8
votes
Braking on a vintage road bike
It is true that the old style brake levers were not as powerful from the hoods as modern ones. The reason is geometry.
The picture below shows how old and new levers move when pulled. With old ...
- 21.8k
7
votes
Interruptor Brakes on a Road Bike
The other answers answer your specific question of buying interruptor brakes. Interruptors are fine, but they only work when you're riding the bars and you can't shift on the bars. You should really ...
- 29.1k
3
votes
Interupter brake lever compatible with hydraulic mechanical disk brakes?
Those brakes are designed for cyclocross which means using STI "brifters" as you no doubt have on your bike. Interrupter levers are also designed for use with STI levers. The trio should be ...
- 2,318
3
votes
Performance of 'safety levers'
As far as safety leavers, you can argue your case either way, but they did not get the name suicide levers for no reason. Well adjusted levers on well adjusted brakes on true rims can be setup to work ...
- 12.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Are there downsides to cross-top brake levers? Compatible with all mechanical-hydraulic disc brakes?
I am a maker of custom bikes for kids and small adults. I am a heavy user of the interrupter-style levers, even for main brake levers. The main reason that I use them is that they are easy to adapt to ...
- 3,316
3
votes
Braking on a vintage road bike
Regular brake levers, without hoods or any additional levers or extensions, are intended to be used from the drops (i.e. riding with your hands down in the lower handlebar position). So, if your ...
- 473
3
votes
Braking on a vintage road bike
What you are talking about are extension or suicide levers, which were common in the 70s. These were poorly designed -- they basically keep the cable tension for the brakes partially on, so you don't ...
- 46.1k
2
votes
Interruptor Brakes on a Road Bike
As long as you have brake cables that route under your bar tape (at least one black tube that pops out of the bar tape) you should be able to install interrupt brakes/ cross levers. I'm not sure if it ...
- 1,981
2
votes
Interruptor Brakes on a Road Bike
I've got Tiagra triple shifters and interruptor brakes; I don't see why Sora would be significantly different. While they are more common on CX bikes, there's nothing fundamentally different about ...
- 2,536
1
vote
Are there downsides to cross-top brake levers? Compatible with all mechanical-hydraulic disc brakes?
I can only speak to #1 "Can it decrease the braking efficiency of the main levers?"
Yes, it might, but not a certainty though.
The amount of impact depends on the quality of your ...
- 121k
1
vote
Braking on a vintage road bike
Back in that era cables came out the top and partially blocked access the brakes.
Once the cable was rerouted you have access to the brake from above so the need for extensions went way down. Common ...
- 15.6k
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