Top Levers... Do you use them?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Josh on April 28, 2008 at 3:45pm

My vote: ditch'em

Good to see you got the Crosscheck built up!

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Permalink Reply by LeLan Dains on April 28, 2008 at 5:17pm

I would have to agree. I rode a friend of mine's and found myself in the same situation. I just didn't use 'em. So, when I got my new cross bike in I didn't get 'em.

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Permalink Reply by Cincicycles on April 28, 2008 at 8:17pm

Gone

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Permalink Reply by CrankyMonkey on April 29, 2008 at 10:06am

Gone... I replace the brake cables with some Teflon® coated cables since I cut the original cables too short. The brakes are super smooth now. I also fixed some cable routing issues and without the Crosstops I was able to put my Incredibell back on... Ding Ding!

(not necessarily an essential part for racing but the horse people on the trail seem to appreciate it)

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Permalink Reply by Tire Snob on April 29, 2008 at 5:47pm

I guess I have a few different bikes, and use the top mount levers on trail riding on technical descents, and on gnarly courses. But mine are sized so I can go wide - and combined with biomax bars, it's pretty sweet. but if you spend a lot of time on the tops, either the bike doesn't fit well, or you're not going as hard as you should IMHO.

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Permalink Reply by jeremyb on May 4, 2008 at 11:15am

I agree with this. The ideal situation, IMO, is to have your standard 2 bikes. The first is the Euro bike with a single chainring, no top levers, running narrower tires 30-32mm.

The second bike is for the mtn bike courses, top levers, 34mm tires and dual ring.

I think there is benefit to the top levers, but not all the time. Maybe 1 out of every 5 courses. The biggest advntage to them is really steep declines with a nasty pit, mud hole or other technical aspect at the bottom of the hill. The tops can sometimes be too far out there, and doesnt allow you to put your weight back far enough. Also, I have seen people on the tops with a stem that was 99% tight and the bars curved downward when they hit the bottom of the hill. This wouldnt have happened if they had tightened their stem or had top levers and were on them.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on December 3, 2009 at 12:01am

I use top levers on my Bianchi, which is my commuter bike, I love them. When I'm on my road bike I always find myself reaching for them. Maybe for racing they're not so handy, but for riding around town they're the best!

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Permalink Reply by Katsu Tanda on December 3, 2009 at 3:50am

I'm always in the hoods so i never use them. But that saying, that doesn't stop some pros from using them.

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Permalink Reply by kenneth fetsurka on December 3, 2009 at 5:02am

same here

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Permalink Reply by Lance Johnson on December 5, 2009 at 5:53pm

I have them on my C bike. There are people that I like to ride with that it is almost a death wish no to have them on. But for race bikes I'd rather go without.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Nelson on December 9, 2009 at 5:47pm

i thought id like them so i got them on my new bike.. To be completely honest my hands never leave the hoods ever. In the rare occurrence i have to hop over something small ill get on the tops but im stuck on the hoods!

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Whetstone on December 13, 2009 at 12:39pm

i keep one on the front brake.
i find that when my fingers are FROZEN i can't feel the levers out on the hoods...
especially when i'm on the trail.. having an "emergency" brake on the front helps descending.

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