I recently purchased a single speed/fixed gear bike. It has flat bars on it that I want to change to bullhorns. I was considering Ritchey Pro Road TT bars. I need some suggestions re the brake levers. I'm looking at the SRAM TT900 levers, but as I'm new to this type of setup, I'm open to suggestions. From what I've read the SRAM's are a good lever. As always, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Depends where you're hands are most of the time. A lot of people run cross levers closer to the stem rather than reverse levers off the ends.

When I used to ride bullhorns that I purchased my hands were primarily on the shoulders and levers out on the ends seemed a little awkward. With a shorter pair of flop and chops I cut myself, I put a regular lever without the hood a little bit in from the end and it was just about perfect.

Really a matter of personal preference. Tektro and Cane Creek make good, inexpensive cross levers and reverse levers as well.

Thank you for the input nightfly. When I've looked at pics of bar end brake levers it did look like i would need to be out at the end of the bar for the brakes to be accessed quickly. I expect I would be in the shoulder area or just forward from that position most of the time so your suggestion of a regular lever moved in makes sense. Would you mind telling me what you liked/disliked about riding with bullhorn handlebars?

I am running All City cross levers on both of my bikes, just to throw another name in the ring for levers.

Those sram tt900 will not work unless your bull horn handdle bar has internal cable routing holes

Go old-school, just a pair of road levers.

I was looking at the ritchey pro road TT base bars. They have the internal routing holes.

as nightfly said it makes more sense to have the levers around the stem.

i've considered this for my TT frame.. .and determined if i'm on the ends flying, then emergency braking isn't (usually) a concern. so i've kept the brake where my hands are most of the time in traffic. near the stem.

I have the 500s (aluminum) and I like them quite a bit. I haven't tried the carbon version but I am sure those just dandy but since the levers are on a commuter bike and I am a fat-ass crabon just isn't for me.

I will say there are sometimes when having cross levers would be better for me but for the most part the TT levers have done me well. If you think you will want to do all of your braking at the bar end than go for it if you want something closer to the stem I would go with a good set of cross levers like the Cane Creek CrossTops.


I probably wouldn't go with those bars but only because the flat top of my Zipp Vuka Aluminas are so comfortable. Having a flat section to kind of rest your palms is good for blood flow and overall comfort plus it also has the aerodynamics which helps you go fast ; )

Cane Creek reverse levers. I believe Tektro sells a cheaper identical version made in the same factory.