Return of the suicide lever!

[vickster]

But if the drops are never used is seems crazy to have them. You are limited to a very narrow bar if you exclusively use cross levers. I see why some people use cross levers, but it only makes sense if they at some point also use the drops.

I use the hoods most of the time. Rarely the drops. Tops if I'm in traffic and need to cover the brakes. Mostly I move from hoods to tops for braking. Why are you limited to a narrow bar? Ok my bars are narrow being the right size for me but they dont have to be.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I rarely see anyone riding in the drops.

Almost everyone I see is on the hoods.

 

[newfhouse]

I quite like them actually. They're excellent for controlling speed when just cruising around. I have no idea why people have such hatred of them.

Agreed. I had them on my Raleigh Medale in the 70s and I'm just as happy to have them on my Witcomb pub bike now.

 

[growingvegetables]

I too had them ... many, many years ago. Couldn't see anything wrong with them then.


Until I picked up the Black Prince last year - a beautiful 1980s Ernie Clements tourer. With suicide levers.

And now it terrifies me that I ever trusted them way back 30-40 years ago! There's an extraordinarily narrow "sweet-spot" in adjusting the brakes, for them to work well; otherwise, they are a ....... menace!

 

[mjr]

Not sure this was ever answered explicitly:

Why are they called suicide levers?

Because if you pulled them sharply, some models would bend something rather than apply more pressure to the brakes so you didn't stop...

Interrupters are superior in all ways AFAICT.

 

[recycling]

I rarely see anyone riding in the drops.

Almost everyone I see is on the hoods.

That's my impression too. Without wishing to be controversial, if nobody uses the drops, why do they not use flat bars. You then have control of brakes and shifters all the time. To give myself alternative hand positions I have fitted Ergon GP3 grips with integral bar ends and they are very comfortable.

 

[coffeejo]

That's my impression too. Without wishing to be controversial, if nobody uses the drops, why do they not use flat bars. You then have control of brakes and shifters all the time. To give myself alternative hand positions I have fitted Ergon GP3 grips with integral bar ends and they are very comfortable.

I mostly use the hoods, unless I'm going downhill or into a brutal headwind. (I'd say that I want to be more aerodynamic but I've eat too much cake for that to be a realistic description. ) I find the hoods are the ideal compromise between flat bars and drops and as others said back in February, you get a range of positions so you can rest tired or tight muscles.

I've got the cross brake thingies on my tourer but prefer using the brifters, though they did come in very handy when I was walking my fully loaded bike down the steep ramp to board a ferry.

 

[coffeejo]

I really miss Vernon's sense of humour. I'm chuckling just reading his posts from February.

I was too.

 

[Hill Wimp]

I really miss Vernon's sense of humour. I'm chuckling just reading his posts from February.

I did wipe my eye when this thread popped up again but it was good to be reminded of his humour.

Much missed Vern

 

[Mike_P]

Once my collarbone is healed (less than 2 weeks hopefully now) the bike that caused the broken bone is going to get a set of interrupters on it. Can someone clarify where the brake cable is released from - a video on YouTube shows the cable bring pulled pass the hoods implying its obviously released from the brakes and probably the hoods as well - is there a reason for not just releasing it from the hoods and pulling it back pass the location of the interrupter/ cross top ?

 

[Andy_R]

AFAICR, the cable is released from the caliper and rethreaded all the way though from the brake lever. There should be no need to remove it from the lever though.

 

[mjr]

is there a reason for not just releasing it from the hoods and pulling it back pass the location of the interrupter/ cross top ?

The pear or barrel won't fit through most lever tops and hoods.

 

[Mike_P]

The pear or barrel won't fit through most lever tops and hoods.

Thanks, pretty obvious thinking about it !

 

[raleighnut]

They are fitted by removing the outer and cutting a small section of it away (about 1/2") at the point where they mount, the inner is then threaded through down to the caliper.