Hi Folks
I am thinking about getting some dual control levers for the Steed. I currently have grip shifts and when I get a a bit sweaty I can't change gear!! Doing a hill start on a low racer in a high gear (or low - I'm never sure) is the definition of tricky. Has anyone had anything to do with them? particularly on a recumbent?
(I tried to post the link - but I'm not cool enough yet
Dual Control Levers?
- Gregory_carroll
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- Freddyflatfoot
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Postby Freddyflatfoot » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:19 pm
Greg,
You could wear gloves! Will also help with hand starts if you can reach the ground on your low racer. That'd be your simplest option.
If you have room between your legs and the bars, the trigger shifters could also be an option.
I did consider dual control levers myself at one stage, but I'm not sure about availablity, I hear they have fallen out of favor with the MTB guys?
Either way, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't work!
BTW, is your gear system Shimano or SRAM?
You could wear gloves! Will also help with hand starts if you can reach the ground on your low racer. That'd be your simplest option.
If you have room between your legs and the bars, the trigger shifters could also be an option.
I did consider dual control levers myself at one stage, but I'm not sure about availablity, I hear they have fallen out of favor with the MTB guys?
Either way, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't work!
BTW, is your gear system Shimano or SRAM?
Cheers!
Rob
---------------------------------------------------
Homebuilt trike, with electric assist
26"/20" trike, "Goanna"
SWB recumbent, 700C/451 , "Kookaburra", homebuilt.
FWD project (Cyclone).
Optima Raptor
Rob
---------------------------------------------------
Homebuilt trike, with electric assist
26"/20" trike, "Goanna"
SWB recumbent, 700C/451 , "Kookaburra", homebuilt.
FWD project (Cyclone).
Optima Raptor
- Kalgrm
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Postby Kalgrm » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:58 pm
I've got them on my Bacchetta. Shimano XT (cable brake version). I love them on the 'bent, but I couldn't imagine anything worse on a MTB (I've got two, but only one of them has gears).
You can see them in this thread.
Cheers,
Graeme
You can see them in this thread.
Cheers,
Graeme
Think outside the double triangle.
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
- Gregory_carroll
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- Location: Melbourne
Postby Gregory_carroll » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:03 pm
I did try gloves - and they worked really well. They are the best option - but there goes my excuse to buy new bits for the bike Although I do tend to wear through the ends of the fingers doing hand stands.
Graeme - they are the ones I was looking at, good to hear they work on the recumbent (nice wheels by the way), but why would they be a nightmare on mtb?
Graeme - they are the ones I was looking at, good to hear they work on the recumbent (nice wheels by the way), but why would they be a nightmare on mtb?
Lovin the Challenge!!
- Kalgrm
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:28 pm
The bars get a lot of external input on them when you're hurtling down a trail. Rocks, logs, roots, etc. all require a steady finger on the brake whilst maintaining grip on the bar for steering.
To change gears with these things, at some point you need to get your fingers underneath the lever to lift the lever. That action requires you to loosen your grip on the bar with your fingers, not to mention losing the ability to apply the brake at that point (unless you're very dexterous).
On the MTB, I'm much happier with SRAM Rocket trigger shifters, since they allow me to ride with one finger touching the brake lever while my thumb is free to shift gears up or down. I'd put them on my 'bent too, but they interfere with my legs when I turn.
Cheers,
Graeme
(PS - got even better wheels on it now. 700c Velocity Deep-V rims laced to XT disc hubs.)
To change gears with these things, at some point you need to get your fingers underneath the lever to lift the lever. That action requires you to loosen your grip on the bar with your fingers, not to mention losing the ability to apply the brake at that point (unless you're very dexterous).
On the MTB, I'm much happier with SRAM Rocket trigger shifters, since they allow me to ride with one finger touching the brake lever while my thumb is free to shift gears up or down. I'd put them on my 'bent too, but they interfere with my legs when I turn.
Cheers,
Graeme
(PS - got even better wheels on it now. 700c Velocity Deep-V rims laced to XT disc hubs.)
Think outside the double triangle.
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
- Gregory_carroll
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- Location: Melbourne
Re: Dual Control Levers?
