Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

2 levers, 1 brake

Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

2 levers, 1 brake

Old 08-01-07, 07:46 PM
  #1  
jerk store
Thread Starter
 
mathletics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 605

Bikes: '80s Chimo Garbage fixed 36/14, Centurion fixed 42/17

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
2 levers, 1 brake

I also posted this in Bike Mechanics, but I figured if it's possible, one of you has probably already done it.

Is it possible to run 2 cross/bmx type levers to a single brake? I want the symmetric look and feel of having a pair of working levers on my risers, but I only want to use a front brake for my fixed. And if I can do this, does anyone have recommendations of affordable/effective levers and brakes?
mathletics is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 07:49 PM
  #2  
do-over...
 
SugarPILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: KCMO
Posts: 511

Bikes: 69 paramount, 52 bauer stunt, , 30's Appelhans track,06 Bianchi pista, 80's Lotus,Pinarello track, Kalavinka track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
SugarPILL is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 07:56 PM
  #3  
vernal stylostixis
 
fix:'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by SugarPILL
a stupid picture
this is the complete opposite of what the op is asking
fix: is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 07:58 PM
  #4  
some dude
 
jayrooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
jayrooney is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:11 PM
  #5  
jerk store
Thread Starter
 
mathletics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 605

Bikes: '80s Chimo Garbage fixed 36/14, Centurion fixed 42/17

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I should mention that this is going on a Fuji track bike. Do I need to buy a special caliper, or will any road brake work?
mathletics is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:11 PM
  #6  
hello
 
roadfix's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 18,690
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 193 Post(s)
Liked 115 Times in 51 Posts
There are gizmos out there but they all look home-made. There's a how-to article over at FGG in setting this up.

Here: https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reso...ens/brakes.htm
roadfix is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:15 PM
  #7  
toothless
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 86
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Off the top of my head, two ways you can do it:

1. Use a modified BMX upper giro, a la FGG Tutorial. Kind of a kludge, in my opinion, but if it works, it works. Plus giros are pretty cheap.

2. Get a Problem Solvers 2:1 Cable Doubler (pdf). They're a bit pricey, but the right way to do 2 levers to 1 brake. Some other company makes a cable splitter aimed at tri/time trial bikes that's priced about the same level as the PS Doubler but the name escapes me.

EDIT: The forgotten company is Jtek. Scroll down.
veganaise is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:22 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 147
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
what about no levers and no brakes?


i dont beleive its taken this long for someone to bring this up.
g4dhatch2 is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:24 PM
  #9  
jerk store
Thread Starter
 
mathletics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 605

Bikes: '80s Chimo Garbage fixed 36/14, Centurion fixed 42/17

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by veganaise
Off the top of my head, two ways you can do it:

1. Use a modified BMX upper giro, a la FGG Tutorial. Kind of a kludge, in my opinion, but if it works, it works. Plus giros are pretty cheap.

2. Get a Problem Solvers 2:1 Cable Doubler (pdf). They're a bit pricey, but the right way to do 2 levers to 1 brake. Some other company makes a cable splitter aimed at tri/time trial bikes that's priced about the same level as the PS Doubler but the name escapes me.

EDIT: The forgotten company is Jtek. Scroll down.
Someone over at Bicycle Mechanics said this would be doable with cross levers. The FGG Tutorial solution seems sketchy. I have to wonder, why couldn't I just set up the cross levers with one primary and one inline, as though it was the aero/cross combo on one side?
mathletics is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:24 PM
  #10  
do-over...
 
SugarPILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: KCMO
Posts: 511

Bikes: 69 paramount, 52 bauer stunt, , 30's Appelhans track,06 Bianchi pista, 80's Lotus,Pinarello track, Kalavinka track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sorry, read it wrong...
SugarPILL is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:27 PM
  #11  
some dude
 
jayrooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
jayrooney is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:31 PM
  #12  
toothless
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 86
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mathletics
Someone over at Bicycle Mechanics said this would be doable with cross levers. The FGG Tutorial solution seems sketchy. I have to wonder, why couldn't I just set up the cross levers with one primary and one inline, as though it was the aero/cross combo on one side?
The FGG method is a bit sketchy. But, I emailed the author a while back and he said he's yet to have problems. If you do try that, it might be possible to use a nice, stout serrated washer to hold the cables. Of, if you have the resources, you can try to solder them together which might add a bit more security.

You could probably do it with two cross levers. But, if you wanted them oriented properly to the stem (as in pivot point and clamp closest to the stem) you're going to run into cable routing issues. You could do it where one lever is oriented properly, and one is mounted backward. Then you have a straight run of cable going from one lever to another. But you'll still have a big loop of cable going off to then side the back to the brake.

