rojeho

I tried to search but don't know if I have the terminology right. Wife has a Specialized Dolce that has a second set of brake levers on the flat part of the handlebars. I would like to take these off so that she can use aerobars that need the same bit of real estate. Is there a writeup to describe how to remove these and just use the brifters?

jeepr

They can be removed. They basically interrupt the brake cable on the way from the brifter to the brake. You need to run a cable from the brifter to the brake, bypassing the safety lever. Then take the lever off. You may need to re-wrap your bars to accomplish this, it depends on how everything is wired.

warmachine

It's not that hard.
The cable from the drop ( standard ) levers feed into the second set of levers before going to the brakes.

You will need a new set of cables, but you may get away with only needing new cable jackets.
You might also need new bar tape if the current stuff has an adhesive backing.

rojeho

Thank you. I've never recabled anything, another learning opportunity!

groovestew

If your extra levers have built-in barrel adjusters (e.g., if you have cantilever brakes), you'll need to install some inline barrel adjusters where your levers were. I just removed the extra levers on my cross bike and had to add the barrel adjusters. Didn't have to re-wrap my bars or anything, though. Didn't need extra cables or cable jackets because the inline adjusters were installed where the old levers were.

BCRider

Review the steps at www.parktool.com/repair for pictures and writeups on how to do these jobs.

Likely the cables are fine to re-use but the handlebar housings from brifter to frame will both need replacing the whole way so the two pieces per side become one single longer one per side.

TLCFORBIKES

Go to your LBS and buy 2 double ended ferrules (less than $2) and use them where the extra brakes are. No new cables or housing needed. Good chance you will not need to even re-wrap the bar tape.

rojeho

Got around to looking at this. I can't figure out how to undo the cable from the in-line shifters. Park Tool ha a bit on how to install, but I can't figure out how to start on the reverse from the writeup. Part of the problem is that this is my first time dealing with bike brakes and cables. How do I get the cable free from the in-line shifter?

RavingManiac

I never messed with this setup but it looks like you probably disconnect the cable at the brake caliper and pull the inner wire out from the outboard brake lever.

dscheidt

you undo it at the brake. Then you pull the inner through the housing that leads from the brake (or the cable stop, depending on the brakes and the bike) to the cross lever, and then through the lever. Then you can take the lever off, and then you can take the piece of housing that leads from the main lever to the cross lever off, and replace it with a longer piece (from the main lever to the brake or stop.)

Were it my bike, I'd replace the inner cable too.

rojeho

Thanks for the excellent description. Job done and now I understand how the cable system works.

cyclist2000

+1 This is a good way to go, adding barrel adjusters will add more adjustment flexiblity and is a way to joint the two housing sections together. they are only a few dollars.