Newb Brake Question
 

Hello All,

New to the forums here. I just recently purchased a new fixed gear bike and im trying to remove my rear brakes along with the levers. Is there anyway i can do this on my riser bars without having to get new grips? it looks like i can slide the grips off with a lot of force but i'm not sure how easily they will slip back on. Thanks!

Removing and installing grips is a very simple matter of brute force. Pull and twist really hard. I hear some people spray WD40 underneath.

WD40 makes the grips come right off, but it sticks around far to long for my taste. Rubbing alcohol, or vodka if you're so inclined works well and evaporates quickly. I've heard of people using hairspray for installation; it's slick and lubricating at first, but turns sticky with time.

off to the liquor store. Thanks

Why do you have to take off your grips to get the brake off? There's no hinge on the brake lever?

vodka, at ~40 percent will evaporate a lot slower than rubbing alcohol which is usually between 70 and 90 percent, also rubbing alcohol will be much cheaper. With flat "track" style grips i find that just rolling them from the inside, like you may a pair of tall socks, is the easiest and cleanest method for getting them off and on.

compressed air also shoots the grips off. stick the nozzle under the drip and put in a little squirt of air. i did that with my oury grips and shot people from across the garage. :D

...But you can't drink it.

From Urban Velo on Oury Grips "Hairspray, Solvents and Paint – Are not recommended when installing Oury Grip Slip-on Grips. Hairspray, Solvents and Paint tend to degrade the grip over time from the inside out. Thus, causing the grip to twist and twirl on the bar."

This

I've even gone so far as to spray a small flathead screwdriver (if you're worried about scratches, substitute something non-metal) with an all purpose cleaner(windex, etc) and then jimmy it around under the grip.

If you can't figure out how to get the brakes off your new bike, it is probably a good indication that you need to leave them on. Just sayin'.

To answer you question though, I use windex and a chopstick.

I use water and muscles.

I've used a blow dryer to remove some stubborn plastic grips. It warms up the grips enough to make them easier to remove.

On a pair of Ourys I had I rolled them up and then just pulled the little roll right off. No water, no WD40, but probably a little more force than usual in the final tug.

hairspray works wonders