Carbon fiber brake levers
09-15-10, 01:42 PM
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Carbon fiber brake levers
These things save me so much weight, I can climb hills now! 
I've been riding a cross bike for more than a year, and have wanted carbon brake levers many times. My new road bike has them, as the icing on the cake. And I like them very much. People usually think I'm an idiot when I say so ... feel free to join the club.
Carbon fiber has a low thermal conductivity. Metal brake levers are cold to the touch, but carbon ones aren't. I kayak regularly, and my gloves are often still wet. Even if that weren't the case, they go through the laundry, and I forget them sometimes, especially if I'm only going a few miles. Sometimes it's just warm enough to go without gloves ( especially when you're doing a lot of work ), but if you don't ride with your fingers always on the levers, they're cold when you need 'em. This was an annoyance last winter, and now that it's starting to get cold at night, I'm much happier this way.
Anyone else using carbon levers? Anyone else enjoying them compared to metal ones, in the cold? Or is everyone else setting up trainers and watching TV until the spring?
My kayak paddle is carbon and kevlar, and ices over before the hull of the boat does, even on flat water. For the folks using CF brake levers, is this an issue on winter rides? For that matter, do carbon frames do the same thing?
I've been riding a cross bike for more than a year, and have wanted carbon brake levers many times. My new road bike has them, as the icing on the cake. And I like them very much. People usually think I'm an idiot when I say so ... feel free to join the club.Carbon fiber has a low thermal conductivity. Metal brake levers are cold to the touch, but carbon ones aren't. I kayak regularly, and my gloves are often still wet. Even if that weren't the case, they go through the laundry, and I forget them sometimes, especially if I'm only going a few miles. Sometimes it's just warm enough to go without gloves ( especially when you're doing a lot of work ), but if you don't ride with your fingers always on the levers, they're cold when you need 'em. This was an annoyance last winter, and now that it's starting to get cold at night, I'm much happier this way.
Anyone else using carbon levers? Anyone else enjoying them compared to metal ones, in the cold? Or is everyone else setting up trainers and watching TV until the spring?
My kayak paddle is carbon and kevlar, and ices over before the hull of the boat does, even on flat water. For the folks using CF brake levers, is this an issue on winter rides? For that matter, do carbon frames do the same thing?
09-15-10, 01:44 PM
#2
Throw the stick!!!!
Once it gets cold enough out for me to have to worry about the brake levers getting cold I switch to full fingered gloves.
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09-15-10, 02:14 PM
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It's ALL base...
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Waddya mean? It gets cold here. Like down into the 50's in the winter. Brrr!
Here's me during my commute last winter. No ice on levers or frame as far as I could tell. Kinda hard to see with the goggles, though:
it's rough out here...
Here's me during my commute last winter. No ice on levers or frame as far as I could tell. Kinda hard to see with the goggles, though:
it's rough out here...
09-15-10, 03:02 PM
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09-15-10, 03:41 PM
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Hills hurt.. Couches kill
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I went from aluminum to carbon in January of last year, however, since it was January and mostly in the 20's and 30's I had on full fingered gloves so I didn't really notice. But they do look really cool even though they are heavier than my old metal ones.
09-15-10, 06:55 PM
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09-15-10, 06:57 PM
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I have a few pairs of cycling gloves, but the only thing I use them for, is gathering dust. Unless it's below 20, merino glove liners are perfect for me, on a bike, in a kayak, or hiking on a trail.
09-16-10, 08:48 AM
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I think our definition of kayaking may not be the same?
I'm the one with the hip contusion.
I save my cycling gloves for on-the-bike use, as I need to feel the paddle shaft if at all possible. For winter paddling I wear neoprene mitts.
kaNUK
I'm the one with the hip contusion.
I save my cycling gloves for on-the-bike use, as I need to feel the paddle shaft if at all possible. For winter paddling I wear neoprene mitts.
kaNUK
09-16-10, 08:50 AM
#12
Still can't climb
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you're kidding right?
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09-16-10, 08:58 AM
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Still can't climb
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sorry. i meant the op. i can't think why carbon levers would be so noticeable.
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No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
09-16-10, 09:26 AM
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stole your bike
09-16-10, 09:29 AM
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Have you ever put your bare fingers on cold aluminum? It feels a lot colder than cold carbon fiber.
09-16-10, 09:41 AM
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Still can't climb
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I was at a cycling festival and i over heard heard a woman say very loudly "oooooo, even your shifters are carbon fiber". The guy it was said to had the most enormous self satisfied grin on his face.
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No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
09-16-10, 09:42 AM
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Still can't climb
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i rode my 105 with metal levers yesterday and today i rode my ultegra 6700 with carbon levers. not much difference temp wise but the carbon one was thicker and easier to use.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
09-16-10, 09:57 AM
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High of 95 today in DFW. I'm not worried about cold brake levers
09-16-10, 10:36 AM
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I took my cross bike up a mountain trail on Sunday. Going up the hill kept me warm, but it was kind of cold at the top. I couldn't "bomb" the hill because of the dirt and loose gravel, and my average speed for the 30 mile trip was about 8 mph. Going down meant a slight breeze, but no exercise-warmth. After stopping for lunch at the top, those brake levers were pretty damn cold against my skin. Fortunately I had the gloves with me this time, and they took care of the issue. But, like I said, sometimes my gloves are still wet from the last time I used them.
I could address that by spending another $35 on gloves ... but once the rainy season is in full swing, that will just mean I'll have two sets of gloves that are still wet. Carbon just doesn't feel cold against your skin, and that's a good thing.
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