Front Brake
 

First of all, I am new to fixed gear riding. I just picked up a Pista, which so far I absolutely love! I intend on progressing quickly, but don't want to get in over my head too quickly. I live in downtown Portland, which has many hills that I'm not comfortable charging without a brake.

When I picked up my bike, I saw a Langster with a very simple brake system. It had a 2-finger lever right next to the stem, making it very discrete. The whole system was hardly noticeable, especially since the cable ran such a short length.

Does anyone know where I can find this exact system, or something similar? I know that I can build it with individual components, but a kit would be much easier.

Check out my setup and also in my signature. I live in Portland too (West Hills) and brakesless is not even an option for me. I used Tektro (Cyclo)-"Cross" levers from the Bike Gallery. Brakes are R600 calipers and I installed it all myself... it's not very difficult. The hardest part in cutting the brake cable. Search for my thread on installing a brake on a Pista. It's got more information there.

Note that you have to use a spacer for the brakes since the Pista's fork is too skinny for the brake bolt. I used a 10mm washer from the LBS.

A "kit" would be nice since you only need one cross lever for the setup.....but these in-line cross levers are sold in pairs. Most people usually end up building another fixie so not to waste the extra lever...:p
Anyway, all you need are one cross in-line lever, a front brake, and a short length of cable/housing.

Here's a typical setup shown on my beater/errand bike:

What your talking about is a cross lever TT levers are neat aswell thats what i was rock'n

I dont dig the cross levers personally, as my hands are usually on the horns not near the stem.. The TT levers are nice, and if you run them internal they can be just as discrete.

I think lever position pretty much depends on where you ride. If you ride on bar ends in heavy traffic for example, a TT lever is a good choice.

Thanks for all the helpful answers! It was definitely a cross lever. The main difference on the one I saw was that it was very parallel to the bar, angled straight forward, and the lever was silver making even more discrete. The TT levers are nice but I want this brake as just a last resort. I want to learn to ride brakeless, but want the safety net that a brake offers just in case.

River City said they could do a simple front brake, but all the components are black, and I really wanted silver and white to match. I know I'll get thrashed for that one...

There is no all-silver cross lever that I know of. The Forte levers are silver with black clamps. You might have to polish if you want that look. Also, I tried getting white cable housing but no-one in Portland seems to have them.

I did find some HERE. Anyone want to buy the extra lever? :)

how much? I need a single brake setup..

those intercept the brake line. you may be able to run it without hooded road levers but i don't know...

tektro should have something in their catalogue that is what the langster runs... have you looked at tektro's cataloge?

They can be used as stand alone, primary levers, as many people do.

Don't forget about our BMX counter-parts. They have some nice smaller brake levers. One of my personal favorites has always been the Diatech Goldfinger.

Tektro Lever.

Why does Japan get all the cool stuff!? I want pretty much exactly that.

would this work: http://www.danscomp.com/486075.php?cat=PARTS#

http://www.danscomp.com/images/produ...075_Silver.gif

I like BMX levers

+1. I run a bmx lever -- it's cheap, discreet, and functional. If all silver is your thing, you might find more selection with bmx, like here and here.

Shimano DX (BMX) levers are where it's at.

Most of these levers don't specify a tubing diameter. does that mean they are universal? if so i think the odyssey monolever brake is perfect! Here

I like TT levers. :) (only running a front brake, the other lever is just there to keep things looking "balanced") :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...h_IMG_0294.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...h_IMG_0298.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...h_IMG_0301.jpg

If you plan to use a brake as a "last resort" then the brake lever needs to be where your hands will naturally when this moment comes. You may not have time to switch positioning to grab the lever otherwise. I myself think being concerned about keeping a brake discrete as possible, and trying to only use a brake as a "last resort" is kind of silly. Learning how to modulate speed with a brake is a much more important skill anyway. How about just getting the safest and most effective set-up possible for your riding style? How about using brakes when they are safe to use, and not using brakes when they are unsafe to use? Bikes are tools. How a bike looks is a lot less important than how a bike rides. How you look riding your bke is a lot less important than how well you ride. Just my $00.02, YMMV.

That's a really good point. And perhaps I am putting too much effort into the look of it. What I meant about last resort, though, is that eventually I'd like to be able to rely entirely on leg power. For a lot of people that's why they ride a fixed gear in the first place, to be as close to the road as possible, as one with the bike. But to use as close an example as can be used, having a break is like having training wheels for me until I have the confidence I need.

It's unrealistic to rely solely on leg power to brake down a hill when you are pushing 48T by 16T.

A buddy of mine commutes from NE to Beaverton every day with the same setup and no brake. Not sure I'll ever get to that point myself...But from what I'm hearing it may be most logical to just install a TT.

Thanks again for all the input.

Would these work?

http://www.velo-orange.com/siinbrle.html