kiltedcelt

So, I have a 26" Surly Disc Trucker frame on the way along with a bomb-proof set of Sun Rhyno-lite disc rims. I'll be using Avid BB7 mountain calipers and I had ordered a set of Tektro long pull compatible drop bar levers, mainly because I have a similar set up on my cargo bike with Cane Creek Drop-V levers and Paul Components Cross levers. It's a really good braking setup on the cargo bike and I like the Paul levers, but dang they're expensive! They're $100 a set expensive! I didn't want to have to spend that again for the Surly, especially when I have Tektro short pull drop bar levers and cross levers on my regular commuter bike and I really like the feel of the Tektro drop bar levers more than the Cane Creek. Cane Creek Drop-V levers are sort of pointed-feeling across the top and I find the flatter, wider surface of the Tektros more comfortable.

Unfortunately, it looks like the long-pull Tektro levers look a heck of a lot like the Cane Creek levers, not to mention I'd have to spend another $100 for Paul cross levers if I wanted that braking setup. Getting Avid BB7 road calipers was still going to be more expensive than buying the Paul levers and using the Tektro long pull levers. So, I started looking at using my old Tektro short pull levers (drop bar and cross levers), with the Avid BB7 mountain calipers. The obvious solution is using Travel Agents. Okay, so you can find plenty of travel agents with the right-angle design as used for V-brakes, but for some reason, the inline version is no longer made by Problem Solvers. I couldn't find it on their site and I had to scour the internet for a bike shop that still had some old stock of the inline variety of travel agent.

https://www.bikewagon.com/problem-sol...e-travel-agent

So, I'm going to give these a try and see how they work. Lots of folks seem to like the right-angle style of travel agent for using with mechanical disc brakes, but I could find no reviews for the inline variety and it would appear as if Problem Solvers simply doesn't make them anymore. I'm wondering if there was some issue with these that people didn't like or maybe the inline style is such a niche, especially since you can get short pull mechanical disc brakes now (albeit WAY more expensive than the long pull ones), that maybe PS just stopped making them for that reason. Anyone have any thoughts? It seems like a good part like the older style of travel agent which lots of people use and love, just wondering why it's not made anymore.

fietsbob

there you go .. you bolt it with that hole, in the corner onto some place in the middle .. of the cable route..

Sales Volume may have not justified the re order of another batch From Their TW supplier ..
they have them made over there, and warehouse them in MN.

So you are looking for existing stock in Dealers Inventory .. If Your LBS has a QBP account
they can look in their Website to see if there is any left in the Importers warehouse.

kiltedcelt

I ordered some from Bikewagon who appeared to have something like 10 in stock according to their website. I was mostly curious as to why QBP doesn't seem to sell them anymore, but as you mentioned, it's probably because the profit margins/sales just couldn't justify continuing to stock them, especially since I bet they were created back when road mechanical disc brakes didn't exist yet and you could still get frames that were disc/rim compatible. On my Disc Trucker, there are no rim brake bosses so I'm going to have to devise a way to affix those inline travel agents in a more secure manner than zip ties. I'm thinking maybe I'll use the rubber-lined hose clamp type thingies that are typically used to affix racks/fenders on bikes without braze-ons. I have a few of those laying around so I could probably re-purpose a couple into firm mounting points for the travel agents.