Anyone else have this issue? My Jake the Snake has the brakes up on top too, meaning there isnt much space to fit the bag. I know people use the JTS for touring, did you just remove that set of brake levers or is there a way around it?

Get extra straps, maybe use a set for toe clips and hang a small bag lower than the cross brake levers. I love those levers and have them on three bikes, but they do complicate mounting a handlebar bag. I use a small axiom handlebar bag that I bought about 10 years ago and long straps to hang it below the levers.

Maureen

Looking into this right now.

Thanks to Cyccocomute for giving me this thread link

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=213191&highlight=noodle+brake+v)s

As an idea for a way to fit a reasonably-sized handlebar bag with a double stem set up and keep the inline levers.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll look into it. I will just use my camelback for the time being. And I just found out my BOB Yak trailer's QR skewer is 2mm too long.... ruining my touring weekend before I even leave!

I use one on my tricross. Just rotate the brake levers to where they should be, pointing down. They don't get in the way of my topeak bag.

Steve

I just took that set of brake levers off, I found them to be pretty useless anyway

HokkaidoRider, eh?

Only noticed that when you replied. I'm intending to do a tour of Hokkaido this August. Much prefer the idea of being there than Tokyo at that time. What's the free camping like in Hokkaido?

If I just rotate the levers down, it may work. But my axion handlebar bag seems too big to fit there. Also clamps (is that the word?) that grasp the handlebar are finding that my handlebar is way too thick. I haven't found a headlight even that will fit around this handlebar...

As for touring Hokkaido, feel free to PM me for details about routes/camping. It's awesome for touring around. Camping is free/cheap, you can stay at or near an onsen almost every night too. Buy the book "Hokkaido Touring Mapple". It has a guy on a motorbike on the front but works just the same for bicycles.

Angle the brake levers down like you would on a mountain bike. Most of the interrupter levers I've seen on cross bikes are flat. An added benefit is you'll have a more natural angle for your fingers when you use the interrupter levers.

Depending on which bag you have, there are also lot of extenders for the clamping mechanism. Tubus, Jannd and others that use a Rixen and Kaul mount type mount have extenders you can get.

Yeah, I've got a Lemond Poprad and I was able to mount a arkel bag on my bars just fine. Besides the tinkering involved with getting the clamps on, the cross levers have a good cm of room still. I love the levers and am glad they fit. I just had to put the brake cables through the brackets. I would add a picture but my bike is in the back of a UPS truck on its way to virginia.

The Topeak bag clamps fit fine, I just didn't use the extra padding they provide. The one odd thing about rotating the levers down is it means I can't see them - they're exactly the opposite side of the bar from my eyes. I'm not sure why that seems so odd, but it does - invisible brakes!

Steve

On all of my mountain bikes, I can't see the levers from the saddle. But if you have to look for the brakes to stop the bike you have bigger problems