Cyclocross - Why are more people not using Brake Interrupters ?

Katie Compton is rockin em. Why not everyone else? I think I might throw a pair on this offseason!

I often wanted them this season. I think I'm going to put some on for next. It seems like the tops are the place I want to be in the very tight grass areas, or 'intestines' as we call 'em. Maybe others do too? Anyways, I feel like I have the best control there but I need brakes!

Cyclocross racers have been known to drill holes in their components (http://plusonelap.blogspot.com/search/label/Weight%20Tip) to save a few grams, so losing the cross levers is a no brainer (http://snarkerati.com/movie-news/files/2011/03/dumb-and-dumber.jpg).

More practically, it is very easy to lose braking power due to poor cable routing with these brakes, and a lot of people find that they just don't use them in race situations. I have them on my CX bike and I used them a lot the first year I raced. The last two years I've noticed that I use them less and less. I like them a lot for commuting, but I hardly touch them in a CX race.

They look dorky and are kind of tricky to set up correctly. Most people don't take the time to learn when/where to use them. And a lot of guys spend 99% of the time glued to the hoods, even on sketchy descents, so they'll have no use for them.

IMO if you only use them once or twice per lap, they are still worth having.

Very cool link, Andy K. Amazed at what people do!

I ride primarily on the hoods ... tops occasionally when floating through a sand pit to keep my weight back. Personally I think they get in the way. Some women (with small hands) like them.

My bike came stock with them, raced twice, never touched them....removed.

I'm on the tops in the grassy guts of the race too and if I had those I would use them in the corner. I'm trying to ween myself from braking in the corner anyway so they were taken off.

I think I might just throw a set on and if I don't like them....well at least I tried it

My bike came stock with them, raced twice, never touched them....removed.

The only thing keeping me from pulling mine off is my lizard skins bar tape still has plenty of life in it!

I was talked out of installing a set by my LBS. It was a great piece of advice. I'm either on the hoods or in the drops while racing, so it would be useless weight for me. The only time I'm on the tops is when my race is done. I can't pull the power with my hands that close to the stem and would get narrower bars if my braking positions were too far out.

Wellens used bartops at Zeddam.

Simunek did not:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqTTX4lZTb8&t=1m20s

Neither did Nys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqTTX4lZTb8&t=2m00s

i usually ride on the hoods and in the drops on flat straight sections but never on the bar tops

I've never seen the need for em. I have 'teammates' that love em.

Its your bike, run whatcha like.

M

Katie Compton is rockin em. Why not everyone else? I think I might throw a pair on this offseason!

Because I ride in the hooks, not the bar tops. The latter is the worst place to have your hands for control or hard efforts.

I almost exclusively use them. In fact for a few years I didn't even have hoods. Just in line levers and one bar end shifter, talk about weight savings ;)

I go directly to the Beer Tent :beer:

Because I ride in the hooks, not the bar tops. The latter is the worst place to have your hands for control or hard efforts.Well, sure. But they sure are great when you're JRA in situations where you don't need any control.

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2011/paris-roubaix/pr-2011-banner.jpg
http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2011/12/18/1/bettiniphoto_0093907_1_full_600.jpg
http://photos.grahamwatson.com/Print-Gallery/TdF2000/Prints2000-lancepantani1/714197239_9V7oe-M.jpg

I use the bar tops sometimes, but never in places where I'd really want to be braking. Those two pictures are perfect examples of that. I find the tops too narrow to offer good control on descents. But do whatever you want, obviously there are lots of people who use and like them up to the very top of the sport.

Because I ride in the hooks, not the bar tops. The latter is the worst place to have your hands for control or hard efforts.
Haha wow.

I use the bar tops sometimes, but never in places where I'd really want to be braking.Of course not. There are no brake levers there, after all.

Deiter Runkle , won a World Championship [late 90's] on a bodged together setup
with cables to both a top mounted MTB lever and a regular road lever
all meeting at the brake.

the CAD/CNC folks simplified that by having the lever spread the housing.

Winning has other riders trying out the gear that beat them..

I use mine constantly; then, I use my bike primarily for recreational riding, utility (shopping and the like) and commuting.

(chopping and the like)

Chop shop or karate chop, or pork ... mmm bacon :lol:

Chop shop or karate chop, or pork ... mmm bacon :lol:

There, typo fixed.