tuvok

A handlebar modification that I have seen carried out is to make a set of bullhorn handlebars by cutting a set of drop bars and then flipping them over. So far so good. What I was wondering is what type of brake levers are used with this type of makeshift bar. As I understand it the drop bar is likely to be slightly larger in diameter than a flat bar so you would likely not be able to use brakes designed for a flat bar as the clamping diameter for the brake assembly would be too small. It also seems that the brakes typically found on a drop bar would be inappropriatr for mounting on a flat bar. Is this correct or are there other factors at play? Considering the above, what type of brake lever would be appropriate for this type of bar?

orange leader

most bar clamps have some play in them until you clamp them down. And if there's still play, you can shim them. Sometimes you can stretch the clamp a little in order to get around the bar. Or, if after you've stretched the thing on, the bolt is too short to reach, you can get longer bolts. But a common type of brake lever is one that goes onto/(into?) the end of your handlebar (scroll down the link I gave you).

here's a link to a page that shows two types of set-ups.

https://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

Bob Dopolina 

Do I understand you correctly? You want to cut some drop bars, at the bend, flip them over and use them as cowhorn bars (for TT or track)?

Uh...this won't work. The reach on a drop bar is something like 80-90mm. That is WAAAYYY too short for a cowhorn bar. If you insist on doing it, just mount the brake levers like you normally would. You actually clamping the bar in the same spot.

TreeUnit

you can use standard drop bar levers on a setup like this. Mount them right-side up at the very end of the "horns".
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007.../Christian.htm

There are also levers made specifically for bullhorn bars, but I am unsure if they will fit into homemade flop and chops. (Homemade bullhorns curve immediately from the end, and thus might not accomadate levers meant to slip into straight bullhorn ends).


Bullhorn levers
https://www.canecreek.com/typo3temp/pics/43caa789c5.jpg

dafydd

you can also use cyclocross style levers, which are very popular these days.

papercutninja

I flipped/chopped my stock drops because i noticed that i wasn't using the drops at all and was forever riding on the hoods (i'm an MTBer by nature) because it felt more comfortable. I used my original shift/brake levers (Shimano Tiagra) and they fit just fine. It isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it works. I don't have to move my hands to shift or brake.

roadfix

This is done all the time, and is especially popular with the fixed gear crowd.

tuvok

Some very good info and links in those replies. Much appreciated.

Bob Dopolina 

Yeah, I realized that when I saw the fixed gear bike posted right after my post. I was thinking about proper track riding or TT/Tri bars. For that they really don't cut it.

ericbuilds

i did the same thing on my commuter a couple of years back and have been thinking about getting back to what i had for my current bike (drops/sti). i used shimano bar end shifters which extend the grip just perfectly. now, you've got to hack the bars at just the right place so you have the right shape to accept the shifters without making them too short - they will be just starting to brake. i have large hands and it totally worked - comfy.

as for the brakes i used some cheap old school levers with the cable coming out the top of the hoods. i mounted them under the bars with the hoods towards the back of the bike - levers forward. the cable then neatly routes back to the bars to be wrapped by your grip.

speaking of routing cable, i think i drilled and filed holes out at the ends for the shifter cables to be routed internally.

best of luck

poopncow

A quik caution with flip & chop:
depending on the bar, your hands may not get all the support they need.
Is all your weight on the half of your palm under your index and middle finger?
Is the area under the ring and pinkie finger resting on anything?

otherwise: cycle-cross levers and non-aero road brake levers as discussed all work great.

oh, another idea. someone recently mounted a road brake lever on the flats of her chop and flip. It was almost useless because the tip of the lever was hitting the bar before she could get any braking force. Amazingly she is still alive..mostly because she is afraid to ride that pista faster than a fast walk.
If you can trim away enough of the lever, it may work for you.