tmanAg08

Why is it so common to see small brake levers on FG conversions, rather than using the original lever with the hood in the original location (as opposed to moving it towards the middle near the stem)? I'm specifically talking about bikes with road bars - on other types, I understand. Please forgive my ignorance!

Serendipper 

Minimalism!

tmanAg08

That's what I suspected, just didn't know if there was a functional reason as well. Thanks.

K_phomma

Hands up at stem.

NitroPye

Bullhorns, or risers.

Serendipper 

*****s in my Happy Meal.


Obvious mix-up at the factory?

doofo

dip you on a bender again
?

Serendipper 

Not sure what you mean but, yes.

frankstoneline

I have used small levers in the past because it is an emergency type thing. I only use em if I absolutely need to so why have more lever than you need?

~Stuart~

because when i ride most of the time i ride on the top part of my drops... and when i am on my drops i tend to be 1 of like 3 places... mostly open sprints. I only really use my brake for when riding in traffic (stopping fast is vital when people open doors).


and the small lever looks a lot sleeker then my other levers

ThunderChunky

i ride on the top of my drop bars around the city, so it makes for a more easily accessible place for my lever (cyclocross style.) though on longer rides when i'm in the drops i do prefer a road lever.

666pack

um, because an aero lever right by the stem would not only look ********, but it would also be really big and clunky there.

Peedtm

Road levers need to be on a curve that moves away otherwise there is not enough room to fully engage your brake before squeezing the lever all the way to the bar.

bonechilling

Because utility-be-damned, a small brake lever is the style.

Enthusiast

I use a modified road lever mounted near the stem. I had to cut the base at an angle with a hacksaw and shape it so that the lever has more reach than normal. I could have gone with one of the small cross style levers but that would have been extra $ and I happen to like the curvy shape of the old road lever. Also, I have a front light mounted on the handlebar and liked the symmetry of having something on either side of the stem and nothing at the ends of the horns.

Also, the longer length of the road lever allows me to apply the brake either from the tops of the bar or with my pinky when I'm on the horns of my chop&flops. I did this because I spend <5% of the time riding on the tops of the bars.

doofo

you ride with joysticks

j0e_bik3

you'll see, clear levers and brakes will be next

"you can't even see um"!

j0e_bik3

took a second,..........but thats funny

ThunderChunky

it looks like you ride with your bars so strangely tilted up because your stem is too long.

Flimflam

+1 when in traffic I'm usually on the tops, having the lever there rules - I put in-line cross levers on my roadie so I had access up top and when on the hoods (rarely ever in the drops themselves, though). Mega handy in crazy Toronto traffic.

Enthusiast

I ride with my bars so strangely tilted up because I've found that this is the most comfortable position for my wrists over long distances. I've never understood how having flater bars, which leads to your wrist being cocked downward at a strange angle, is considered comfortable unless the bullhorns are only used for brief out of the seat efforts.

I doubt that my 130mm stem is too long, based on my size, my bikes size, and my body/arm position while riding. I wont post pictures, but the position I adopt is similar to that of a rider in the drops and as you can see in the picture attached above, the relative angle of the bullhorns is similar to that of the drops on a standard road bar.

I'm going to be trying out a nitto pursuit bar soon to try and get a more aero position. It'll stretch me out into more of a triathlon position so I'll let you know if the cockpit is too long.

ThunderChunky

the reason that you think that riding bullhorns makes your wrists "cocked downward at a strange angle" is because your stem is too long. the angle that my bullhorns are at do not make my wrists bend into an uncomfortable position. actually, my hand is almost perfectly aligned with my arm.

ralphm2k

Alot of people ride BMX or mountain style two finger levers. Lets you have some grip on the bar while you modulate the brake.

NitroPye

+1.

Some will even suggest for MTB technique to only use one finger for maximum grip on the bars. Using only one finger puts the control in controlled braking

Enthusiast

What angle is your body at on the bike? What angle bend in your arms? The difference in our opinions might be due to physiological differences or due to how upright we each ride. I normally try to ride with my elbows at a 30deg bend. If there's a headwind I'm pretty hunched over, with my thighs nearly touching my chest and my arms bent 90+deg because my cockpit is too small. Its times like that when I dislike feeling like early Graeme Obree, with my arms crunched up like a T-Rex. Thats why I want the longer reach nitto handlebar/stem so I can feel like later Graeme Obree doing the superman!

Care to post a picture of your position on the bike?