush and works as it should.

My concerns were just with the durability of the levers themselves. In cross use, they're not the primary levers right? So they're not used as much.

Well the pressure point has already been mentioned.

Durability is going to vary between different companies. (not that you didnt know that)

If your just using it as a front brake on a track bike, I doubt you will have any problems. However, the cable issue explained above may cause you a problem as far as durability. (if your using the wrong cable end, it will probably damage your lever)

In cross use, they are probably used about 50% of the time. Riders may use the regular road brake levers a little more, but this doesnt really help with getting your answer.

If your concern is breaking a lever while using it, I wouldnt worry about it at all.

IMO all quality bike parts should hold up under regular use. Don't worry about breaking them.

My concern with cross levers is that your hands aren't in as secure of a position under emergency braking (when it really matters.) If I put cross levers on my bike I'd want to run the interrupter kind that still allows the drop bar levers to be attached and functioning. But that might not matter either.

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/XTR-brake-cable-med.jpg

I have them on 3 sets of bars, even used the type of cable above without issues through sand/salt/snow/winter/cold, road and offroad, for a number of years.

One set was under $20 several years ago and still work like new with 0 maintenance.

I have a pair of Salsa Crosstops on my Crosscheck. They are excellent when used with road brakes as well and I did it because of the added hand positions for braking. They aren't going to give as the same braking modulation as dedicated brake levers, but they still do their job fine.

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/gyewho/DSC05211.jpg

Generally not a fan of Surly rides, but that thing is a beast.^^^^ Want to take that cross country.

And levers. They hold up fine. No worry.

Very interesting stuff... I just bought a pair of cane creek cross tops. I might buy the flat tops for another bike

Yeah, I'm basically just trying to figure out if they'll be durable and not break on me. Sounds like I have my answer. Thanks guys.

Cables/housings are not the issue. I already sorted that out when I installed the cross lever I'm running now. Not sure exactly what type the cable is, but found it at Performance, it sits flush and works as it should.

If you are able to find out, I'm pretty sure there are more than a few ppl on here that would b interested in knowing which cable you used to get everything flush.
Thanks.

Id like to know what cable you used also. My crosstops are the ones pictures above, with the cable ball slight sticking out. The stopping power on my crosstops is good. But I have nothing to compare other than drop leverb brakes and TT brakes which are just as good. I'm gonna get the cane creek flat tops for another bike and compare

id like to know what cable you used also. My crosstops are the ones pictures above, with the cable ball slight sticking out. The stopping power on my crosstops is good. But i have nothing to compare other than drop leverb brakes and tt brakes which are just as good. I'm gonna get the cane creek flat tops for another bike and compare


if you are able to find out, i'm pretty sure there are more than a few ppl on here that would b interested in knowing which cable you used to get everything flush.
Thanks.

read my post above> i made it very clear which cable is the proper one to use!!!!

Interrupter levers are just fine w/r/t durability, but as far as functionality as a single lever - they work, but you can get something made for that purpose. I had them on my workbike/all-arounder as solo levers for a while, and they were kind of annoying; i'd rather have had flatbar brake levers.

I don't think I know anybody who has any on cyclocross rigs; they're more suited for touring IMO. they tend to be put very close to the bar so despite the stated potential for 'increased stability' from the tops while using them, you're not getting full advantage of the width of your handlebars, and you're potentially putting your body/weight distribution in a less stable position.

I have a pair of Salsa Crosstops on my Crosscheck. They are excellent when used with road brakes as well and I did it because of the added hand positions for braking. They aren't going to give as the same braking modulation as dedicated brake levers, but they still do their job fine.

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/gyewho/DSC05211.jpg

I think I'm jealous of all your bikes. Out of curiosity, why not cantis on the crosscheck?

I think I'm jealous of all your bikes. Out of curiosity, why not cantis on the crosscheck?

More stopping power when carrying things like 77lbs of clothes to the laundrymat
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/gyewho/DSC05188.jpg