Brake levers for tops of drop handlebars

GJ255
GJ255 Posts: 35
edited March 2014 in Workshop
I have a new pair of Charge Bowl handlebars (http://www.evanscycles.com/product_imag ... wl-bar.jpg) and I want some brake levers for the tops of the bars. The problem is, I need them to be compatible with my current brake cables, which are for flat bars and so have a nipple at the end. The only ones I could find at first were 'top mounts' which require the cable to be fed through, which I of course cannot do.

The bars are 25.4mm and so I thought it might be possible to buy some normal brake levers just like the ones on my flat bars and simply slide them on the end. However, I tried this with my current brake levers and they wouldn't even slide onto the very first bit, let alone around the curve.

So I'm wondering if anybody has any ideas? Cheers

Comments

  • sandyballs
    sandyballs Posts: 577
    What was wrong with the last thread that you asked on this subject?

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12939732

    I know some of the responses you got we're not exactly helpful, but then again you do not seem very mechanically minded. :?
  • GJ255
    GJ255 Posts: 35
    Sandyballs wrote:
    What was wrong with the last thread that you asked on this subject?

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12939732

    I know some of the responses you got we're not exactly helpful, but then again you do not seem very mechanically minded. :?

    In the last thread I didn't find a solution to my problem, and in addition these are not the handlebars I had at that point. I thought that I might get some different responses if I asked again, and if I specified the handlebars that I had.
  • sandyballs
    sandyballs Posts: 577
    You will need to search for levers such as below;

    http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/brake-levers-diatech-tech-brake-levers-pair-p-3800.html

    Clearly you will need to get something that matches the rest of the bike but that search took 2 mins.

    Hinge opening brake lever. Hope that helps.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    https://www.bricklanebikesshop.co.uk/pr ... e-levers-1

    BMX levers won't fit as like flat or MTB bars they are 22.2mm dia whereas road bars are 23.8mm.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • GJ255
    GJ255 Posts: 35
    Sandyballs wrote:
    You will need to search for levers such as below;

    http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/brake-levers-diatech-tech-brake-levers-pair-p-3800.html

    Clearly you will need to get something that matches the rest of the bike but that search took 2 mins.

    Hinge opening brake lever. Hope that helps.
    Monty Dog wrote:
    https://www.bricklanebikesshop.co.uk/products/blb-cnc-brake-levers-1

    BMX levers won't fit as like flat or MTB bars they are 22.2mm dia whereas road bars are 23.8mm.

    Thanks for the replies. I've just measured and I think my bars are indeed 23.8mm, which means those BLB levers should work ... But surely the Diatech 99 levers aren't 25.4mm across, that would be absurdly large for a brake lever right? Why would they make 25.4mm brake levers and then give you a shim to take it down to 22.2mm? The problem with the BLB levers is that £70 is way out of my price range.
  • sandyballs
    sandyballs Posts: 577
    I don't know really what you mean? The diameter of the clamp is 25.4 mm which is what you stated you need. If you think the actual lever is 25.4 mm you really need to just take it to a shop since you are not cut out for mechanical work.

    :?
  • GJ255
    GJ255 Posts: 35
    Sandyballs wrote:
    I don't know really what you mean? The diameter of the clamp is 25.4 mm which is what you stated you need. If you think the actual lever is 25.4 mm you really need to just take it to a shop since you are not cut out for mechanical work.

    :?

    The stem clamp diameter of my bars is 25.4mm, which tapers away to 23.8mm as far as I know. So I don't want brake levers with a 25.4mm clamp since this would be 1.6mm too big. Of course, that is presumably the point of the shims. However, I don't know of any handlebars which have a diameter of 25.4mm away from the stem, hence why I was confused that the brake levers mentioned were made with a 25.4mm clamp...
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    If I were you I would not make any assumptions about the diameter of the bars where you want to mount the brake levers. Measure them when they arrive and then go from there.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • KING777
    KING777 Posts: 2
    Dia Compe 131 Levers match your needs.

    They clamp on to a road bar diameter of 23.8mm and use MTB style brake cables. You do not need to remove any bar tape to fit them. They cost £15.00 a pair, including delivery, from UKBikestore.co.uk

    If you need more information, SJSCycles.co.uk also sell them...
    See the product page and information about cable fit at this URL below...

    http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/dia-compe-13 ... prod18262/

    Google 'Dia Compe 131 Brake levers'.
  • kambuh
    kambuh Posts: 13
    GJ255 wrote:
    I have a new pair of Charge Bowl handlebars (http://www.evanscycles.com/product_imag ... wl-bar.jpg) and I want some brake levers for the tops of the bars. The problem is, I need them to be compatible with my current brake cables, which are for flat bars and so have a nipple at the end. The only ones I could find at first were 'top mounts' which require the cable to be fed through, which I of course cannot do.

    The bars are 25.4mm and so I thought it might be possible to buy some normal brake levers just like the ones on my flat bars and simply slide them on the end. However, I tried this with my current brake levers and they wouldn't even slide onto the very first bit, let alone around the curve.

    So I'm wondering if anybody has any ideas? Cheers

    Hi, I am wondering whether you managed to find the right levers and fix them on your drop bar?

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