DnvrFox

Okay, I am thinking about having inline brakes installed on my '98 Lemond Buenos Aires.

Why?

Well, I am on Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy, and any injury could be much more difficult to deal with due to the lack of clotting.

Yesterday, my wife was in front of me as we were starting out on the ride. Went past a neighbor's where they had their brand new baby out front. Of course, I was on the bars, and of course, my wife stoppped directly in front of me to see the new baby, with no hand signal (which she usually uses).

Yes, I stopped in time, but it was close. I never expected her to stop, but these unplanned things do happen with not only my wife, but lots of other riders.

It does take some time and thought to get to the hoods quickly, especially when you are least expecting a need to stop.

So, what about the rest of you. Who has inline brakes installed, do you like them, or if not, why not?

khuon

I think they're a good idea. They can make the brakes feel a bit mushy though. The cyclocrossers seem to regard them pretty highly. I'm sure they're also a good thing to have for commuting in heavy traffic and/or urban environments. The only other issue is that you will be sacrificing some amount of handlebar real-estate. This may be a concern if you're mounting a lot of accessories.

phillybill

I cycle through the city alot, and there are time that I would rather be on top of the bars so I can see what is going on around me better and also have the control to stop.

55/Rad

I had them on my Poprad - which I tailored for the road.

I liked the look of them and they worked well but I found that, unless you normally cruise or descend with your hands on top, they won't get much use. For climbing or resting, most riders rarely hit the brakes.

And they took up valuable bar space.

55/Rad

BillK

I took up biking (again) in Spring '04 and installed a pair on my Marin Portofino after taking a tumble over my handlebars and breaking my collarbone. I just felt it took me too long to get to the hoods. But I'll also admit that as the season wore on, I felt I needed them less & less (more time on the hoods, an extra degree of caution, additional experience, etc.).

Wildwood 

I installed the extra brake levers on an older touring bike and I find that I almost never use them. Someone mentioned that they make the brakes feel mushier, and that's my experience also.

If you find it uncomfortable to ride "on the hoods" maybe your reach to the bars is too great, consider a shorter stem or raising your bars. Try a few minutes of stretching before a ride. Everybody talks about having good fit on a bike and that means RIDING ON THE HOODS. Riding on the tops is great for climbing and cruising in a relaxed and more upright position, but around other riders or on MUTs, always use the hoods.

lala

OK, I'll bite: what _are_ inline brakes?

bac

I have a pair on my cyclocross bike. They are great. I've thought about installing a set on the road machnie (every time I reach for the brakes from the tops on my road bike!), but haven't yet. I can see no downside with the exception of about 1/4 lb of extra weight.

late

Hi,
I had brakes on top 30 years ago, got 'em now. As a tourista and commuter, I like being able to have my head up, and hands on the brakes. I don't like the way it eats up space on the bar. If I had a toy bike, I wouldn't put them on. My bike is a working stiff, just like me.

joejack951

DnvrFox, If you are really considering this, do you want the pair that I'm about to remove from my Specialized Sequoia? I've used them a couple times but mostly they just get in my way when using the tops while climbing.

slvoid

I thought i'll need em but they seem nearly useless now on my ocr touring. It's proven useful maybe 2-3 times a week on my commute. Which is pretty good. But I'm considering having them removed.

howling.fantods

No real downside to them, if you ever think they'll be useful, might as well use them.

Lala, they're a second set of brake levers that attaches to the existing brake cable and allows for braking while you're on the tops. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?sku=18271

Kind of like suicide levers, except they, like, work. Mostly used by cyclo-cross racers but also seems not uncommon on touring and commuting rigs.

lala

Gotcha, thanks!

Map tester

I also have them on my ocr touring and will definitely keep them. I don't use them all the time, but they are *very* handy when you need them and you are up on the bars. I haven't noticed any other effect on braking, but this bike came with them pre-installed so I can't compare to the same bike without them. As far as bar real estate goes, I seem to have enough room for my hands and everthing else.

