Originally Posted by ghettocruiser
I agree that with a second set of brake levers on the tops the bars would be no different that a flat bar for descending, although I would want a pretty wide drop bar for this.
But I have never actually seen anyone using bar-top brake levers in a race around here. The CX guys usually just get off and run the muddy descents, or sketchily descend on the hoods with their weight forward. Again, they are probably trying to save weight like everybody else, and an extra set of brake levers, cables, and splitters on top of STI road levers is more, not less.
Still, the dual-brake lever idea is interesting enough that I might check it out next time I am at a shop that has CX stuff.
Trust me, few experienced cross riders run down anything unless you're really talking about joyriding in the woods with dropoffs and stuff. I have one crosser with top levers, one without. Nice to have, but I don't miss it much on the one that doesnt. And my bike is set up so that I can (and do) touch my butt to my back wheel going downhill fast, and I can climb in the drops. The weight of the top-levers is a non-issue, and setup is very easy. You do want some wider bars, 44cm at least though.