Looking for a minimalist front brake lever
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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Looking for a minimalist front brake lever
Hey guys. So I've admired the aesthetics of fixed gears for years now, especially the vintage set ups. And although I love the way a track bike looks brakeless I just can't ride like that - I'm way too young to die (25).
So what are some of the least noticeable front brake levers that you guys have seen?
So what are some of the least noticeable front brake levers that you guys have seen?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: East coast
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown
#3
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
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From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone Gen 8
Errr simple single cross lever... tektro has a nice selection to choose from.
#4
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
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From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
A true warrior understands that blatant disregard of death causes it to fear you.
Last edited by Scrodzilla; 03-18-11 at 07:31 PM.
#5
Senior Member
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From: im, hungary
pm muckymucky - his brake setup is very minimalist and he can tell you more about it.
#6
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
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#7
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Bikes: Motobecane Super Mirage Conversion, EAI Toyo Godzilla
paul (if you can cough up the dough for it)
#8
モㄥ工匕モ 爪モ爪乃モ尺
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: LA San Gabriel, California
Bikes: Custom frame
Salsa/tektro has a good selection of small bladed single finger brakes.
Salsa and trektro are the same co :|
Also, animal has a BMX brake lever i think its a 22.8mm clamp though, Any ways the lever is really short and thin.
Salsa and trektro are the same co :|
Also, animal has a BMX brake lever i think its a 22.8mm clamp though, Any ways the lever is really short and thin.
#9
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
#10
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Leader 722TS, Surly Cross Check, GT Outpost, Haro Z16, Trek 1000
odyssey monolever. I have the medium, pretty lo-pro. the small is even more so. I did have to file out the clamp to fit my hussifelt bars. nice lever too.
#11
Goes to 11.

Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Wichita, KS, USA
Bikes: 2015 Soma Double Cross
++ Odyssey monolever. I've got one on my risers and it's awesome.
That does beg the question: what bars are you running?
That does beg the question: what bars are you running?
#15
I've been commuting on my mtn bike for about a year now and never needed to use the front brake.
It's a disc brake but it gets stuck when I pull it(return spring not working) so technically it works but I absolutely never use it, I commute around 9 miles round-trip every day, never ever used it.
I've had some close calls but nothing that needed more power.
It's a disc brake but it gets stuck when I pull it(return spring not working) so technically it works but I absolutely never use it, I commute around 9 miles round-trip every day, never ever used it.
I've had some close calls but nothing that needed more power.
#17
Low car diet
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
If any of these close calls involved you skidding as you tried to brake, a front brake would have stopped you faster.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#frontorrear
OP: Get over it. The caliper will be more noticeable than the lever anyway.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#frontorrear
OP: Get over it. The caliper will be more noticeable than the lever anyway.
#18
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
I've been commuting on my mtn bike for about a year now and never needed to use the front brake.
It's a disc brake but it gets stuck when I pull it(return spring not working) so technically it works but I absolutely never use it, I commute around 9 miles round-trip every day, never ever used it.
I've had some close calls but nothing that needed more power.
It's a disc brake but it gets stuck when I pull it(return spring not working) so technically it works but I absolutely never use it, I commute around 9 miles round-trip every day, never ever used it.
I've had some close calls but nothing that needed more power.
#19
Newbie

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 36
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I'm actually looking to replace my cheap stock plastic brake lever and was wondering if people who use the Odyssey Monolever or M2 ... or any type of minimalistic lever ever put both a left and right for front and back brakes? Is it doable? Is there anything diff between left and right brake levers in general?
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Leader 722TS, Surly Cross Check, GT Outpost, Haro Z16, Trek 1000
I'm actually looking to replace my cheap stock plastic brake lever and was wondering if people who use the Odyssey Monolever or M2 ... or any type of minimalistic lever ever put both a left and right for front and back brakes? Is it doable? Is there anything diff between left and right brake levers in general?
#21
what? NO!
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Hollywood, CA
Bikes: 1988 Bridgestone RB-2 converted to ss
I'm surprised that someone hasn't created a "shame" fork hat has built in breaks on the inner sides of the fork so no one knows your dirty secret. The brake lever could be desguised into a cup holder so people know that you need coffee, not breaks
#22
the odyssey lever is meant for a bmx, so 7/8" which is ~22mm. So it'd take some work to make it fit. Otherwise i've always liked these, but have been sold out forever and idk anywhere else to get them...but again 24mm bar size, which isn't ideal...
#24
old legs
Joined: Aug 2009
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$30 a pair and you can find someone like me who prefers to have a brake on the right side
#25
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle





