Shouldn't cyclocross bikes have cross brake levers?

[StanSeven]

They'd almost be better eliminating the brakes on the drops and just leaving the cross levers if theyy were really pushing the "urban feel" they are shooting for

Cross levers aren't replacements for brakes on the hoods.

Maybe you should get a hybrid/city bike if you don't ride or like braking in the drops/hoods

[side_FX]

I don't mind riding/braking on the drops, my point is that the Trek Lane Should be THE ONE cross bike that should have those levers since they market it as an urban bike and the cross levers would certainly be a benefit in that setting

[oldskoolwrench]

IMHO (read: Humble) I always thought 'cross levers were based on personal preference. When I rode 'cross the new levers weren't developed yet;
some guys tried to adapt 2 finger MTB levers to work on the flats but with clamp ID and the bends it was a PITA to rig the bike that way.

Alan

[side_FX]

Then don't buy it?

True that. Hmmmm...Specialized Tricross...same components, light AL frame, few hundre cheaper, AND two sets of levers. Some one go wake up Gary Fisher and tell him he dropped the ball.

[mahijiru]

Personally, I like the idea of a simplified cable routing without the levers but I found they are very convenient. I have a cross bike but I don't race. I do use the cross levers quite a bit when I am in town or negotiating traffic/ pedestrians at slower speeds. I like to have immediate access to the brakes from wherever my hands are on the bars.

Yep. Love cross levers for city riding. Like 'em so much on my crosser I put them on my roadie too. Use both bikes for city riding, and prefer to ride on the tops anyway, so having the cross levers is both convenient and more safe. The little I may lose in braking power is more than made up for in not taking the time to move my hands from the tops to the hoods or drops.

Even if you didn't want to put them on yourself, it'll still cost less than $50 parts & labor.

[WickedThump]

I was at a LBS yesterday looking at various cross bikes, mainly seeing how the bars and controls were set up. I asked a sales guy about dual levers, and which bikes they could be fitted to. He said that they'd set up a new bike any way the buyer wanted, just pay for the additional parts, they'd install them and tape the bars for free. Seems right to me. Personally, I'd like to see new bikes come with $x worth of free upgrades for whatever a buyer chooses.
BTW, what does a dual lever conversion cost in parts generally? I forgot to ask.

[fietsbob]

Taiwan made , $20, Paul's machined in California is $110,
but he designed theirs to shift the pivots.
so if you have v brake drop bar levers, and V brakes , his will pull cable similarly, more.

the others are assuming road aero & brifters their mechanical leverage is more ,
so cable pull is less..

[WickedThump]

Taiwan made , $20, Paul's machined in California is $110,
but he designed theirs to shift the pivots.
so if you have v brake drop bar levers, and V brakes , his will pull cable similarly, more.

the others are assuming road aero & brifters their mechanical leverage is more ,
so cable pull is less..

Thanks.

[IFLUX23]

What cross levers do you guys recommend if I am to put one on my CX bike?

[WickedThump]

Taiwan made , $20, Paul's machined in California is $110,
but he designed theirs to shift the pivots.
so if you have v brake drop bar levers, and V brakes , his will pull cable similarly, more.

the others are assuming road aero & brifters their mechanical leverage is more ,
so cable pull is less..

Actually, I need to find the parts that enable two levers to operate one set of cantis. I think it's called an interuptor?

[joel52]

Soma Fabrications and Salsa make ones in the $40 range, though I've never used either.

[WickedThump]

Soma Fabrications and Salsa make ones in the $40 range, though I've never used either.

I couldn't find that on either website.

[joel52]

Somas (http://store.somafab.com/urcrle.html) and Salsas (http://salsacycles.com/components/cross_levers/).

[fietsbob]

Actually, I need to find the parts that enable two levers to operate one set of cantis. I think it's called an interuptor?

One of the names.. the interruption is in the housing, the cable passes right thru the lever ..

6 different ones listed here http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/cyclocross-brake-levers

[WickedThump]

One of the names.. the interruption is in the housing, the cable passes right thru the lever ..

6 different ones listed here http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/cyclocross-brake-levers

Gosh I'm dense. Got it now. Thank you very much.