Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 1
From: Santa Barbara
Bikes: SE Quadrangle, '82 Venus NJS, '03 Bianchi Pista, '86 P'sonic Mt Cat, Fat City Yo Eddy '91 + '93, B'cuda A2E, '86 Trek Elance 400, '88 Centurion D.Scott Expert, '88 Fisher Mt Tam (and no longer with me: SE OM Flyer, Umezawa/B-stone/Samson NJS)
there are easy clip on rear brake sets that use two plates to sandwich the seat stays together using the brake bolt. they work fine and are easy to remove and put back on.
the lever on the top tube idea sounds exceedingly dumb, especially for bombing hills. dangerous and not very useful. it would be easy enough to use a regular brake lever on the handlebar, no? an allen wrench is all that stand between you and safe powerful braking.