When were Aero brake levers introduced, when did they become common on new road bikes
03-11-16, 01:58 AM
#26
Senior Member
In '86, the Miyata 710 came with DiaCompe GX400 aero levers, as did the Pro Miyata with SunTour Sprint aero levers. This according to their catalog specs, too. The '85 versions did not. By '87 the Aero levers were on all of the upper end road bikes, down to the 512, with the exception of the Team Miyata for some reason.
03-11-16, 08:34 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
A quick look though my pro cycling annuals shows that standard cable routing was being used by all the European teams in 1985, with the aero levers used only for specific races by certain individuals. In 1986 two teams with significant American impact switched to aero levers; 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire (Hinault, Lemond and Bauer). The only other European pro teams using aero levers on a regular basis in 1986 were Peugeot and Kwantum. However, in 1987 the majority of the European pro teams were aero equipped, with notable converters including Bianchi, Carrera, Systeme U, Fagor, Ariostea and PDM.
It should be noted that many of the USA based, Dura-Ace equipped teams were using aero levers in 1985, notably Levi's Raleigh and Schwinn. The earliest well know adopter of aero levers was probably Alexi Grewal, whose Dia-Compe team was using them regularly as early as 1983.
The influence of pro teams on the public acceptance cannot be ignored. Once 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire made the transition, the manufacturers realized the significance and started incorporating the feature more regularly on models.
However, I still feel that the biggest breakthrough was Shimano's introduction of the New 105 SLR brakes in 1987. The innovation of this design proved that the higher resistance of aero cable routing could be overcome, resulting in well modulated, low effort brakes with aero levers. The design was so successful that many Dura-Ace riders used them. Once the SLR technology was incorporated into Dura-Ace and 600 Ultegra in 1988, it proved so dominant that Shimano started eliminating traditional lever options in 1989.
It should be noted that many of the USA based, Dura-Ace equipped teams were using aero levers in 1985, notably Levi's Raleigh and Schwinn. The earliest well know adopter of aero levers was probably Alexi Grewal, whose Dia-Compe team was using them regularly as early as 1983.
The influence of pro teams on the public acceptance cannot be ignored. Once 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire made the transition, the manufacturers realized the significance and started incorporating the feature more regularly on models.
However, I still feel that the biggest breakthrough was Shimano's introduction of the New 105 SLR brakes in 1987. The innovation of this design proved that the higher resistance of aero cable routing could be overcome, resulting in well modulated, low effort brakes with aero levers. The design was so successful that many Dura-Ace riders used them. Once the SLR technology was incorporated into Dura-Ace and 600 Ultegra in 1988, it proved so dominant that Shimano started eliminating traditional lever options in 1989.
03-11-16, 10:10 AM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 5,093
Bikes: many
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1444 Post(s)
Liked 1,392 Times
in
760 Posts
Like many other things, old stock (non-aero levers) might last long enough to get used up pretty late, so if it was a frame built up in a shop (as opposed to coming from a factory like Trek where they'd pretty quickly deplete old stock), you might well see non-aero levers. Other reasons? Maybe buyer preference, discounted price on non-aero levers reducing the cost of a build slightly, etc. My $0.02...
03-11-16, 10:36 AM
#29
Senior Member
A quick look though my pro cycling annuals shows that standard cable routing was being used by all the European teams in 1985, with the aero levers used only for specific races by certain individuals. In 1986 two teams with significant American impact switched to aero levers; 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire (Hinault, Lemond and Bauer). The only other European pro teams using aero levers on a regular basis in 1986 were Peugeot and Kwantum. However, in 1987 the majority of the European pro teams were aero equipped, with notable converters including Bianchi, Carrera, Systeme U, Fagor, Ariostea and PDM.
It should be noted that many of the USA based, Dura-Ace equipped teams were using aero levers in 1985, notably Levi's Raleigh and Schwinn. The earliest well know adopter of aero levers was probably Alexi Grewal, whose Dia-Compe team was using them regularly as early as 1983.
The influence of pro teams on the public acceptance cannot be ignored. Once 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire made the transition, the manufacturers realized the significance and started incorporating the feature more regularly on models.
However, I still feel that the biggest breakthrough was Shimano's introduction of the New 105 SLR brakes in 1987. The innovation of this design proved that the higher resistance of aero cable routing could be overcome, resulting in well modulated, low effort brakes with aero levers. The design was so successful that many Dura-Ace riders used them. Once the SLR technology was incorporated into Dura-Ace and 600 Ultegra in 1988, it proved so dominant that Shimano started eliminating traditional lever options in 1989.
