Jixr

Hi everyone.

One of my bikes only has a front brake mount, and the stock brake isn't that great on it.

So i'm going to upgrade it along with new levers.

I know there are special cables where if you pull one brake lever, it pulls both brakes ( front and rear ) but i'm wanting to see if there is something where if I put brake levers on both sides of the handle bars, pulling either will activate the front brake.

corrado33

Why would you want to do this? Those cables that pull both brakes at the same time are very problematic. First, they require a lot of adjustment. Second, if you pull both brakes at the same time with the same lever you're not likely to have great braking capacity. Third, the front brake pads will wear more quickly than the rear pads, requiring frequent adjustments. Forth, there are many times when you'd want to pull only one brake at a time.

Post up the types of brakes you have and we'll try to figure out what is wrong with them. The front brakes SHOULD work fine. They're probably just adjusted poorly.

Jixr

No, I only have a front brake, which I would like to be able to use by pulling either brake lever if possible.
I have some generic no name brakes, and a short pull lever, and my fame only allows a front brake. On down hills, its not very safe, and want something that can bring me to a stop even when going down a fast downhill.

corrado33

Ahh, ok. Still, the front brake should have plenty of stopping power unless you're on an old bike with chromed steel rims. I still think it's out of adjustment. I don't know if what you're wanting to do with both brake levers is possible.

What type of brakes do you have? Do you have V-brakes which require a long pull lever? Is that the problem?

Jixr

just some cheap caliper brakes, though I am using a short bmx style brake lever, and thats probably not the best due to its low leverage.

FastJake

Huh? I hope this is a fixed gear. If so you're fine, and you don't need a rear brake. Otherwise, not good! Why can't you put a rear brake on? If this is truly the case I would:

a) Get a different frame
b) Not ideal, but you could get a disc/canti fork and run one of each on the front, activated by different levers.

I cannot recommend trying to control one brake by two levers. Seems like a terrible idea.

Jixr

Yeah its a track frame that I mostly run single speed on. Unfortunatly, it does not have a rear eyelet for a brake. ( though they came out with newer version of the frame that have the rear brake mount, but that would be a few hundred bucks for a new fame )

FastJake

In that case I'll add option C which is to simply switch to fixed gear. Or, could you drill your own hole in the seat-stay bridge and add a brake?

No matter what you should at least get a decent caliper brake up front.

Jixr

I don't think its possible to drill the frame to mount a rear, you probably could pull it off, but i'm sure eventually it would crack.

mconlonx

Problem Solvers makes a cable doubler for two levers to one brake. Note that they also have a more popular doubler for the other setup, 1 lever for two brakes -- if you're ordering a cable doubler, make sure you order and receive the correct one...

dabac

What material is the frame, what does the brake bridge look like?
There's no law stipulating that it has to crack.

Jixr

Like this. ALum.

https://theurbankick.files.wordpress...85379223_n.jpg

I'm sure just upgrading my front brake to something high end and with good pads would help tons, but adding a rear brake would be nice if I could do it. ( and not have to buy a whole new frame just to do it )

corrado33

Am I right in assuming you want to use both levers so you can use both hands to pull the brake at the same time for more leverage?

Jixr

Thats the idea, but if people are saying it wouldn't be that great of an idea, then I don't mind passing it up ( I'd just think the bike would look silly with only one brake lever, otherwise i'd run a dummy lever )

fietsbob

Questions from people with just 1 functioning hand are over Here :
Adaptive Cycling: Handcycles, Amputee Adaptation, Visual Impairment, and Other Needs

they have a need to operate both brakes from 1 hand..

may be over your head as a DIY mechanic but .. Magura's Rim Brakes are Hydraulic and a Closed system*,

by putting a T in the line between the 2 brakes levers ... as combination,
either will force fluid into the slave cylinder that pushes the brake pads against the rim.

* Discs all have a lever-master expansion chamber, so fluid pressure is not meeting a closed End.

dsbrantjr

Good pads, like Kool Stop Salmon compound will often help a lot and do not cost much.

wschruba

The way that the cable splitter by problem solvers (which is NOT cheap, by the way) works would make 'adding' force by grabbing both brakes less effective than you might think. Yes, it would work, but the question you should ask is, to what end? There is a point when clamping the rim that too much force will simply lock it up; very uncomfortable on a bicycle with only a front brake. A properly setup front brake of decent quality has no issues stopping/slowing a bike with a decent squeeze. Properly setting the brake up (good quality lever/caliper/pads and paying careful mind to use good quality housing and good installation practice) will go very far in making a brake work acceptably.

There is likely at least some miscommunication with this statement, but in my mind, no brakes, regardless of quality/quantity on a bicycle will stop it quickly (compared to, say, on flat ground) going down hill. Physics is working against you in that regard. It takes quite a bit of energy to go from 30mph down to 0, quickly.

Perhaps you can post a picture of the front brake you have?

FastJake

I'm sorry to say, but this is a simple case of the wrong tool for the job. My advice: make it a fixed gear, and next time look for a more practical and less poser-track frame.