Question about cross top/ in line brake levers on an old road bike..Help
08-22-14, 07:26 AM
#1
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Question about cross top/ in line brake levers on an old road bike..Help
Hi,
Ok, I'm in a muddle as new to this, kind of.. This may sound like a dummy question but just want to be sure.
I have an old raleigh record ace competition road bike, old school weinmann brake levers and the brake outer cable doesn't run under the bar tape, it sticks out, so I was wondering if that matters where installing cross top levers are concerned? It'd be just as tidy right?
Also, I was thinking of removing the old brake levers just for a more minimal look and using the cross top levers on their own ? (I'm slowly but surely converting it to a single speed btw).
Erm, lots of opinions are welcome..and be nice :0
Oh and heres a pic..
Ok, I'm in a muddle as new to this, kind of.. This may sound like a dummy question but just want to be sure.
I have an old raleigh record ace competition road bike, old school weinmann brake levers and the brake outer cable doesn't run under the bar tape, it sticks out, so I was wondering if that matters where installing cross top levers are concerned? It'd be just as tidy right?
Also, I was thinking of removing the old brake levers just for a more minimal look and using the cross top levers on their own ? (I'm slowly but surely converting it to a single speed btw).
Erm, lots of opinions are welcome..and be nice :0
Oh and heres a pic..
Last edited by Loonarider; 08-22-14 at 07:44 AM.
08-22-14, 07:48 AM
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I don't think it would be possible without creating problems. First of all the cable would have hard bends running from the tops of the lever to the in-line lever's base. Also the loop would be so close in places as to cost you the use of that part of the bar, or create traps where your hand might get snagged when you change hand positions.
If you want dual position braking, buy a cheap or used pair of brake levers with along the bar cable routing and do it right.
If you want dual position braking, buy a cheap or used pair of brake levers with along the bar cable routing and do it right.
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08-22-14, 07:49 AM
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AFAIK, you can not use cross-top brake levers with those old style levers, you need "aero" levers that route the cable housing under the bar tape.
08-22-14, 08:12 AM
#4
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True:
the lever goes at the end inside edge of the tape job.
you can not use cross-top brake levers with those old style levers, you need "aero" levers that route the cable housing under the bar tape.
08-22-14, 08:50 AM
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i read this as the OP wants to use cross-levers alone, no other lever. if so, there is no problem using them on that set up. just remove the old levers (all four of them) and install the cross levers. i use a road DR cable on mine. i have cross levers on two of my seven singles speeds and been using them for five or six years. i only use the front brake, BTW.
08-22-14, 10:25 AM
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If you're thinking of doing that why not just get flat bars? I know they're not what the cool kids have, but do you really want to have your hands on the drops and your brake levers on the centre of the bars for riding in London traffic?
08-22-14, 10:30 AM
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I have a 1983 Fuji Royale II that I converted to single speed...I replaced the original brake levers with Cane Creek aero levers, and added cross levers. It actually never even occured to me that anyone would want to potentially stick with the old-style road levers when adding cross levers!
08-23-14, 01:22 PM
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edit///
Last edited by Loonarider; 08-23-14 at 01:24 PM. Reason: was meant to quote the poster
08-23-14, 01:23 PM
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08-23-14, 01:25 PM
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I ride on the top of drop bars, rarely use the drops, well especially if going to installing cross top levers and they look nice too.
and they look nice too.
08-23-14, 01:26 PM
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I have a 1983 Fuji Royale II that I converted to single speed...I replaced the original brake levers with Cane Creek aero levers, and added cross levers. It actually never even occured to me that anyone would want to potentially stick with the old-style road levers when adding cross levers!
08-23-14, 01:36 PM
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the cross levers (interrupters), made by Tekro, come with a clamp size for road bars. some sort of shim (which IME never works out well) would be necessary to put them on MTB flat bars. on MTB flat bars i use a simple Origin 8 mini trigger lever. on road bars the Tektro interrupter. i usually just cut off the drop portion of a road bar, but don't flip it. don't like the feel of bullhorns.
08-23-14, 02:04 PM
#13
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Dia Compe Frech style Guidonnet levers Dia Compe Guidonnet Brake Levers eliminate the drop bar lever entirely ..
since you dont use the drops at all .
unlike the above kludge, they are actually made to be at the end of the cable..
I warn off the substitution since breaking off the end of the cable can result from bending it where the end is attached .
since you dont use the drops at all .
unlike the above kludge, they are actually made to be at the end of the cable..
I warn off the substitution since breaking off the end of the cable can result from bending it where the end is attached .
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-23-14 at 02:09 PM.