It should be noted that many of the USA based, Dura-Ace equipped teams were using aero levers in 1985, notably Levi's Raleigh and Schwinn. The earliest well know adopter of aero levers was probably Alexi Grewal, whose Dia-Compe team was using them regularly as early as 1983.
The influence of pro teams on the public acceptance cannot be ignored. Once 7-Eleven and La Vie Claire made the transition, the manufacturers realized the significance and started incorporating the feature more regularly on models.
However, I still feel that the biggest breakthrough was Shimano's introduction of the New 105 SLR brakes in 1987. The innovation of this design proved that the higher resistance of aero cable routing could be overcome, resulting in well modulated, low effort brakes with aero levers. The design was so successful that many Dura-Ace riders used them. Once the SLR technology was incorporated into Dura-Ace and 600 Ultegra in 1988, it proved so dominant that Shimano started eliminating traditional lever options in 1989.
03-11-16, 11:09 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times
in
1,995 Posts
I know there were earlier attempts by pros to use aero routing. The earliest I recall is a special Gitane that Hinault used as a TT bike, either by 1980 or 1981. You can find pictures of this by searching Gitane Hinault TT bike. It looks like the aero routing was accomplished by the classic hack of drilling a hole in a Record lever body so the cable could route out the back - I see these lever body mods from time to time on eBay. I would be interested if anyone has seen other attempts as early or earlier.
The other "near aero" routing was to have the cable housing exit out the lever barrel with the cable end anchored at the lever body horn where the cable typically begins, Only saw with Campagnolo levers. A few Juniors from the North Hollywood Wheelman were trying that.
03-11-16, 01:07 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Magnolia State, 100° with 110% humidity
Posts: 1,230
Bikes: American, Italian, and Japanese.. in no particular order.
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 350 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times
in
128 Posts
My '84 Schwinn Peloton came from the factory with Dia-Compe aero brake levers. Build date was 7-13-84.
03-11-16, 01:11 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Magnolia State, 100° with 110% humidity
Posts: 1,230
Bikes: American, Italian, and Japanese.. in no particular order.
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 350 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times
in
128 Posts
I have (2) bikes with '87 105 SLR levers. They have a great feel to them.
03-11-16, 02:18 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 909
Bikes: Casati, Look, Torelli, Ridley, and a bunch of steel bikes from the 80s and the 90s..
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I don't remember seeing them in 83-84 catalogues. Maybe in the Shimano AX group from around 81?
I remember seeing the pro teammechanics rerouting the cables through the Campy Super Record levers in the pro peloton around 85-86. After that, I think it was Grad Comp that actually sold their true areo levers to the public.
I remember seeing the pro teammechanics rerouting the cables through the Campy Super Record levers in the pro peloton around 85-86. After that, I think it was Grad Comp that actually sold their true areo levers to the public.
03-18-16, 01:58 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
I know there were earlier attempts by pros to use aero routing. The earliest I recall is a special Gitane that Hinault used as a TT bike, either by 1980 or 1981. You can find pictures of this by searching Gitane Hinault TT bike. It looks like the aero routing was accomplished by the classic hack of drilling a hole in a Record lever body so the cable could route out the back - I see these lever body mods from time to time on eBay. I would be interested if anyone has seen other attempts as early or earlier.
03-18-16, 02:27 PM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Rat City, WA
Posts: 462
Bikes: Peugeot Course, Motobecane Super Mirage(RIP), Peugeot PKN10e Motobecane Grand Touring
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
10 Posts
[QUOTE=crank_addict;18618820]For you Schwinster's, this is a first 
Oh man, I want to try that.
All my bikes have safety levers.
Oh man, I want to try that.
All my bikes have safety levers.
03-18-16, 03:10 PM
#37
The Infractionator
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 2,201
Bikes: Classic road bikes: 1986 Cannondale, 1978 Trek
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 875 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I remember a guy who had them in 1978 or 1979, but it was likely something he modified himself.
03-19-16, 10:49 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,959
Bikes: Too many Bicycles to list
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 90 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times
in
45 Posts
The 83 Royal Enfield Gran Prix ( Aero Racing ) I have has/had a early Dia Compe aero brake levers, nothing at all like the late 80's style. One of the tips of the lever got broken at some point in it's life so I removed them ( I don't know if I still have them or not ).
Glenn
Glenn
