interruptor levers?
 

Hey everybody,

I'm looking for an online installation guide for the cross style brake levers that mount up on the flats. I'm trying to get an idea of how easy it is so I can decide if I want to do it myself. I've searched the interweb and this forum and couldn't find anything so... if you know of anything and could post a link that would be awesome.

Thanks!

Can you install brake cables/housings on your own? If so, you can install the interrupter levers.

1. Pull the housing and cables off your bike (can leave housing attached to brake levers, but pull cable out.
2. Install interrupter levers on bar.
3. Cut housing so that it feeds into the back side of the interrupter lever.
4. Cut housing so that it feeds into the front side of the interrupter lever and goes to the brake caliper.
5. Install cable.
6. Ride bike, and come home and have a beer for a job well done.

Remove the housing, but don't completly remove the cable out of the brifter. This will shorten up the install time.

While it is "technically" a pretty easy job as described above, if you do not regularly do a lot of cable and housing cutting yourself, I would consider having a shop do it for you. It will likely come out with a cleaner fit and finish. If you don't really care about that, then by all means, have at it!

shops suck though

Well, yours might, but that doesn't mean all do.

Don't get me wrong, I am a DIY advocate for most repair work, but if style points/"fit and finish" are important, stuff involving housing is a job where a shop can probably do it a hell of a lot better than the average guy (who may only get the opportunity to do it once in a blue moon or so). Same for handlebar tape -- it's not like it's "technically" difficult or anything, but most guys will end up doing it 3 or 4 times before they get it right, whereas a shop generally has a system down pat and it will come out nice and clean the first time.

I have to agree with 'nother. I just did a job that had interrupter levers on drop bars with STI levers. Also, it had Fizik gel padding. I can tell you that wrapping those bars - with that configuration - was pretty damn difficult. If there had been a Flight Deck I would have shot myself, for sure :(

I wouldn't say "don't do it", but don't think it's going to take 15 minutes. With the cable cutting and wrapping, you are looking at an hour or two, easy. Take your time and be patient.

Can Interrupters be used on v-brake and disc applications? I heard somewhere that they couldn't. That the "pull" was in the wrong direction.

The pull isn't in the wrong direction but it may be the wrong amount.

Over the weekend I put interrupter levers on a V-brake equipted bike; works just fine.
It's a simple job, but will take some time.
Top