Cyclocross - Top Mount Lever Recommendation?

I'm considering getting top mount levers for my Jamis Nova. Seeing at it's not a very expensive bike I didn't want to invest too much. Thought the levers might be a good idea for weekend trail rides. I've heard they are not that useful for racing (but perhaps I've been misinformed).

Any recommendations are appreciated, I know there's lots of brands out there.

Thanks, Ed

Are we talking aux/cyclocross style brake levers? Several companies make them including Paul Components, Specialized and Tektro. The Tektros are probably the cheapest.

Tektros are the cheapest and work just fine. Salsa makes a nice set too for around $40 usd.

Ever since I put cross levers on my bike I have not once used my areo brakes in any of the ten or so races I've done this year. It's personal preference I guess. I like them so much that I am thinking about putting one on my road bike. Often times while resting in the field I find it more comfortable to be on the tops but it's too dangerous to not be close to a brake.

Tektros are the cheapest and work just fine. Salsa makes a nice set too for around $40 usd.

Ever since I put cross levers on my bike I have not once used my areo brakes in any of the ten or so races I've done this year. It's personal preference I guess. I like them so much that I am thinking about putting one on my road bike. Often times while resting in the field I find it more comfortable to be on the tops but it's too dangerous to not be close to a brake.

I do really like the Salsa's so far, but unfortunately they only make them in 31.8mm clamp diameter. Since I want to put them on the non-buldge part of a standard size (25.8mm) road bar, they probably wouldn't work so well. I also like the fact that they have angled cable routing.

Anyone tried the Specialized 05's. They're a different style than any of the others (which more or less look the same, except for Paul's), but they have the angled routing feature.

I do really like the Salsa's so far, but unfortunately they only make them in 31.8mm clamp diameter. Since I want to put them on the non-buldge part of a standard size (25.8mm) road bar, they probably wouldn't work so well. I also like the fact that they have angled cable routing.

Anyone tried the Specialized 05's. They're a different style than any of the others (which more or less look the same, except for Paul's), but they have the angled routing feature.

The Salsa comes with shims for standard size bars...

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=BR8120

The salsa come with a schim for a smaller diameter but I forgot what that diameter is...

I'm considering getting top mount levers for my Jamis Nova. Seeing at it's not a very expensive bike I didn't want to invest too much. Thought the levers might be a good idea for weekend trail rides. I've heard they are not that useful for racing (but perhaps I've been misinformed).

Any recommendations are appreciated, I know there's lots of brands out there.

Thanks, Ed

I have the salsa levers on my cyclocross machine, and I really like them. The only problem is that I sometimes reach for these levers when I'm on my road bike, and grab nothing but bar and a lot of air!

I have them on my road bike and I put them on for those time when I'm just chillin and riding easy and have to brake all of a sudden because of a car, obstacles, and what not. I find The need for them personally.

I have never used them (but haven't raced).

When I am on a rough trail going up or down hill I always use drops. Otherwise I typically use hoods.

I just don't feel like I have the control and balance and shock aborbing capability I need when on the top bars. I have tried to force myself to use bar tops, but when it gets technical I just fall back into the drops.

Maybe it is my bike set up. My handlebar tops are lower than the saddle, but not 'road bike' crazy low, but I like it that way for trail riding and commuting.

Al

I have tried to force myself to use bar tops, but when it gets technical I just fall back into the drops.

I hear you regarding the fast, technical stuff. I need to get my hands farther apart on the bars than the tops generally allow, so I usually end up on the hoods. However, when I hit a really steep downhill, I like to get my rear-end behind the saddle. I can do this much easier from the tops than from any other position. However, I would never attempt this move without the top-mounted brake levers!

Yea I used to be the same way. I always thought that the tops were the most squirrely position. I met a Masters racers at a race once who told me that the bar tops offer the best control. After several races I now almost exclusively use bar tops esp in technical situations. I use drops on paved sections or long straight sections in a head wind. I guess it really is a matter of personal prefferance. I also have 46cm bars too so they are really wide.

Yea I used to be the same way. I always thought that the tops were the most squirrely position. I met a Masters racers at a race once who told me that the bar tops offer the best control. After several races I now almost exclusively use bar tops esp in technical situations. I use drops on paved sections or long straight sections in a head wind. I guess it really is a matter of personal prefferance. I also have 46cm bars too so they are really wide.

Agreed, tops work great for tech stuff, wider bars would also help control. I do the same as you, in the drops when going flat out on road sections or grass, hoods for climbing, tops for techy sections and fast cornering twisty stuff.