Bicycle Mechanics - soma sparrow handlebars with drop bar brake levers

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nstone
07-29-11, 03:10 PM
Soma says drop bar levers won't work with their sparrow handlebars. However, this picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/khine/3490839611/) contradicts them. The photographer says that he didn't need any shims. This all has me thinking...I want road levers on my sparrow handlebars too!

I'm working with v-brakes, so what's the deal? Will cane creek drop V levers clamp down on a 22.2 diameter handlebar? If those'll work, will the cheaper tektro road v-brake levers work too? Are shims a viable option for putting either of these levers on the sparrow bar?

joejack951
07-29-11, 07:02 PM
It's quite possible that the Flickr guy didn't use shims. It's also quite likely that the lever clamps are only contacting at a few points, risking both rotating under normal force and possible damage to the handlebar.

Shims are an option and one that can likely be trusted, after all they are used for stem to bar clamps and that connection is stressed far more than the brake lever connection. Cross levers are often shimmed as well to fit different bars. However, you might run into problems finding a suitable shim due to the curve of the handlebars. You may get lucky and be clamping to a straight section though.

I did some searching and seems no one makes a 22.2 to 23.8 shim. However, the shim thickness you'd need is 0.8mm or ~.032" which is a very common thickness for aluminum sheet. Aluminum is fairly flexible at that thickness too. You could likely hand-form a shim out of a strip of material. I'd stick with aluminum though and nothing softer. Here's a link to get enough aluminum to make about 20 sets of shims for ~$7.50: http://www.mcmaster.com/#89015k27/=de6gte