Best Aero Brake Levers?
05-25-06 | 01:16 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Old Skeptic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 9
From: New Mexico, USA
Bikes: 19 road bikes & 1 Track bike
Best Aero Brake Levers?
If anyone is converting an older bike's brakes and/or levers I would definitely recommend the Tektro R200 levers. I've used many different aero levers on many different bikes now and can't think of a better bargain.
Here is a link to a company I just ordered a few more sets from. Their stated sale price is around $25 ... but when I clicked on the order product button they actually came in for UNDER $20 - Can't beat that!
https://www.icyclesusa.com/catalog/te...ake-levers.htm
Like the recent Cane Creek levers, these levers have the Campy Ergo right/left-specific style, and have a handy push button QR - which is great for fatter tires on narrow rims when you need a bit of additional clearance to insert/remove your wheels.
These levers have a resin (ie: thick plastic) body under the hoods which makes a nice flat platform top - wonderful for resting your hands on for long hours in the saddle. The come in two sizes and my "medium" (size 8-1/2 glove) hands are fine with the larger model. The bar clamps have the same specs as Shimano's so you can easily try these out without un-wrapping or un-taping your handlebars.
UN-like the Cane Creek version, my levers had the "TEKTRO" name just painted on over the beautifully shiny anodized finish. So, with a little bit of nailpolish remover (basically, acetone) and a rag I easily removed all the lettering leaving just a clean (and anonymous) look.
The Tektro R100 levers do have a slightly shorter reach to the bars, but are still somewhat wide around the body. So, if you have smaller hands, and the grab-around factor would be a concern for you - just as with STI levers - then go for the Shimano BL-R600 levers. They are also finely finished products and have a thinner body. ~ But, IMO, for the quality, comfort, convenience of a QR button, and especially the PRICE these are a real steal compared to Shimano's list price around $60... and even Cane Creek's - which are basically a more recently issued version of these.
FYI: No, I'm not affiliated with Icyclesusa. I've just occasionally purchased from them before and found they do ship promptly. Their inventory of products is typically limited to whatever stashes of overstock items they can grab up from dealers or manufacturers, so you have to pick up their deals when you find them since they probably cannot place re-orders... I'm still kicking myself for not snagging a few fleeting items in the past.
If anyone else has any good deals or reviews they'd like to share about products for updating their vintage rides I'd love to hear them. I seem to be forever either tinkering on my own excessive vintage "stable" or else rescuing other peoples needy bikes, so I'm always up for good ideas or great deals. ~ Cheers
Here is a link to a company I just ordered a few more sets from. Their stated sale price is around $25 ... but when I clicked on the order product button they actually came in for UNDER $20 - Can't beat that!
https://www.icyclesusa.com/catalog/te...ake-levers.htm
Like the recent Cane Creek levers, these levers have the Campy Ergo right/left-specific style, and have a handy push button QR - which is great for fatter tires on narrow rims when you need a bit of additional clearance to insert/remove your wheels.
These levers have a resin (ie: thick plastic) body under the hoods which makes a nice flat platform top - wonderful for resting your hands on for long hours in the saddle. The come in two sizes and my "medium" (size 8-1/2 glove) hands are fine with the larger model. The bar clamps have the same specs as Shimano's so you can easily try these out without un-wrapping or un-taping your handlebars.
UN-like the Cane Creek version, my levers had the "TEKTRO" name just painted on over the beautifully shiny anodized finish. So, with a little bit of nailpolish remover (basically, acetone) and a rag I easily removed all the lettering leaving just a clean (and anonymous) look.
The Tektro R100 levers do have a slightly shorter reach to the bars, but are still somewhat wide around the body. So, if you have smaller hands, and the grab-around factor would be a concern for you - just as with STI levers - then go for the Shimano BL-R600 levers. They are also finely finished products and have a thinner body. ~ But, IMO, for the quality, comfort, convenience of a QR button, and especially the PRICE these are a real steal compared to Shimano's list price around $60... and even Cane Creek's - which are basically a more recently issued version of these.
FYI: No, I'm not affiliated with Icyclesusa. I've just occasionally purchased from them before and found they do ship promptly. Their inventory of products is typically limited to whatever stashes of overstock items they can grab up from dealers or manufacturers, so you have to pick up their deals when you find them since they probably cannot place re-orders... I'm still kicking myself for not snagging a few fleeting items in the past.
If anyone else has any good deals or reviews they'd like to share about products for updating their vintage rides I'd love to hear them. I seem to be forever either tinkering on my own excessive vintage "stable" or else rescuing other peoples needy bikes, so I'm always up for good ideas or great deals. ~ Cheers
05-29-06 | 12:37 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Surly LHT
I just purchased a vintage bike and am trying to convert to these Tektro R200A's you mentioned. It would seem that the cap on the end of my brake cable is too large to be threaded into the brake mechanism. It also does not appear that the cap comes off. 
Dealing with a complete newbie here sorry. Any advice"?
Dealing with a complete newbie here sorry. Any advice"?
05-29-06 | 12:56 PM
#3
I upgraded my vintage Schwinn to a pair of those Tektros. I was going to go for the Cane Creek version, but the Tektros were half the price and felt exactly the same. They're great brakes, anyway.