Postby Gregory_carroll » Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:02 pm
I took the plunge and bought a pair of dual control levers, they are the same as the Deore XT ones that are on Graemes' bachetta.
The verdict is still out, but there are a few pro's and cons'
The Good;
I have hamster bars on my bike and tend to hold the top of the brakes while riding. With these lever / brakes, I can hold the top of the brakes and change gears with my little and next to little fingers, so no need to change my hand position.
As the bars are very narrow, I now have a whole hand width of bar to grab hold of should I need to.
Unlike the grip shifts, I am not likely to get so sweaty that I can't change gear
The shifting is very crisp and nice on the rear derailleur.
The brakes work very well.
Despite the rumors a MTB front shifter will work with a roadie derailleur, without indexing issues.
The Bad;
They are probably a bit less aero than the previous set up.
Because the bars are very narrow, routing the cables was tricky and there are now some pretty severe angles involved.
To get the cable angles livable, they need to be set wider apart than I'd like, so the levers hang over the end of the bars a little.
The front shifter is very stiff, but this might be because it is working on a roadie derailleur)
Routing the cables so they didn't interfere with the brakes took a while.
They are a bit agricultural looking, but saying that, they probably look better than the new XTR ones.
The Daft;
The cables out of the box were about 2 inches to short, so I had to go and get a new set meant for a tandem. Its a common issue with a bike thats over 3 miles long.
The cable outer were no where near long enough, so I stuck with the originals.
I need a smaller computer so that it doesn't interfere with the cables.
Net result, I'm not 100% sold, but will stick with them for a while.
The verdict is still out, but there are a few pro's and cons'
The Good;
I have hamster bars on my bike and tend to hold the top of the brakes while riding. With these lever / brakes, I can hold the top of the brakes and change gears with my little and next to little fingers, so no need to change my hand position.
As the bars are very narrow, I now have a whole hand width of bar to grab hold of should I need to.
Unlike the grip shifts, I am not likely to get so sweaty that I can't change gear
The shifting is very crisp and nice on the rear derailleur.
The brakes work very well.
Despite the rumors a MTB front shifter will work with a roadie derailleur, without indexing issues.
The Bad;
They are probably a bit less aero than the previous set up.
Because the bars are very narrow, routing the cables was tricky and there are now some pretty severe angles involved.
To get the cable angles livable, they need to be set wider apart than I'd like, so the levers hang over the end of the bars a little.
The front shifter is very stiff, but this might be because it is working on a roadie derailleur)
Routing the cables so they didn't interfere with the brakes took a while.
They are a bit agricultural looking, but saying that, they probably look better than the new XTR ones.
The Daft;
The cables out of the box were about 2 inches to short, so I had to go and get a new set meant for a tandem. Its a common issue with a bike thats over 3 miles long.
The cable outer were no where near long enough, so I stuck with the originals.
I need a smaller computer so that it doesn't interfere with the cables.
Net result, I'm not 100% sold, but will stick with them for a while.
Lovin the Challenge!!
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- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:10 pm
Re: Dual Control Levers?
Postby Mikael » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:45 pm
Heres what I do to avoid cableloops on narrow handlebars:Gregory_carroll wrote:Because the bars are very narrow, routing the cables was tricky and there are now some pretty severe angles involved.
To get the cable angles livable, they need to be set wider apart than I'd like, so the levers hang over the end of the bars a little.
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/252026 ... 0131jOLOxr
Actually this handlebar was a bit too narrow even for this trick.
Works well on my VK2 though.
Best
Mikael
- Kalgrm
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Re: Dual Control Levers?
Postby Kalgrm » Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:23 am
Nice work Mikael. That keeps things nice and neat. (It does look like you've run down a couple of doctors and stolen their stethoscopes on the way through though! )
Welcome to the forum, too.
Cheers,
Graeme
Welcome to the forum, too.
Cheers,
Graeme
Think outside the double triangle.
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
- Gregory_carroll
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:03 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Dual Control Levers?
Postby Gregory_carroll » Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:22 pm
Mikael
Thats a genius idea....I am going to the bike shop now!!
I'll post a pic when I am done.
Cheers
Greg
Thats a genius idea....I am going to the bike shop now!!
I'll post a pic when I am done.
Cheers
Greg
Lovin the Challenge!!
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