That said, I've never used interrupter levers and this is pretty much all hearsay on my part. I could be way off.

I was in the same boat as you a while ago. I wanted to mount 2 levers for hand positions and having a dummy lever bugs the crap out of me for whatever reason. But I'm lazy and cheap and realized that I had a decent brake set and plenty of cable in my parts bin so I just threw on the rear

Last edited by veganaise; 08-01-07 at 08:42 PM.
veganaise is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 08:37 PM
  #13  
do-over...
 
SugarPILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: KCMO
Posts: 511

Bikes: 69 paramount, 52 bauer stunt, , 30's Appelhans track,06 Bianchi pista, 80's Lotus,Pinarello track, Kalavinka track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
something like this... maybe



https://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN
SugarPILL is offline  
Old 08-01-07, 09:17 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
iamtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by mathletics
I have to wonder, why couldn't I just set up the cross levers with one primary and one inline, as though it was the aero/cross combo on one side?
I can't think of any reason you couldn't... It'd look kinda funny, methinks.
iamtim is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 01:32 AM
  #15  
McNightrider
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 389
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
https://fixedgeargallery.com/resource...ens/brakes.htm
vee_dub is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 06:58 AM
  #16  
Run What 'Ya Brung
 
bonechilling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=BR3342

bonechilling is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 07:25 AM
  #17  
Fissato Italiano
 
Aldone's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Torino, Italy
Posts: 300

Bikes: Fixed Gear & Single Speed Only

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
There was a guy who posted his bike long time ago on the FGG who did it with a spent .223 Remington case.

Basically he cut the brass and put it upside down with the two housing entering in the large part and the 2cables out from the small part, both wires working on the brake together.

Simple and cheap if you shoot an M-16 in your spare time or live near a shooting range
Aldone is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 09:41 AM
  #18  
spinspinspinspin
 
fatbat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 880
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mathletics
Is it possible to run 2 cross/bmx type levers to a single brake? I want the symmetric look and feel of having a pair of working levers on my risers, but I only want to use a front brake for my fixed.
use the cross levers. Start the cable at one lever, run it through the other lever, and down to the brake.
fatbat is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 10:29 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,388
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by SugarPILL
Those splitters are for running two brakes with one lever. They will not work the other way. When you pull with one lever, the cable to the other lever will go slack. The housing will pop out and potentially jam up and lock up the brake.

The Problem Solvers one will work because it's apparently spring loaded to avoid this issue.

Last edited by Moose; 08-02-07 at 10:35 AM.
Moose is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 10:33 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 479
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
there was something just posted a couple a days ago on this forum a dude wanted a "discreet" front brake setup, whatever that is. I don't remember the thread but he found these levers that should work for you application. They are the IRD ,Interlock racing design, Interceptor cross levers in silver. These let you intercept a cable in line to add a second set of levers to your drop bar brake setup.
onRoffR is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 10:38 AM
  #21  
Hello.
 
crushkilldstroy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: West Seattle
Posts: 2,902
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by onRoffR
there was something just posted a couple a days ago on this forum a dude wanted a "discreet" front brake setup, whatever that is. I don't remember the thread but he found these levers that should work for you application. They are the IRD ,Interlock racing design, Interceptor cross levers in silver. These let you intercept a cable in line to add a second set of levers to your drop bar brake setup.
All cross levers do that.
crushkilldstroy is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 10:50 AM
  #22  
hello
 
roadfix's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 18,690
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 193 Post(s)
Liked 115 Times in 51 Posts
So anyway, I also gave some thought to running 2 levers to actuate the front brake at one time. My main reasoning behind this was to ease hand fatigue on very long descents. So after looking at some of these setups, I decided to simply install a rear caliper on my long distance fixie and save the hassle.
roadfix is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 11:06 AM
  #23  
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
carleton is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 11:45 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 479
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by crushkilldstroy
All cross levers do that.
yeah but these just look clean no barrel adjusters . Personally I don't see the point if one brake lever is 6 inches from the other just more unneeded clutter on the bars. But I'm sure any cross interceptor levers would work.
onRoffR is offline  
Old 08-02-07, 11:57 AM
  #25  
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
Originally Posted by mathletics
I also posted this in Bike Mechanics, but I figured if it's possible, one of you has probably already done it.

Is it possible to run 2 cross/bmx type levers to a single brake? I want the symmetric look and feel of having a pair of working levers on my risers, but I only want to use a front brake for my fixed. And if I can do this, does anyone have recommendations of affordable/effective levers and brakes?

Actually, BMX Flatlanders run a similar setup.

Here's a How-To article.

I'm not sure if this will work for you as it stands, but it may give you some ideas and insight.

Good luck.
carleton is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.