2 levers, 1 brake
 

I also posted this in Bike Mechanics, but I figured if it's possible, one of you has probably already done it.

Is it possible to run 2 cross/bmx type levers to a single brake? I want the symmetric look and feel of having a pair of working levers on my risers, but I only want to use a front brake for my fixed. And if I can do this, does anyone have recommendations of affordable/effective levers and brakes?

this is the complete opposite of what the op is asking

I should mention that this is going on a Fuji track bike. Do I need to buy a special caliper, or will any road brake work?

There are gizmos out there but they all look home-made. There's a how-to article over at FGG in setting this up.

Here: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reso...ens/brakes.htm

Off the top of my head, two ways you can do it:

1. Use a modified BMX upper giro, a la FGG Tutorial. Kind of a kludge, in my opinion, but if it works, it works. Plus giros are pretty cheap.

2. Get a Problem Solvers 2:1 Cable Doubler (pdf). They're a bit pricey, but the right way to do 2 levers to 1 brake. Some other company makes a cable splitter aimed at tri/time trial bikes that's priced about the same level as the PS Doubler but the name escapes me.

EDIT: The forgotten company is Jtek. Scroll down.

what about no levers and no brakes?


i dont beleive its taken this long for someone to bring this up.

Someone over at Bicycle Mechanics said this would be doable with cross levers. The FGG Tutorial solution seems sketchy. I have to wonder, why couldn't I just set up the cross levers with one primary and one inline, as though it was the aero/cross combo on one side?

sorry, read it wrong...

The FGG method is a bit sketchy. But, I emailed the author a while back and he said he's yet to have problems. If you do try that, it might be possible to use a nice, stout serrated washer to hold the cables. Of, if you have the resources, you can try to solder them together which might add a bit more security.

You could probably do it with two cross levers. But, if you wanted them oriented properly to the stem (as in pivot point and clamp closest to the stem) you're going to run into cable routing issues. You could do it where one lever is oriented properly, and one is mounted backward. Then you have a straight run of cable going from one lever to another. But you'll still have a big loop of cable going off to then side the back to the brake.

That said, I've never used interrupter levers and this is pretty much all hearsay on my part. I could be way off.

I was in the same boat as you a while ago. I wanted to mount 2 levers for hand positions and having a dummy lever bugs the crap out of me for whatever reason. But I'm lazy and cheap and realized that I had a decent brake set and plenty of cable in my parts bin so I just threw on the rear

something like this... maybe

http://jtekengineering.com/Images/Br...eControl_S.jpg

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

I can't think of any reason you couldn't... It'd look kinda funny, methinks.

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=BR3342

http://aebike.com/images/library/cat...50m/BR3342.jpg

There was a guy who posted his bike long time ago on the FGG who did it with a spent .223 Remington case.

Basically he cut the brass and put it upside down with the two housing entering in the large part and the 2cables out from the small part, both wires working on the brake together.

Simple and cheap if you shoot an M-16 in your spare time or live near a shooting range

use the cross levers. Start the cable at one lever, run it through the other lever, and down to the brake.

Those splitters are for running two brakes with one lever. They will not work the other way. When you pull with one lever, the cable to the other lever will go slack. The housing will pop out and potentially jam up and lock up the brake.

The Problem Solvers one will work because it's apparently spring loaded to avoid this issue.

there was something just posted a couple a days ago on this forum a dude wanted a "discreet" front brake setup, whatever that is. I don't remember the thread but he found these levers that should work for you application. They are the IRD ,Interlock racing design, Interceptor cross levers in silver. These let you intercept a cable in line to add a second set of levers to your drop bar brake setup.

All cross levers do that.

So anyway, I also gave some thought to running 2 levers to actuate the front brake at one time. My main reasoning behind this was to ease hand fatigue on very long descents. So after looking at some of these setups, I decided to simply install a rear caliper on my long distance fixie and save the hassle. :)

yeah but these just look clean no barrel adjusters . Personally I don't see the point if one brake lever is 6 inches from the other just more unneeded clutter on the bars. But I'm sure any cross interceptor levers would work.

Actually, BMX Flatlanders run a similar setup.

Here's a How-To article.

I'm not sure if this will work for you as it stands, but it may give you some ideas and insight.

Good luck.