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Tips for installing brakes on flared handlebar (lemm.ee)

submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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As the title says! I have a fixie and after a period of riding brakeless, it's time to install a front brake again. Mainly because I use it for endurance/audax as well and I'm not doing that brakeless. I don't have a death wish yet... For balance, looks and grip, I'm installing a lever on either side (Tektro RL520, nothing too fancy shmancy). I have flared drop bars, and I'm figuring out how to properly mount these. Anybody has some tips? Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

My only real recommendation is mount them wherever it feels comfortable for you.

I've run a variety of flares (30 degrees to 12 depending on my mood) and i tweak them a lot in all cases. I run SRAM rival for what it's worth. I aim for as flat a surface for my palms as possible, while still maintaining decent grip on the levers from my riding position on the drops.

If your flares are wide it will be a bit weird and may might want to play with the rotation on the bars as well as the lever position.

Knowing what bars you're running would help with advice but ultimately it's going to depend on how they feel to ride - everyone rides differently!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

thanks for the tips! I'm running the PRO Discover 30 gravel handlebars atm :))

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh boy. Check my comments about that handlebar in this post (and the linked article says something similar). Basically the extreme angle means I was grabbing more of the side of my brifter than the usual top.

I mean, try it, but be aware that it might not be comfortable.

Usually the brifters are mounted such that the grip is kind of straight out from the top of the bar. I'm not explaining it well, I know.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I quite like them tbh! very laidback feeling while in the drops as well. only used them brakeless tho, so will see what it does with the levers mounted

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The bars themselves were fine, it was the angle of the shifters that was awkward.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

I ended up using the mid section of the drops on my bars more than the hoods on my bars when I ran them (Satori Boondocks) - and the shape of the SRAM hoods lent themselves quite well to the setup more broadly (having brake levers that don't move laterally helped a lot as well).

I also run quite fat bar tape when I can get it (fabric silicone tape) which helped with the comfort.