Cyclecross or touring

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Ahhh. Nearly narrowing my choices, however, I have seen some cyclecross bike which have the brakes on the drop down bit and the an additional bike thing (smaller) on the top of the handlebars. To me these seem quite a good idea. But how do I search on line for bikes with the additional brake if u catch my drift?? A further concern I have is that I am so use to cycling on flat handlebars bike with the cyclecross / touring option would it have an impact on back? So if it does what hybrid would you suggest for a daily community to work so it will need to have full mudguards and rack. The bike would be used on cycle paths at weekend as well

 

[Profpointy]

the search term is "cross stop". Wiggle do 'em and I've (retro-)fitted them on my tourer -a Thorn off-road drophandlebar thing, having seen them on cyclo cross bikes
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cane-creek-crosstop-brake-levers/
I think this may have been the very model - something like them anyway

They work well, especially off-road where you want to be sitting upright a bit more. Less necessary or valuable on-road in my view, and I've not bothered on my other bike. I'd choose the bike itself, and not be unduly concerned if these are original equipment or not as they are easy to add.

Regarding drops - my 2nd bike had them (>35 years ago) and I'd never go back to flats. My Thorn off-road tourer has drops too. Flats are fine if you don't mind only one hand position, will never cycle into a headwind, uphill, and don't mind more work to go slower ! Bike needs to be set up right and be comfy for you though, as with any arrangement. I've you've a bad back, then the story might or might not be different.

I am a great believer in full mudguards and rack. I don't like rucksack on bike at all, and I don't like looking like I've had an attack of explosive dysentery coating my arse, up my back to the top of my head - but mudguards are not "cool" apparently. A drop bar tourer / audax, cross-bike or even proper road bike should be fine on most canal path type tracks and be a good better on tarmac than a mountain bike or hybrid. One advantage of hybrids is that they tend to have lower gears than proper road bikes - the latter tending to be rather too high for normal people, especially the so called "compact double" - which I'm unconvinced by. This isn't a necessary part of hybrid or road bike - but sadly reflects what is now sold.

 

[evo456]

Retro fitting the additional brake levers isn't too pricey, if the original cable routing is under bar tape. So it shouldn't limit the.bikes you are looking at

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

The other term for them is "chicken levers"!

Personally I'm not a fan - my Croix de Fer came with them fitted and I've rarely used them, even around town. But I can see how they might be useful if you're not accustomed to drops.

 

[sazzaa]

I've only ever heard them being called suicide brakes! Think the boardman cx has them? I have lower back problems and actually found a drop bar bike was good for my back as it stretched it out a bit.

 

[Profpointy]

The other term for them is "chicken levers"!

Personally I'm not a fan - my Croix de Fer came with them fitted and I've rarely used them, even around town. But I can see how they might be useful if you're not accustomed to drops.

They are good off-road down steep hills where you need to keep sat back to keep from going over the handlebars.
I don't find them as worthwhile on road, though not useless

 

[Profpointy]

I've only ever heard them being called suicide brakes! Think the boardman cx has them? I have lower back problems and actually found a drop bar bike was good for my back as it stretched it out a bit.

the "suicide levers" are an older design which were an extension to normal drop bar brakes - and generally "a bad thing" - unless spot on. The new Cross stops.work very well are separate, but pull on the same cable