'nother

I just put some on my cyclocross bike (though I don't race CX) . . . main reason for me is to provide an alternative hand position for long descents to relieve strain on my arms (tennis elbow). I'm not a speed nazi, and actually kind of a wussy descender, so being in a non-aero position doesn't bother me or make me feel inferior like it might some True Roadies

I've had 'em for a couple of weeks and I like them a lot . . . first big test was yesterday with a 5-mile descent: no pain like I used to get after a mile or 2, as I was able to switch between the normal hoods and bar tops when I started to feel fatigued in one position.

The kind I have take up about 1" of mounting space on my bars; which is indeed "a lot" if your bars are already decked out with accessories. Mine aren't; my LBS had no trouble accommodating my cyclocomputer and I still have room for a bar-mounted light if I need it.

DnvrFox

Sure!

SDS

Seems to me that if you are going to espouse mirror use as I do, then you can't be opposed to inline brakes by those who want them, and if they didn't add risk (it appears to me that no likely failure of the inline brake system or means of use, could cause the brake system to have compromised function, therefore no additional risk?) or weight (they do, but does this matter for most riders in most circumstances?), then there is no downside to their presence or use....

slvoid

Just for comparison, even though technically, the disc brakes could be had a LOT closer to the braking surface on my OCR touring than my litespeed's rim brakes, the same brake levers on my litespeed are a lot tighter than the OCR cause the OCR as the inline bake levers. They do make the braking especially mushy and may even be giving my discs TOO much modulation.

DnvrFox

Thanks for all your input and feedback! Really great to have folks with experience share their thoughts.

I think I will go with inline brakes. One more safety factor for me.

Of course, we all try to ride on our hoods when there is any danger. However, it is the unexpected that causes accidents, not the anticipation of the expected. Inline brakes would give me one more contingent response.

DnvrFox

Had the inline brakes installed today - I am going to love them.

This is a newer model - "It presses against the housing" according to the mechanic guy at the LBS, and it does not make my other brake lavers "mushy."

Anyway, $25 for the levers and $10 to install. Sometimes it pays to have a great relationship with a local LBS!

They will add just one more safety factor for me.

I think I will have them installed on my Windsor Leeds also.

SpongeDad

I definitely agree with the "reach" issue. To get used to riding on the hoods, I installed a shorter stem. After about four weeks, I was comfortable enough to go back to the longer stem.

Also, check to see if your hoods are too low, forcing you to rotate your wrists uncomfortably.

Finally, your bar may be too low. I'm out of space on my steerer to raise the stem, so I bought a Specialized adjustable stem, which allows me to set the angle stem at +/- 6 or 16 degrees. Got the bars up just a smidge.

DnvrFox

Why are people trying to convince me not to do something I have already done? Makes no sense to me. I don't need to justify my use or non-use of my hoods or drops or bars. I ride like I ride because I like to ride that way, even if I am standing on my head, or riding with two feet on one pedal or whatever. Works for me. As I explained in the beginning of this thread, it is also a safety issue for me, to be more able to prevent injury so that I don't bleed blood that does not clot.

ZackJones

I don't care for them but I'm seriously considering adding a set to my wife's bike. She almost always rides with her hands on the tops of the bars.

Michel Gagnon

My bars are positioned so that my preferred position is on the drops. Therefore, I have no need for inline brake levers.

DnvrFox

And here I was under the apparently mistaken impression all these years that one of the advantages of road bars was the ability to switch easily between bars, hoods and drops. I guess I was also mistaken in believing that folks generally use drops for descents and less wind resistance.

Folks I see riding around here are usually on the hoods or bars. I never see anyone constantly using the drops. Thanks for enlightening me.

Incidentally, as I get older (65 yo now) I find that my flexibility is somewhat less. Glad you won't/don't have the same problem! Good for you. You are far superior. Congratulations.