Since my last query I have purchased myself a shorter stem and some moustache bars to allow an easier reach. I had planned to use my original levers but for the life of me I cannot loosen the allen bolts that hold them on so I am now on the hunt for new levers.
I will mainly be riding on the ends of the bar rather than the curves as I feel the most comfortable there so that will make the usual levers I’ve seen less convenient.
Eg…
I’m thinking of instead getting some MTB/flat-bar levers and placing them out closer to the ends and was wondering if anybody can give me some pros and cons about my two shortlisted options.
Finger levers
or Flat-bar levers
I ride fixed and have been using the bike brakeless for while and am getting quite comfortable with it but would prefer to keep brakes on for emergencies and lazy days so unless there are some major problems to consider I will most likely bring it down to a decision on aesthetics.
I got them for practicality actually. Shit flexibility and short arms was leaving me with back pain during and after every ride. I can reach these far easier now.
The moustache bars are probably 23.8mm outer diameter, so any brake lever with a clamp size matching that should work.
I wouldn’t bother with the gold-fingers. Had one on one of my bikes and they are no good for regular use of the brakes. You don’t get heaps of leverage from one finger… unless it’s the size of a bratwurst.
You could also get some TT style levers that mount in the bar ends.
I wont be holding near the bends so I don’t see much use in getting the road levers. I purposely got the moustache bar to shorten my reach by riding on the ends.
Possibly I may place one near the end and another near the bend if I find that I do occasionally change grips but with my stumpy arms and fucked back that probably won’t be often.
It sounds to me that something more along the lines of the VO Porteur
Or the Belleville would’ve been a slightly better choice.
It seems kind of counter-productive to go with moustache bars if you wanted to bring your grip area closer to you as they reach so far forward before flicking back.
Had I known about it I might have considered the VO but the moustache was easy to source and with the short stem I have reduced my reach significantly.
I only know one person who has had a positive user experience with stache bars.
What the others said, porteur/city bars with inverse levers are the best solution for you. If you want to keep 'em, get inverse levers designed for 23.8mm bars and have at it.
Might look into the inverse levers though I am leaning towards the finger levers due to their unobtrusiveness and the fact that I am riding mostly brakeless these days. I’m not a commuter cyclist by any means, just use my bike for quick trips down the beach and to the pub on weekends.
This is the current set up on my grocery getter/pub bike. These are the Soma Moustache II bars that have a 22.0mm grip diameter which is why those Shimano levers fit. May not work if your bars use larger diameter tubing.
