Two Levers -- One Brake?
 

I'd like to rig something up so I can operate the front brake with two separate levers. Apart from the method presented at this link, has anyone found a good, economical way to do this?

I was thinking of mounting either a Primo Pervert, or a London Mod on the brake caliper.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these components?

Are there other methods of accomplishing this?

The problem with the pervert is that i believe the crossbar that holds the cables would pivot when you pulled the brake lever and not really put much force on the brake. The london mod looks like it was made for what you are trying to do, but I can't really picture quite how it works.

What about cyclocross brakes?

I think I understand what you're saying, but I want to use two time trial levers on the end of my bullhorn bars, so I need to find a way for two separate brake cables to operate one brake.

I searched a bit more, and found this spendy little part by Problem Solvers, but I was hoping to find a less expensive solution.

something like this with custom knarps? http://www.hollymillcycles.co.uk/sms...621g3upper.jpg

The London mod isn't going to help you - that's just to mount 2 cables to one cable stop. The part you're looking for is a BMX gyro detangler. Normally used 1:2, but you can flip it around and use it 2:1.

Here's a cheap one on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Lower-...sporting-goods

That wont work for two reasons. One, the double ends are two short. Two, it doesnt work unless both are being pulled at once.
Ive used Gyros for years and years so i well know this.

Why not use two separate brakes? Put one in front of the fork as normal and the second one behind. Good probability of clearance issues, but you never know. I've seen it done before. It was on a 20"er with a roll cage made to do 360 endos...but don't let that stop you.

One more way
 

Yep, I actually referenced that in my original message. Based on the comments above, I think I'll try modifying an upper gyro cable, as described in the link above.

Thanks for all of the comments.

no chance of pics of that is there? sounds pretty awesome

Two men enter, one man leaves!

I've seen pics of several before but can't find them again. It sort of looked like 3/4 of a pennyfarthing wheel made into a roll cage for a bmx, with a harness to keep the rider from falling out when he jammed on the double front brake and flipped over.

Like this, except awesomer, and without that extra gear thingy at the top.
http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/meet/out...ge/safety1.jpg

I tried the odyssey gyro method myself. My experience is that it's a pita to adjust, the brake feels spongy (or it sticks), and it's difficult to get the same tension between the two brake levers. I now make do with one actual lever, one dummy, and one brake line.

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I'm just curious...why would anyone want to rig up two levers with one brake? Is there any practical reason or is it just related to a uniqueness or boredom factor?

My reason: I like to ride with hoods and, when I started riding fixed, was used to brake-ability in both hands. I only wanted a front brake and didn't want to have to think about which hand was the dummy brake lever. So, for commuting in traffic two levers to one brake made sense in theory. A bit of a bust in practise.

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Like this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/2...aa112a86_o.jpg

Just a problem solver cable joiner. Two TT brake levers to a single front brake. Seems to be the cleanest solution we could find when I had this bike built. Cautioned against grabbing both levers at the same time or could potentially strip the cables from the housing. Works great, I love it.

OK..that makes sense, as you say, "in theory". One other question. Can you generate much more braking power by pulling with both levers? I'd be afraid of grabbing both levers in a panick and end up endoing over the bars.

Boredom coupled with a desire for symmetry.

Just an update on this project: It didn't work for ****.

I tried running two brake cables through a modified bmx upper gyro cable thingy, so that they could both operate the single front brake. However, there was so much friction in the cables that the brake spring was not strong enough to return to its open position. I think this was due to the fact that, one, the brake levers were cheap-o Nashbar tt levers, with no return springs, and that, two, the brake cables curved sharply along the bends of the tt bars.

I think that this setup could be made to work adequately if the cables were less restricted and the brake levers had decent return springs. Also, the cheap brake caliper that I used (Shimano Sora) may have played a roll in the unfortunate outcome of this $8 experiment.

I investigated the double brake possibility for the same reasons as you and i just wound up running a hood and a dummy hood (They are that awesome and cheap Campy Ergo copy made by Tektro). I have never once grabbed the dummy lever wishing for a brake, but I had already sort of trained myself to use only the front brake in panic situations.

If you have a nice low gear you will be braking with your legs mostly anyhow so all this cable related head scratching and gadgetry will be moot.

One things for sure, anything is preferable to road bars with one aero lever. :)