Experience with TRP Ultra-Ergo Brake Levers

[William Schaefer]

Hello all, 

After pining over Rivendells for years, I recently purchased a used Atlantis and have been loving it. It came with the TRP Ultra-Ergo Brake Levers that Riv sells, and was set up as shown in the photos on Riv's website. I couldn't get used to the slope of the levers being so vertical, and was experiencing some wrist pain when using them, so when I recently did a bar swap for some wider bars, I adjusted them to be more level. However, that also feels a bit odd, and I can tell they were not really designed to be mounted that way on the drop bars. I will likely adjust them again somewhere in the middle from where they are now, and how they were when I first bought the bike, but curious to know if anyone else has a similar experience with these, or if I should just raise them back up and see if I get used to it. Photo of current bike set-up is below. 

[Eric Marth]

Looks like a nice bike, WLS821. Is that a 26" wheeled Atlantis with Rat Trap Pass tires? 

Here's my Sam Hillborne with the Tektro RRL levers. Mine are a bit higher, flush with the flat of the ramps. I've had them like this for as long as they've been installed and haven't had any discomfort. Quite like the grip. 

[Nick Payne]

Mine are setup like so, with the tops of the levers being pretty much a continuation of the tops of the bars, and I find that positioning comfortable, both for cruising along with my hands on the levers and when braking:

Nick Payne

[Garth]

Great timing as I was considering these. Can you adjust/move the levers with the cables installed without having to wedge in the allen tool against the cable(even with tension released), like on the RL340 levers ? I recall with Shimano you can as the internal design is totally different. I'm not impressed with the Tektro. TRP being of the same company I suspect they're the same internal design.

[Andrew Wentzell]

These levers come from TRP with a little plastic wedge piece that sits under the top of the clamp and causes the the lever to rotate down a bit when installed. You can install the levers with or without the wedge, depending on how you prefer them to be angled. It sounds like you might want them angled down more than they are. Do you have these wedges? If not, you can buy them from TRP separately for around $10 for a pair, IIRC. Or see if Riv has some in a bin.

On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 12:52:43 PM UTC-4 wls...@gmail.com wrote:

[William Schaefer]

AWentzell - Great tip! That’s probably the ticket, although I did angle them up a bit from where I have now and it feels alright. May invest in some wedges though to help with the angle.

[William Schaefer]

Thanks Eric. It is indeed a 26” Atlantis with Rat Trap Pass Tires (good eye). I’ve been really enjoying the plush nature of those tires. Quite a switch up from my previous aluminum bike with 35 mm tires. Rides like a dream. Appreciate the insight on the levers. I actually raised them up a bit yesterday (but not quite as high as they were placed originally) and it feels just right. Guess I just needed to play with it a bit. Love the Hillborne, and saw your other post. Hope you can get that derailleur hanger braised on there soon!

[Bill Schaefer]

Garth,

I was able to adjust/move the levers with the cables installed. Just need to pull the brake lever and stick a long allen wrench in behind the pull arm, loosen the nut and then adjust and retighten. Was pretty easy.