So, this is likely a really stupid question, but i've never denied being stupid.

If i want to mount brake levers on my flats (on bullhorns or drops), am i limited to the cyclocross levers, or can i run MTB or BMX levers?

Assuming I can use them, will they work with normal long-reach road calipers? I can't see why they wouldn't, given their longer pull ... but maybe I'm missing something.

I imagine the problem is clam size. I'm running Syntace bullhorns from Chuck's right now, and Norco-made Axiom ergo drops.

Thoughts? Anyone know of some cheap but good cyclocross levers?

That's right, you would be limited by the size of the clam:



Also the difference in pull would make them hard to adjust properly.

err ... umm ... i think i meant clamp size ... maybe ... although that is one impressive clam ... i wonder if he's campy compatible?

Well, I run a lever from a hybrid. It was free, and it fits fine. Instead of a regular clamp it has some kind of band with a screw putting pressure on the bar, so it'll pretty much fit anything.

tektro makes some cross levers that are less expensive than the salsa ones.

mmm...the only brakes I would ever run would be Littleneck Clamp based. In garlic butter.

assuming you're running a standard road 15/16) bar, and assuming you're running a standard (7/8) mountain brake (not something funky like manboy has) it prolly wont fit without some milling or at least a bit of forcing. Wont hurt to try it though.

Interrupters are made to fit.

oh yeah; perfectly compatible w/calipers.

I use a dia compe dirty harry BMX lever. It's made for the newer BMX bars and come siwht a shim for the older thinner ones. Works perfectly on track bars without the shim. I've also shortened the lever by cutting of the bend so it is a true one finger lever. I don't have any problems with cable pull and the brake works fine.

Some of those cross levers come with shims to fit the larger and smaller road bar diameters.

The Tektro levers have a weak spring when used as the solo levers. I returned mine and got the Specialized one and have snappier brakes on par with regular levers.

BMX and mtn levers pull more cable than road calipers require. But they'll be fine. You'll just engage your brakes onto the rim with less lever pull.

I run my brake cable through a short length of garden hose which I hold in my teeth as I ride. But if I'm having a cigarette or something I have to tie it off on my ponytail which sometimes tangles up in the cable. No system is perfect though

I tried running a Tektro BMX lever on my bullhorns a while back, and after a good hour of cursing, filing and forcing I managed to mount it on my bars. Scratched the bars all to hell, made me wonder how much I'd messed up the clamp, and frankly wasn't that comfortable anyway. Switched to a Tektro 'cross lever, and life was dandy. Until I yanked the brakes for good. And then life was dandier.

Also, as I understand it, brake levers intended for use with cantilever brakes work fine with road calipers (same amount of pull), but brake levers intended for V-brakes don't.

I run a Tektro BMX lever quite happily. However, it's true that it was too small to fit my bars. So I did what I seem to always do and got out my #1 mechanic's tool: a 5lb claw hammer. I put a wedge in there, drove that bastard open, and slid it right on. Then I got out the vice grips and clamped it down on the bar so it mostly fits.

The screw holes don't line up anymore, but that's actually cool because I have a few degrees of motion if I want it in a slightly different position (which is more often than I would have expected, strangely enough).

The brake works real nice and the short two-finger lever stays out of my way except when I need it.

Note: I removed the vice grips after squeezing the clamp together as best as I could. I am not, repeat, am not riding around with a vice grips protruding from my bar.

Bullhorn bar diameter is bigger than traditional drop bars - I made that mistake, now I have to buy TT levers. If you flip n' chop your drop bars to make bullhorns then all brakes should fit. BMX levers work well with road calipers + their as cheap as chips from ebay.