extra brake levers on top

I was in my local bike shop today and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is an
extra set of brake levers on the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. They offer the ability to
brake with your hands resting on the top of the handlebars instead of having to move them down to
the normal brake levers/shifters. My question is...can I retrofit my Ultegra to include these and
where would I find them? rick

"rick fetters" <semidemiurge@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:eee67c19.0308031819.73bd38ae@posting.google.com...
> I was in my local bike shop today and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is an
> extra set of brake levers on the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. They offer the ability
> to brake with your hands resting on the top of the handlebars instead of having to move them down
> to the normal brake levers/shifters. My question is...can I retrofit my Ultegra to include these
> and where would I find them? rick

Bar top brake levers are used in cyclocross and can be found in shops that cater to that crowd.
They also can be ordered from many on-line sources. Be sure you get the kind that have the split
mounts, otherwise you have to strip your bars completely to install the solid mount types. The bar
top brakes will work great with your Ultegra set-up. I installed a set of bar tops on my wife's
Ultegra equipped bike because she has arthritis in her thumbs and it's painful for her to brake on
long down hills.

"Dave Thompson" <davetspokane1@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:PP-dndfHfPY9W7CiXTWJkA@comcast.com...
>
> "rick fetters" <semidemiurge@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:eee67c19.0308031819.73bd38ae@posting.google.com...
> > I was in my local bike shop today and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is
> > an extra set of brake levers on the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. They offer the
> > ability to brake with your hands resting on the top of the handlebars instead of having to move
> > them down to the normal brake levers/shifters. My question is...can I retrofit my Ultegra to
> > include these and where would I find them? rick
>
If your LBS orders through the QBP (Quality Bicycle Parts) catalog, the 'Road Brake Cross Levers'
(bar top brake levers) are shown on page 344 of the 2003 QBP catalog. The Paul levers are very good
but have the solid mounts which require that you strip your bars to mount these. The Salsa and
Tektro levers have the hinged clamp for easy mounting. Using any of these brake levers will cost you
a small amount of room on the tops of your bars.

In article <eee67c19.0308031819.73bd38ae@posting.google.com>, semidemiurge@yahoo.com (rick
fetters) wrote:

> I was in my local bike shop today and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is
> an extra set of brake levers on the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. ... where would I
> find them?

At the LBS where you saw them? :-)

Harris Cyclery would be another source.

<http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakes.html#cross>

Specialized has them, too:

<http://tinyurl.com/ixx9> The full URL is:
<http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProd...site=10020&min
isite=10020&section=13188&browselevel=components&JServSessionIdroot=et ebi tp3ur.j27004>
--
Lambert Dickmeis

rick-<< and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is an extra set of brake levers on
the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. >><BR><BR>

Designed for cross racers and bikes, where it may be tough to move your hands..not really required
on a road bike IMO, if it fits ya...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Why wouldn't that just be a matter of personal preference? I mean, I don't want the extra levers,
but it's not hard to understand why some folks might.

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecchio51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030804084801.18340.00000843@mb-m15.aol.com...
> rick-<< and saw something new on the handlebars of road bikes. It is an extra set of brake levers
> on the top/horizontal section of the handlebars. >><BR><BR>
>
> Designed for cross racers and bikes, where it may be tough to move your hands..not really required
> on a road bike IMO, if it fits ya...
>
> Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
> (303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecchio51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030806090702.18087.00001000@mb-m15.aol.com...
> allan-<< Why wouldn't that just be a matter of personal preference? I mean, I don't want the extra
> levers, but it's not hard to understand why some folks might.
>
> Fine and dandy but I think that most, when riding a well fitting road bike, might find they never
> really use them...

I don't understand what bike fit has to do with wanting to be able to brake while riding
on the tops.

JT

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Visit http://www.jt10000.com
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They still sell suicide levers? I thought they banned those!

In case you missed the hint: DON'T buy them.

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

In article <14499-3F318E56-24@storefull-2358.public.lawson.webtv.net>, Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"
<ChriszCorner@webtv.net> wrote:
>They still sell suicide levers? I thought they banned those!
>
>In case you missed the hint: DON'T buy them.

The type made for cyclocross bikes can be made to work acceptably. I think they are not what you're
thinking of.

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/web...kes/15109.html

[This followup was posted to rec.bicycles.tech and a copy was sent to the cited author.]

