Adding v brake levers to drops

father_jack
father_jack Posts: 3,509
edited July 2016 in Commuting chat
Is it possible to fit v brake levers onto bikes with drop bars, basically what cyclocross have? The brakes I have are Shimano BR-R451 57mm . Brake levers are Tektro RL340.
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Comments

  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,538
    Is it possible to fit v brake levers onto bikes with drop bars, basically what cyclocross have? The brakes I have are Shimano BR-R451 57mm . Brake levers are Tektro RL340.

    I think you need something designed to work inline, like this:
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cane-creek-crosstop-brake-levers/

    Hopefully I will be proved wrong.

    Never used them, well my Langster had them only, but I removed and replaced with hood versions, but I gather they are not meant to be very good.
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  • pastryboy
    pastryboy Posts: 1,385
    Yes, the link is correct for what you need. I bought a pair years ago and never bothered fitting them. Apparently (and unsurprisingly) they will make your braking less smooth.
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    yeah I've had to setup a Boardman CX Comp, it has drop bars/brake levers, with disc brakes, and mini v brake type things on the hoods, it was a pain in the arse. Terrible braking performance, like no travel/power- I thought it was just me.
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  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,172
    Yes, you can... they are very handy in traffic if you want to ride on the tops
    left the forum March 2023
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Cannondale did a single speed bike with 'crosstop' levers as the sole levers, I have them on my commuter as they are lighter than conventional brake levers.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • I have cane creek cross tops on my soon to be sold Salsa Colossal.

    They are great in traffic and it gives you somewhere else to move to when you want a change of position for what ever reason you dont want to be on the drops
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  • BNystrom
    BNystrom Posts: 2
    Don't any of you ever brake from the hoods? I probably do 95% of my braking from there. It's not all about the drops and tops.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Nope, as my commuter has flat bars......
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • timj2112
    timj2112 Posts: 1
    The problem with most road brake levers is they don't pull enough cable for v-brakes. There are some gadgets that appear to increase the amount of pull, they attach where the brake cable enters the brake. A much more elegant solution is DiaCompe 287-V brake levers. They came standard on my 1998 Trek 520 and they are still available for less than $30. Shifting needs to be handled elsewhere of course, on the down tube or bar-end. Apparently Tektro offers something similar, the RL-520 but I have no experience with it.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I think you misread the thread completely when resurrecting this older thread, it was talking about v-brake style levers for road brakes. So he does need road brake levers.

    However much 30$ is as it depends on the $ (not much if it's Zimbabwean)
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    BNystrom wrote:
    Don't any of you ever brake from the hoods? I probably do 95% of my braking from there. It's not all about the drops and tops.
    Snap do most of my breaking from the hoods. Only from the drops on descents really.
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