General: flat bar --> bullhorn; can i keep my brakes?

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- CommentAuthorzachkrane
- CommentTimeJul 1st 2009 edited
just got a swobo del norte from a craigslister. Was hoping to swap out the flat bar for a bullhorn. Will the tektro levers fit on a bullhorn?
- CommentAuthoriron jaiden
- CommentTimeJul 1st 2009
Yeah the lever should fit pretty much the same. Just put it in the same position you had it on your flat bars.
- CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJul 1st 2009
Bullhorn bars are "road" diameter. Flat bars are the smaller "mountain" diameter.
- CommentAuthorupthemaiden
- CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
I've seen people stretch the clamp on brakes and make them fit, but it's not completely ideal. You will do best with some of those inline brake levers that go closer to the stem. Otherwise some of those brake levers that stick in the end of the bullhorn are ok, but if you don't ride on the extentions they can be kind of a pain
- CommentAuthorthe rabbi
- CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
Posted By: upthemaidenOtherwise some of those brake levers that stick in the end of the bullhorn are ok, but if you don't ride on the extentions they can be kind of a pain
i found this funny. if you're not riding on the horns, then why do you have the bars? get risers or something. hahahaha.
- CommentAuthorFrey
- CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009 edited
well generally you cruise on the flats and climb/sprint on the horns... so it just depends in what situation youd want your brake
- CommentAuthoriron jaiden
- CommentTimeJul 2nd 2009
Posted By: Joshua A.C. NewmanBullhorn bars are "road" diameter. Flat bars are the smaller "mountain" diameter.

I've seen a lot of flats that are the same diameter as road bars but if the flat bars are indeed smaller he could just put a rubber shim in there and call it good.
Obviously if the bullhorns are larger in diameter than the flat bars it's not a great idea to just "make em work".

So basically, chop those flats down to about 20cm and don't use a break then distance skid to every stop 'cause you're in the navy now sailor!!!
- CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJul 3rd 2009
"Road" diameter, for some reason, is less than 2mm greater than "mountain". I don't know whose idea this was, but you gotta live with it. Fortunately, "Oversized" is replacing both.

Rav, I've done a thing with a couple of bikes where I use barcons with cross levers on the ends. See my Jet Jaguar for an up close pic or my just-today-completed Tyger Tyger, which will get more pics tomorrow.
- CommentAuthorFrey
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2009
its because road bars are wrapped where as mountain bars have huge squishy grips.
- CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2009
According to Sheldon, the difference in diameter is exactly 1/16". That makes more sense than the 1.6mm difference which seems so arbitrary. That said, the differences between grips is much greater than 1.6mm. I mean, you'll make up half that distance by how hard you pull on your bar tape when you wrap it.

The fact that the "oversized" is replacing both is ultimately great for everyone who wants a setup that works for their body in their environment, instead of a broad category of bike type.
- CommentAuthoreaglerock
- CommentTimeJul 9th 2009
Posted By: Joshua A.C. Newman"Road" diameter, for some reason, is less than 2mm greater than "mountain". I don't know whose idea this was, but you gotta live with it. Fortunately, "Oversized" is replacing both.

Joshua, are you aware that 31.8mm "oversized" refers only to the clamp area, not to the gripping sections of the bars themselves? The new standard (can 31.8 really be a standard, if both bar and stem manufacturers still make 25.4 and 26mm stuff?) may make things easier as far as threadless stem-shopping goes, but that's the end of it. The only 31.8mm brake levers you can buy are cyclocross levers and Paul e-levers, both of which mount on the bulged clamp area. You can't buy 31.8 shift levers at all, because who wants their shift levers jammed up against the stem?

For the foreseeable future, there will continue to be 7/8" diameter flat/riser bars, 15/16" diameter drop bars, and brake/shifter levers for each. The levers will have differently-sized clamps, because...well, why not? Do we really need fatter bars to grab onto? That'll just introduce a third size of components for some extended period of time.

For me, the one road control/mountain control issue has been operating long-pull brakes with short-pull-esque levers. But Travel Agents, Paul Cross Levers or Dia-Compe 287v drop levers usually take care of that.
- CommentAuthortimdesuyo
- CommentTimeMar 28th 2010
I've got down-tube brake levers on the ends of my bulhorns, and a Paulie Thumbie so I can shift. Great setup. I do mostly city commuting, so I didn't need drops, and I wanted to go with the less is better idea.
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeMar 28th 2010 edited
Posted By: Joshua A.C. Newman"Road" diameter, for some reason, is 1/16" greater than "mountain". I don't know whose idea this was, but you gotta live with it.

FTFY :P

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