Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Road Brake Lever Travel vs Mountain

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Road Brake Lever Travel vs Mountain

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-13-12, 07:31 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Road Brake Lever Travel vs Mountain

I'm converting my old road bike to have a more upright rider position for medical reasons, and am still tossing around a few stem ideas.
If I decide to scrap the drops and go with flat bars, I'll need new levers. Shifters are not an issue, they are on the downtube.
Can I use generic off road levers with my Shimano 600 calipers, or is there a travel discrepancy? Are new off road brake levers dedicated to V, canti, or disc?
If so, which if any would work with my road brakes?
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-13-12, 07:37 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
dsbrantjr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319

Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times in 723 Posts
You will need levers matched to the kind of brakes you have or will be using; road or off-road are not sufficiently descriptive. The levers will also need to fit the diameter of the new bars.
dsbrantjr is offline  
Old 09-13-12, 07:49 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I thought all off road levers fit the same diameter, since the larger diameter bars are only bigger at the center near the clamp.

Anyways, the brakes are as I said, Shimano 600 road, 1984 issue.
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-13-12, 08:04 PM
  #4  
certified vegetarian
 
veggie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 364

Bikes: 1973 Schwinn Paramount P10-9, 1988 Cannondale SR2000, 1994 Bridgestone XO-4, 1998 Bianchi Sam Remo, 1998 Ibis Spanky, 2009 Soma Rush, 2012 Surly Crosscheck

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by FreeFloat
I thought all off road levers fit the same diameter, since the larger diameter bars are only bigger at the center near the clamp.
This is correct.

If you are using your road calipers, find some levers for canti brakes. V-brake/Disc levers pull too much cable which will result in very grabby brakes
veggie is offline  
Old 09-13-12, 09:33 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
OK, so if I ditch the drops I'll just pick up a set of canti levers. Thanks!
I'm still not sure what stem/bar set-up will function best for me, all I know is both options will look wrong.....mountain bars w/ bar ends on a tall stemmed road bike, or drops mated to an even taller stem.

But......I'll be faster than on any of my other bikes so who cares!
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-13-12, 10:33 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
mechBgon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
For pairing up with a ~1984 single-pivot Shimano 600 road caliper, I'd go with something that has especially high leverage, like a Dia-Compe SS-5 or SS-7 lever. Ebay will periodically have some. We may have a set in our basement at work, I can check tomorrow if you're interested.
mechBgon is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 07:05 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mechBgon
For pairing up with a ~1984 single-pivot Shimano 600 road caliper, I'd go with something that has especially high leverage, like a Dia-Compe SS-5 or SS-7 lever. Ebay will periodically have some. We may have a set in our basement at work, I can check tomorrow if you're interested.
I'll let you know.
I'm still trying to figure out which way to go......a quill to 1 1/8 "threadless" post converter, plus a 1 1/8 to 1 1/8 extender, and a short reach stem, using the existing bar and levers, or just the converter and short reach stem but with flat bars and new levers.
I wish I could find a high rise short reach alloy or steel 1" quill, but have'nt.....so far.
On the other hand since my neck rehab and future limitations are'nt really known, I'd love to have a faceplate on the stem for easier future swaps.
Maybe a custom 1" quill high rise with a faceplate?

Last edited by FreeFloat; 09-14-12 at 07:13 AM.
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 09:06 AM
  #8  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,355 Times in 862 Posts
the bar clamp will be 7/8" there is some difference in Cable pull ratio (MA)
V lever pulls more , cantilever less (MA is the reverse, then .. less is indicating more)

a good choice may be Avid Speed dial , since the cable pull ratio is an adjustment
with a little knob.

Less worry , the look, you are just making it into a Fitness hybrid bike.

Well the young and flexible may be bent over more..
old folks just lean forward, a bit.

Last edited by fietsbob; 09-14-12 at 09:26 AM.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 11:27 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think I have located a very tall quill stem with the correct clamp, and will probably stick with the drops and original levers, provided the stem is actually available.
Cheapest and simplest way to go, just wonder what downtube shifting will be like sitting that upright.

Last edited by FreeFloat; 09-14-12 at 09:37 PM.
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 11:41 AM
  #10  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,355 Times in 862 Posts
You can use those bosses as housing stops, and relocate the shifting up where convenient.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 11:45 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
You can use those bosses as housing stops, and relocate the shifting up where convenient.

I have an old set of bar end shifters, hope I don't have to swap but whatever it takes.
FreeFloat is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 02:41 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by FreeFloat
OK, so if I ditch the drops I'll just pick up a set of canti levers. Thanks!
I'm still not sure what stem/bar set-up will function best for me, all I know is both options will look wrong.....mountain bars w/ bar ends on a tall stemmed road bike, or drops mated to an even taller stem.

But......I'll be faster than on any of my other bikes so who cares!
Use North Roads handlebars, prefferably chromed steel. It'll fit in better aesthetially than flat bars, also give rise without such a tall stem. Will use the flatbar levers as planned, also you can plug your old set of barend shifters into the ends (steel bars only).

not to mention their swept back angle will be much more ergonomic for wrists compared to flat bars....

Wald makes a cheap one, expensive ones can be found on Velo-Orange or Rivendell
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-22-2-dia.html
https://www.amazon.com/Wald-2-5-Inch-.../dp/B000EI40EA
Wald version (2nd link) is actually superiour since the thinner steel walls allow barend shifters, while the veloorange would require thumb levers

Last edited by xenologer; 09-15-12 at 02:48 AM.
xenologer is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 03:42 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pearland, Texas
Posts: 7,579

Bikes: Cannondale, Trek, Raleigh, Santana

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 308 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
FF, This is a good choice if you decide to raise your existing handlebars. Remember that as you raise the handlebar, the closer it becomes to your body so you may want a stem that's a size or two longer than what you currently use. Probably will require new brake cable and housing.

Brad

https://www.jensonusa.com/Nitto-Techn...-Aluminum-Stem
bradtx is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 07:23 AM
  #14  
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Grid Reference, SK
Posts: 3,768

Bikes: I never learned to ride a bike. It is my deepest shame.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by veggie
This is correct.

If you are using your road calipers, find some levers for canti brakes. V-brake/Disc levers pull too much cable which will result in very grabby brakes
This is incorrect.

Using V-brake levers with caliper brakes results in stiff-feeling brakes that require herculean hand strength to stop your bike.
LarDasse74 is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 08:02 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My wrists feel best on bar ends, and the position those swept back ones linked to above force you into a position I like even less than flat bars w/o ends.
My ape hangars on my first modification of an older mountain bike have that basic hand position, so I even added bar ends to them. Pretty tight squeeze between cars etc., but it allowed my return to cycling following the neck rehab. And yes, with that rear sweep it could get tight to the body, requiring a longer stem, defeating the whole purpose of gaining a more vertical body position.
FreeFloat is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tkm
Bicycle Mechanics
8
05-20-16 09:24 AM
FarHorizon
Bicycle Mechanics
4
11-28-14 04:30 PM
goldfinch
Bicycle Mechanics
17
08-28-14 06:44 PM
Vlaam4ever
Bicycle Mechanics
9
04-04-13 09:45 PM
CrimsonEclipse
Commuting
13
09-09-11 02:44 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.