Cyclocross top mount brakes. Who uses them?
02-14-08, 11:54 AM
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Cyclocross top mount brakes. Who uses them?
Hey guys,
I recently mounted up a top mount cyclocross brake that I took off my old fixed gear. I gotta say that I LOVE this thing. I especially appreciate it when I'm cruising around town with the wife at low speeds. I currently only have one bolted up on the right handlebar to control the rear brake (low speed use only) but I think I might go ahead and mount up the other as well.
Aside from the aesthetic drawback, these things seem to be super practical. I'm just wondering why nobody else is doing this.
I recently mounted up a top mount cyclocross brake that I took off my old fixed gear. I gotta say that I LOVE this thing. I especially appreciate it when I'm cruising around town with the wife at low speeds. I currently only have one bolted up on the right handlebar to control the rear brake (low speed use only) but I think I might go ahead and mount up the other as well.
Aside from the aesthetic drawback, these things seem to be super practical. I'm just wondering why nobody else is doing this.
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02-14-08, 12:42 PM
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I have them on my Fuji Newest and I don't really use them much but they do offer another hand position which is nice...
02-14-08, 12:45 PM
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it's vanity. where i ride with rolling curvy hills they're great. they weigh about the same as an innertube and are really nice to have. it seems that road cyclists are as insecure as adolescent girls.
02-14-08, 12:56 PM
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If i could fit them and still have room for other necessary accessories i would. 
(aerobars for the roadie and plethora of lights for the commuter don't leave much room...)
(aerobars for the roadie and plethora of lights for the commuter don't leave much room...)
02-14-08, 01:00 PM
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I don't need them.
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02-14-08, 01:35 PM
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Oh, c'mon now. If need was the only qualification for cycling related purchases, this forum would be a different place.
My wife loves hers. I don't have them on my race bike b/c I clip on aerobars. I don't have them on my commuter bike because, and this is the truth -- I'm too cheap to spend $20-30 on them, and I'm probably too lazy to install them.
My wife loves hers. I don't have them on my race bike b/c I clip on aerobars. I don't have them on my commuter bike because, and this is the truth -- I'm too cheap to spend $20-30 on them, and I'm probably too lazy to install them.
02-14-08, 01:47 PM
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I have them on my Sequoia (as does my wife) and they are nice to have for slow riding. I would say the time I use them most is when first getting on the bike and clipping in, to keep it from rolling forward. Once I'm riding, I usually ride hoods if my hands are up top, but I do use them from time to time. I'm actually wondering how much I'll miss them when I get my next bike, without them.
I had clip-on aerobars installed, and had to move the top brake handles outward a little bit, then move the computer to the top of the aerobars (although stem would have been better). It did fit with both. I've seen them on ebay before for $<10/shipped if someone is really wanting to look for a set and not spend much.
Attached picture is my current "cockpit" with the upper brake levers.
I had clip-on aerobars installed, and had to move the top brake handles outward a little bit, then move the computer to the top of the aerobars (although stem would have been better). It did fit with both. I've seen them on ebay before for $<10/shipped if someone is really wanting to look for a set and not spend much.
Attached picture is my current "cockpit" with the upper brake levers.
02-14-08, 01:50 PM
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^^ do your derailleur cables cross on the downtube?
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"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
02-14-08, 01:52 PM
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No, but my friend does, and he likes them a lot, especially in low speed riding, but I just use the hoods.
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i jam my thumbs up and back into the tubes. this way i can point my fingers straight out in front to split the wind and attain an even more aero profile, and the usual fixed gear - zen - connectedness feeling through the drivetrain is multiplied ten fold because my thumbs become one with the tubing.
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02-14-08, 01:53 PM
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I'm trying them out on my miyata touring/commuter. It was a bit tricky to get the brake cables routed correctly. Haven't used them much, but I wouldn't say they're useless.
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02-14-08, 01:55 PM
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Yes, because the barrel adjuster mount on the frame for one of them is broken, so my LBS switched them to prolong me from buying a new frame. They said it'd be better this way, and I took their word for it. Hasn't given me a problem in the 1.5yrs they've been like that.
02-14-08, 02:03 PM
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Yes, because the barrel adjuster mount on the frame for one of them is broken, so my LBS switched them to prolong me from buying a new frame. They said it'd be better this way, and I took their word for it. Hasn't given me a problem in the 1.5yrs they've been like that.
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02-14-08, 02:10 PM
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At their crossing near the bb, they do slightly contact, but I don't see any signs of fraying yet. I haven't had any troubles shifting it much either (other than what I expect is the normal stuff from a triple chainring). When I took it into the LBS 2 summers ago, the original cables were on the bike and I kept getting jammed between gears on the chainring. They replaced the cables and routed the front one so that it could be adjusted with the barrel adjuster. Since the RD doesn't take as much fidgeting, they said it'd be better this way.
02-14-08, 02:11 PM
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I have them on my bike, my sister put them on there before she gave the bike to me. After riding for a few weeks, I find that I don't really ever use them, so I ima put them on my single speed.
02-14-08, 02:21 PM
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The Womens 2007 UCI TT Champion Hanka Kupfernagel uses cross top levers on her road bike in compotions...
02-14-08, 03:09 PM
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I dremmel mine off from a Kona JTS because didn't like them, didn't need them.
I almost never ride on the top but what can work for some can be a nuisance for others.
Enjoy.
I almost never ride on the top but what can work for some can be a nuisance for others.
Enjoy.
02-14-08, 03:54 PM
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02-14-08, 04:04 PM
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I have them on my cross bike. They're great for riding in snowy/slushy/icy conditions, when you don't want to fully "commit" by gripping the hoods or drops.
02-14-08, 04:13 PM
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Hey guys,
I recently mounted up a top mount cyclocross brake that I took off my old fixed gear. I gotta say that I LOVE this thing. I especially appreciate it when I'm cruising around town with the wife at low speeds. I currently only have one bolted up on the right handlebar to control the rear brake (low speed use only) but I think I might go ahead and mount up the other as well.
Aside from the aesthetic drawback, these things seem to be super practical. I'm just wondering why nobody else is doing this.
I recently mounted up a top mount cyclocross brake that I took off my old fixed gear. I gotta say that I LOVE this thing. I especially appreciate it when I'm cruising around town with the wife at low speeds. I currently only have one bolted up on the right handlebar to control the rear brake (low speed use only) but I think I might go ahead and mount up the other as well.
Aside from the aesthetic drawback, these things seem to be super practical. I'm just wondering why nobody else is doing this.
02-14-08, 04:40 PM
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I use one of my fixed, its great for really snowy conditions where the snow covers up debris. I can unclip and ride slow but still stop
02-14-08, 08:56 PM
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I have a set on my XO1 that I use as an all around bike. And I like them , but on my cx race bike I dont have them and dont really miss not having them there.
02-14-08, 10:22 PM
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hmm, odd, in those conditions I like to use the hoods or drops since I can get the most leverage in those positions than with the tops.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm