Alright, so I have a question about converting my tektro drop brake levers to a flat bar brake lever. I have a Jamis sputnik with just the front brake, so i was wondering, will any flat bar brakes work? Or do i need a specific one. The reason i'm converting it is because its 1. Ugly as hell. and 2. I would rather be able to use the front part of the left drop bar to get down lower so i can actually reduce my wind resistance more.

But its more because it looks really ugly having one drop bar brake lever and one without any.

Thanks for the help guys

I don't get this at all. Pictures?

Pretty sure any flat bar brake will work assuming they fit (check dia). I miss riding with hoods though, more stability when OTS.

There's a thread basically identical to this right below yours. You need cross levers that match your bars diameter. Tektro makes some inexpensive ones. ebay tektro cross and match your diam to the size needed.

Why get rid of the road brakes? They offer much better had positions, switching to a "flat bar brake" will essentially remove two hand positions.

That's exactly what I was trying to figure out.

If your lever is getting in the way of getting into the drops, something is wrong.

Anyway, you'll need a cross lever with the correct clamp diameter. A lot of flat bar brake levers are 22.2 or 23.8, so make sure you check your handlebars.

Oh my god this image is so awesome.

Nah Carleton, contrary to popular belief, the 'drop' part of the 'drops' is just for look.

Until you encounter a headwind on a long stretch of road...then they become awesome as you can get lower and out of the wind which makes pedaling easier.

If it's a question of not liking how a single drop lever looks, then put on the other one but don't connect it to anything.

'Twas sarcasm, but your info is always appreciated (not sarcasm).

Alright thanks for the help guys, so you wouldnt think that a fixie with a single hood brake lever would be ugly? I think its weird to have just one, and having a flat bar, it would make it more like its not even there.

It's fairly common for those to use a dummy lever so that they can have the 'on the hoods' position.

It's also fairly common for those to have a single cross lever on the flats. The benefit of this is that it's easier to change handlebars, since a cross lever can go on any flat on many bars.

To make switching the brake between bars easier, look for one with a hinged clamp so you can take it off without unwrapping your bars

why not just add a second brake and hook it up? then you will have symmetry and be able to stop more quickly..

i know it's "not cool" to have brakes but you've already got one so just go all the way

you can also add a second one and hook it up to nothing. Much better looking and much more functional than only one lever. People stress about whether having a brake hooked up to nothing looks stupid but really, to fret over such an inconsequential issue is far more stupid. So there is no downside.

the tektro aero levers have a spring so they don't rattle when they aren't hooked up to anything.