In article <14499-3F318E56-24@storefull-2358.public.lawson.webtv.net>, ChriszCorner@webtv.net (Chris
Zacho "The Wheelman") says...
> They still sell suicide levers? I thought they banned those!
>
> In case you missed the hint: DON'T buy them.
>
> May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris
>
> Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner
>
>
I think these are different to the old suicide levers, which as I understand, were just springy
extensions from the brake lever. I have recently seen additional levers on the top bar connected in
line with the main cables. To me they would just get in the way as I mainly ride on the hoods, but
people who spend all the time on the bars might find them useful.

Bruce Graham

In article <B_eYa.16026$mZ6.8033@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, jt@jt10000removethesewords.com says...
> "Qui si parla Campagnolo" <vecchio51@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20030806090702.18087.00001000@mb-m15.aol.com...
> > allan-<< Why wouldn't that just be a matter of personal preference? I mean, I don't want the
> > extra levers, but it's not hard to understand why some folks might.
> >
> > Fine and dandy but I think that most, when riding a well fitting road bike, might find they
> > never really use them...
>
> I don't understand what bike fit has to do with wanting to be able to brake while riding on
> the tops.

I assume what is meant is that if the bike fits right, a more common hand position will be over the
hoods where the normal levers are obviously available. Riding on the top of the bar would not be as
common as if the bike were ill-fitting.

--

Remove NOT from email address to reply. AntiSpam in action.

"Dan Brussee" <dbrussee@NOTbetterwaycomputing.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.199b5e127df164f29897c4@news-server.nc.rr.com...
> In article <B_eYa.16026$mZ6.8033@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, jt@jt10000removethesewords.com says...

> > I don't understand what bike fit has to do with wanting to be able
to
> > brake while riding on the tops.
>
> I assume what is meant is that if the bike fits right, a more common hand position will be over
> the hoods where the normal levers are obviously available. Riding on the top of the bar would
> not be as
common
> as if the bike were ill-fitting.

I still don't understand. It's not like the OP is wanting to replace his normal levers with
levers on the tops. He'd still be able to brake from that "more common" position. And he coud
also brake without moving his hands when on the tops. Makes sense to me for certain uses -- like
commuting in street clothes on a road bike, where you want to sit upright a little more than when
in athletic clothes.

JT

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ChriszCorner@webtv.net (Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote in message
news:<14499-3F318E56-24@storefull-2358.public.lawson.webtv.net>...
>> > In case you missed the hint: DON'T buy them. <<
WRONG!

Hi, here is a hint, do a little research, rather than give bad advice. The current selection of
brake lever extensions are nothing like those of the past. I believe their origin is in cyclocross.
The Tektro RX
2. works very well and adds another degree of safety to riding with drop style bars

And I would also like to comment on Peter's comment about no need for these with a properly fit
bike. Well proper fitting does not address special needs of various riders. There are people who
have problems with their hands and wrists who need to vary their riding position. Part of that time
may be spent on the bar tops. I recently had them installed on my older French road bike, along with
a set of Shimano Aero style brake levers. I have a problem with my left hand that makes it difficult
to brake using the regular lever. Adding the RX 2.0 gave me the ability to use that brake. I think
it is a mistake to be dismissive of any accessory that allows more people the opportunity to ride
the bike of their choice. I will evenually get the extension levers installed on my LeMond
Tourmalet, the added weight is minimal and added safety is an asset. Life is Good! Jeff

> They still sell suicide levers? I thought they banned those!
>
> In case you missed the hint: DON'T buy them.
>
> May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris
>
> Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

> If the bike fits, I just don't think moving from the bars to the hoods to brake is any big deal,
> certainly not so much of an effort or inconvenience as to require extra brake levers...

If you're in a pace line, those extra brake levers mean you can use another hand position and still
have instant access to the brakes. Not a bad idea when someone up the line slams on his brakes for
no particular reason <grumble>.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://www.terrymorse.com/bike/

Terry Morse writes:

> Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
>> If the bike fits, I just don't think moving from the bars to the hoods to brake is any big deal,
>> certainly not so much of an effort or inconvenience as to require extra brake levers...
>
> If you're in a pace line, those extra brake levers mean you can use another hand position and
> still have instant access to the brakes. Not a bad idea when someone up the line slams on his
> brakes for no particular reason <grumble>.

Agreed. It's nice to have that instant accress to the brakes whilst on the bar tops.