Reverse Levers with Linear-Pull Brakes?

[Matthew Williams]

I've been looking into using reverse levers with linear-pull brakes. I want to mount the levers on the ends of a Bullmoose or Boscomoose bar, and run the cables inside the handlebars.

Is this possible? Can reverse levers be used with linear-pull brakes? If you have this setup, or you've ridden a bike with reverse levers, did you like it?

[Jay Lonner]

I used to run reverse levers with ‘cross-style interrupters on Boscos on my Hunq. I liked this setup ok - to me the Achilles’ heel was that the non-moosey Boscos were too flexy. The Tektro levers that I had (and still have, somewhere in my parts stash) don’t work with V-brakes though. Paul used to make reverse levers that I think were adjustable, but they’ve been out of production for years - no doubt available at a premium on eBay. 

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

Sent from my Atari 400

On Dec 2, 2020, at 11:28 AM, Matthew Williams <matthewwil...@gmail.com> wrote:



I've been looking into using reverse levers with linear-pull brakes. I want to mount the levers on the ends of a Bullmoose or Boscomoose bar, and run the cables inside the handlebars.

Is this possible? Can reverse levers be used with linear-pull brakes? If you have this setup, or you've ridden a bike with reverse levers, did you like it?

<reverselever.jpg>

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[Garth]

Matthew. Yay to the reverse levers , nay to linear pull brakes without a travel agent thingy, which I've never used as I've never been drawn to v-brakes.

I only use reverse levers on my Albatross 56cm steel bars on 2 bikes. I really don't like regular mtb levers as they're always in the way of my hands. Having all that open space ... why restrict your hands to a tiny grip ? I use some padded bar tape up to and over the curve with shifters mounted there. Having the levers there is also easier to reach no matter where my hands are, and I only need 2 smallest fingers to brake.

[Marc Irwin]

If those are long pull (for standard caliper brakes) they won't work without a travel agent added to the V-brake.  I use regular MTB levers with interrupter levers on my Hunq and had to add the travel agent when I went to V brakes.  The travel agent is a PITA to set up, works fine, looks a little clunky but I am really glad I did it.  The linear pull brakes have much better stopping power than the canti's I used before.

Marc

[Matthew Williams]

Will the Paul reverse levers work with linear-pull/v-brakes?

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[Jay Lonner]

I never owned a pair, but as I recall they had a dual pivot design that would accommodate both short- and long-reach brakes. I actually wrote Paul directly and asked whether he had any kicking around, or would consider making them again. The answer was "no" to both questions, so the used market is really the only option.

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

[Matthew Williams]

Thanks very much, everyone. Jay--are these the dual-pivot Paul levers to which you're referring?

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[Jeremy Till]

I can confirm that those are the Paul levers with two pivot positions that can be set for long-pull brakes. Both pictures show them in the short pull setting, the lower hole would be used for long pull. The pivots are secured with little c-clips that allow removal and repositioning.  

Back when I was working as a mechanic I did a custom build of a Surly Disc Trucker with Porteur bars for a customer. We kept the stock long-pull Avid BB7 brakes and decided to go with these for the levers (they were still in production at the time). Like everything Paul they were super high quality and relatively easy to set up. My only memory is that it was hard to get the "bite point" right where I wanted it--the pads hit the rotor when the lever was just a little closer to the bar than I would prefer, but they offered fine braking once they did and the customer was happy with them. That issue may or may not present itself with v-brakes.  

Paul Components definitely do their part to support tiny niches (142mm thru axle fixed gear hubs, anyone?) but I think these were probably fringe even for them. They probably only made sense right at the height of the fixie boom when bullhorn handlebars were more popular and reverse levers of all types probably sold better. Even then how many bikes with reverse levers use long-pull brakes? 

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA