Classic & Vintage - Nitto Rando Bar Brake Lever Setup's

How have you guys installed the your levers on a rando type bar like this?

http://a763.g.akamai.net/7/763/1644/3/app.infopia.com/img/image/fp/VPID/7546529/img3/img.jpg

I like to set up my levers so I can ride on the hoods, but if I do that with this bar the lever itself is at such an angle the reach to pull the levers i very far. I could probably make it work since i have giant man hands, but I'm wondering what others have done.

I supposed I could run a guido lever, but then I won't be able to brake from the drops and that isnt ideal.

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/530x530/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/u/guido.jpg

I could also move the regular road lever down into the bend more to get a shorter reach, but then riding on the hoods wouldnt work. That MIGHT be ok since the bend in the rando bar is such I don't need the hoods, but that's yet to be determined.

It could be that in my application the levers make it worse because they're already situated pretty far away from the bar. I'm using weinmann's. I wish I took a pick of what it's looking like but I did not.

My original goal with the rando bars was actually less about the top bend and side flaring, and more about the shallow drop. I like shallow drops because they make riding int the drops much more useful for every day use. This bar achieves that without having to use a super tall stem.

What have you fine folks done?

I set them up with the lever tips level with the drops - but I rarely if ever ride the hoods.
(The real reason why I like Rando bars is that their splay allows me to ride the drops with a little wiggle room for my wrists.)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Miyata%20610/Miyata610frta.jpg

I like rando-bend bars, mostly ride holding on to the brake hoods, and also have a chronic neck issue, so my bars have to be up high and my levers not too far of a reach. So I tend to fit levers fairly high up on these bars:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GmYBBzTzcVQ/SYyvmRIZFYI/AAAAAAAADTY/G46vYSNIJVM/s800/DawesTourer3.jpg

The aesthetics might not be classic, but I'd rather be able to ride than merely look right.

Neal

Like this:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4927243117_fb757ed30b_o.jpg

OK, I've come to the conclusion the issue is the levers I'm using. It's the same lever seen here on one of Stronglight's beautiful bikes:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1426/1363322386_4f0b540836_z.jpg

but like I said, it's less of an issue of looks and more of an issue of reaching the lever from the drop.

I'd like to see some side shots of your setups. it's hard to tell from your pics what that looks like.

...

I'd like to see some side shots of your setups. it's hard to tell from your pics what that looks like.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Miyata%20610/DSCF7075a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4200753783_1f450bb200_b.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_GmYBBzTzcVQ/SYyvmwpZZBI/AAAAAAAADTc/c7WNRFAO-DQ/s800/DawesTourer4.jpg

thanks, you guys are the best

I bent my brake levers to match the rando bars:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TIeBxBH6dXI/TSEm2UhaUPI/AAAAAAAABBA/h-0A0sw94Qw/s800/tektro_R341_1.jpg

When I first tried randonneur bars I hated them. Hated them. Then I tried setting them up with the bars turned back toward me a good deal. It effectively moved the hoods higher and further back while putting them at angle that was easier on the wrists. I was using the Tektro levers that Neal shows. They seem to be a good match. I don't have a photo handy, but I'll see it I can find some here on the interwebs that show how I set them up.

http://thelazyrando.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bbc.jpg?w=510&h=340

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovely_bicycle/4930296771/in/pool-classicbicycleshttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4930296771_dea900b090_o.jpg

But not this far back. Geez, there's no braking from the drops on this setup.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1KYwqOSSKRg/Rxt3hNAb6hI/AAAAAAAAADc/P3IPRE2MF6s/Misc+and+LHT+026.JPG

I have rando-stye bars on several of my bikes. I love the way they splay out as it is most comfortable for my wrists. I know this is a personal thing. I use the "standard" method of setting the lower tip of the brake lever approx. 1/4" above a straight line that extends forward from the bottom of the drops. Most of the photos above look close to this, except NLerner, which is higher than 1/4", but that probably works perfectly for that individual given the stem height and the reported neck issues. There isn't a "right or wrong" here. What is right is what allows you to ride the hell out of the bike and do so in comfort!

Put the levers on and don't tape it up until you are convinced you have it right. Or do what I've done which is to use cheap hockey tape alone for awhile until I am comfortable that I've nailed it.

Poor zoomed-in photo, but these are Pivo Rando bars. Not as dramatic of a "Rando" type bend, more subtle. I also keep the brakes positioned a little on the high side.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5374994967_2068e493b1_o.jpg

Early Dura-ace levers on Sakae rando bars. Looks better the monstrosities on my Rockhopper, but not nearly as comfortable. I might try moving them up a bit.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_TIeBxBH6dXI/TAGnKBahEBI/AAAAAAAAAfs/MqQB_yk-l0U/s800/tx300a_03.jpg

Supremely comfy set-up pour moi. No brand bars.

http://www.fivenineclimber.com/images/cinelli/gcm/front_bag3.jpg

http://www.fivenineclimber.com/images/cinelli/gazelle_pages/my_dutch/rando1_notxt.jpg

Later switched to Nitto Randos, with C-Record/Chorus levers. Not as extreme an up bend, maybe not as shallow either. Looks better, slightly less comfy. Still good, though.

http://www.fivenineclimber.com/images/cinelli/rides/60mile1.jpg

^ That's the ticket!

Sonja's bike with narrow Nitto Rando bars, Campy levers mounted really high as she hardly ever ride the drops:

http://www.fivenineclimber.com/images/cinelli/rides/pass0408_gazelle.jpg