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I am trying to convert my flat bar bike to drop bar. I have bought STI's but I also want to use additional brake levers(like cyclocross bikes, flat bar levers) as well.

I may be wrong but cable pull ratio of caliper brakes(which I am going to install on my bike) must be different so I think I can't use my old levers with caliper brakes. This is my first question, V brake levers can be used with calipers?(I think no)

Now I am looking for a suitable brake lever. But how can I understand if I can combine them with STI's and caliper brake? Do they have a name like "Flat bar road brake system"? I have taken a look to some bike stores on web, they only tag "v brakes" and "road brake shifters".

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The product you are looking for is interrupter levers. regular flat bar brake levers aren't designed to work in conjunction with STI levers. The ones I linked to specifically say they are compatible with caliper/cantilever brakes. I'm pretty sure most interrupter levers would be compatible with caliper/cantilever brakes because v-brakes don't tend to be found on bike with drop bars, which is where one would normally need interrupter levers.

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  • Are they compatible with all? I mean if I buy this item for example, will it work for any STI's?
    – count_campeador
    Apr 5, 2016 at 19:54
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    Well, not with hydraulic brakes. For obvious reasons.
    – ojs
    Apr 5, 2016 at 20:16
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    I believe they would be compatible with any STI levers. Although you need to make sure you get the ones with the right size of clamp for your handlebar width.
    – Kibbee
    Apr 5, 2016 at 20:17
  • So we can say pull ratios of calipers and cantilevers are fixed you say?. (A dual control lever has the same pull ratio with an interrupter lever). V brakes has their own. Don't know the working principles of hyrdolic brakes.
    – count_campeador
    Apr 5, 2016 at 20:45

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