extra brake levers on middle of handle bars

andy610
andy610 Posts: 602
edited April 2009 in Road beginners
my trek pilot 1.0 winter road bike has extra set of brake levers on the handle bars which i find very useful but my new trek 1.5 dont have them, does anyonelse use these for there road bike. not many on racing bikes seem to have them but they have saved me a lot of times and im thinking of getting them for my trek 1.5 they are tekro rl 720

Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    They are something of a cyclo cross thing mostly. If that's what you're talking about

    Dennis Noward
  • Baytt
    Baytt Posts: 102
    hey

    ive got em on my SS tricross, cant say i use em much tho ,

    breaking on them feels a bit vague . am considering removing them, not sure how difficult that would be,
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    Trek put them on some of their women specific bikes!

    Not that I'm suggesting they're only for girls............ :D
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    Baytt wrote:
    breaking on them feels a bit vague . am considering removing them, not sure how difficult that would be,

    Just take off the brakes and inner/outer cables, and put new cables on. The inner cables could be re-used if the ends aren't too mangled, but they probably are. You'll also need new bar tape.
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    My lad has them on his kids trek KDS (Mini Racer)
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Yeah I have them on a CX bike and they're great for riding in traffic as you can sit up and still have access to the brakes. I find this makes life a lot easier when you're having to constantly look around for traffic etc. On the open road, they're less usefull.
    Don't think removing them will make any difference, other than that I'd lose the only brake cable adjuster in the system. Probably far easier to leave in place.
    I did have to put a pair on 'er indoors' road bike tho :wink:
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    you mean these? 3263437503_c6d51c8f59.jpg

    i find them quite handy, as i like to beable to have a more upright postion, i don't use them that much but i do like having them there.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328

    Was that really neccesary ?
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • N4PALM
    N4PALM Posts: 240
    I had a bike with death grips once when I was a kid. The old type that were attatched to the main lever. Utterly useless they were.

    I know these modern types are much better but I cant help it that whenever I see them I just think "suicide levers".
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Moray Gub wrote:

    Was that really neccesary ?

    Entirely, if your first port of call is always starting a new thread on Bikeradar, you aren't bothering to do any of your own research.
    I like bikes...

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  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    N4PALM wrote:
    I had a bike with death grips once when I was a kid. The old type that were attatched to the main lever. Utterly useless they were.

    I know these modern types are much better but I cant help it that whenever I see them I just think "suicide levers".

    They are a totally different animal.

    FWIW I had a bike once where the main levers broke off and all I had left were the so-called suicide levers. They worked just fine.
  • rhext
    rhext Posts: 1,639
    will3 wrote:
    ...
    Don't think removing them will make any difference, other than that I'd lose the only brake cable adjuster in the system. Probably far easier to leave in place.
    I did have to put a pair on 'er indoors' road bike tho :wink:

    You can get little in-line adjusters to put on in their place. I had a pair on my CX bike, but I hated them: couldn't get a comfortable hand-position on the flats. Much happier without them.
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    My Tricross has them, but the manual says they are for control rather than proper braking. They are useful in traffic and when moving at slow speeds, but do mean it's hard to find space for lights, garmin etc. I wouldn't miss them if they weren't there.
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    Moray Gub wrote:

    Was that really neccesary ?

    Entirely, if your first port of call is always starting a new thread on Bikeradar, you aren't bothering to do any of your own research.

    If you read the original post it doesn't seem that he was researching the levers, he was asking for peoples experience of them on other bikes. A perfectly reasonable start of a new thread.

    So, I also think that your comment was both uneccessary and arrogant.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    blackhands wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:

    Was that really neccesary ?

    Entirely, if your first port of call is always starting a new thread on Bikeradar, you aren't bothering to do any of your own research.

    If you read the original post it doesn't seem that he was researching the levers, he was asking for peoples experience of them on other bikes. A perfectly reasonable start of a new thread.

    So, I also think that your comment was both uneccessary and arrogant.

    Andy610 always seems to start new threads (with no punctuation too might I add) without bothering to do any research. A hurried post on Bikeradar seems the limit of his researching skills...

    There's been numerous threads previously about cross levers, in both the road and commuting section, and a simple search would have removed the need to start a new thread.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxv_dkf-JFw
    I like bikes...

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  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Eventually, when all questions have been asked, will the forum be closed to new postings?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    will3 wrote:
    Eventually, when all questions have been asked, will the forum be closed to new postings?

    There's always something new....
    I like bikes...

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  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    pottssteve wrote:
    My Tricross has them, but the manual says they are for control rather than proper braking. .

    Fair enough, each to their own, but I find mine are more effective than braking from the hoods. But then Shimano cantilever brakes :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: they're funny. :roll:
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    i find that braking is fine with them, don't tend to use them for heavy braking as i find the narrow positon on the bars a bit too twichy for my liking though i do use them for progressive braking down very steep hills so i can shift my weight back so the front has a little less to do.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    I use one on the front V brake on my Singlecross fixed. As I do nearly all my descending on the top centre of the bars it gets used a lot. A fairly long pull on the Vs but very effective.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    I had them put on my old roadie, and they're very useful for safe multiple riding positions. In fact they're probably the thing I'd encourage people who like the idea of a road bike but are nervous that it'll be too racy/difficult to control. Mine (Cane Creek) brake excellently, just as well as the main levers.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    blackhands wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:

    Was that really neccesary ?

    Entirely, if your first port of call is always starting a new thread on Bikeradar, you aren't bothering to do any of your own research.

    If you read the original post it doesn't seem that he was researching the levers, he was asking for peoples experience of them on other bikes. A perfectly reasonable start of a new thread.

    So, I also think that your comment was both uneccessary and arrogant.

    Andy610 always seems to start new threads (with no punctuation too might I add) without bothering to do any research. A hurried post on Bikeradar seems the limit of his researching skills...

    Well hark at the academic amongst us, whats the view like from up on high ? The question was entirely reasonable and your response to it was not. Forums live and breath by questions some old some new if we go down your route than there is no point in anyone posting at all.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • N4PALM
    N4PALM Posts: 240
    Jeesh lighten up.... The LMGTFY thing isnt meant to be taken so seriously. He could have said "FFS Go google it".
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    I've just come down a 1:8 hill and I didn't think they were funny... :shock: :lol:
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    N4PALM wrote:
    Jeesh lighten up.... The LMGTFY thing isnt meant to be taken so seriously. He could have said "FFS Go google it".

    In effect thats what he did say
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Reading this, I didn't think Reddragon was in charge, dictating what people can post. Just an observation he will probably have another curt go at me now for mentioning this. not that I'm bothered, I've seen his bikes....
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I'm on your side Moray Gub, good morals man, by the way have yos seen reddragons bikes....?