Originally Posted by
erader
The old 10-speeds had brake extensions that allowed you to brake from the tops. every cycling book i've read while coming up said these extensions were dangerous and should be removed.
what's changed?
That's a fairly simple question, actually. The flaw of the old style levers was that an inexperienced rider who would naturally grip the bar more tightly during a panic situation would do so and end up flying over the bars due to the inability to grab the bar without grabbing the brake. Hence the term, "suicide levers." The newer levers are oriented such that one can easily grab the bar without actuating the brake.