Installing auxiliary brake levers
 

I am interested in installing the Specialized auxiliary brake levers on my road bikes, because I have found that I really miss my "suicide levers", especially on crowded bike trails where I need to guard the brakes at all times, so the top of the handlebar position becomes unsafe without the levers. I asked Specialized what it takes to install the levers and they said it involves cutting the cable housing and installing the new levers. It is not clear to me whether I would have to remove the existing handlbar hardware, including STI levers, but it appears not. I might have to rewrap the bars, too, but what really concerns me is the degree of difficulty in the installation. How much tolerance is involved? Specialized suggested I go to a bike shop for the installation, but I am not sure how familiar most of those shops would be. Any thoughts?

Are you talking about cyclocross in-line auxilary levers? I assume you are because it's the hot set-up these days. I don't know what the Specialized units look like but it requires you unwraping the tape and cutting the brake cable housing......your existing cable runs 'through' the aux lever. Installation is almost comparable to any brake lever job with tape wrap......but if you've never done any of this before, I suggest you have your LBS do the job.

It is not to hard but the housing length needs to be just right as the levers "shorten" the housing rather than pull on the cable.

Do you have a suitable tool to cut brake cable housing? They crush easily and damaged ends can wear through a cable. Use a special cable cutter, or a dremel .

I looked at the Spec. levers today, you will only need to untape the bars enough to fit the clamp as the back of the clamp seperates from the main body.

Thanks for the responses. I have a shimano cable cutter, which can be used to cut housings and crimp. I would need to get a couple of cable housing ends, but that is no big deal. I haven't bought the levers yet- just scoping out the job. I may go to a LBS which carries specialized to see if the job and lever combination is reasonable. I also have a dremel style tool, and a host of electrical tools if they don't work. (I may be an economist and attorney, but I still have my aircraft mechanic's licenses, tools, but no torque wrench, especially one to set to 1200 ft-lbs., and skills)

A link to the levers: http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProd...au49vy8.j27001