I'm a sucker for pros

Here's an excellent picture I didn't take, borrowed from a random blog.



Not a single one of these guys uses inline brake levers. But I love the damn things. What's the deal with that? Is there a clear disadvantage to them? Maybe this is like disc brakes, I couldn't think of a good reason not to use them on a cross bike except weight, and then someone said "wheel changes" to me. So does anyone know why all the good riders don't use inline brake levers? Maybe they go so fast, they can't take their hands off the hoods for stability reasons? I dunno.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I had them, but didn't like them because I felt that they took away some breaking power.

Plus, I never used them in races - probably because I'm primarily a roadie, so having a hand position around there is weird for me.
12/20/2006 1:48 PM
gewilli said…
one of the guys doing the CPQ called em dead weight...

you are more stable and have more control on the hoods or in the drops...

the only reason some people i know will consider putting them on is if the course has a very steep drop where you need to be off the back of the saddle and the tops are all they can reach...

In general, watching the fast guys here in the US and over in Euro land... they don't use em...

they are great for tourists and sunday morning riders
12/20/2006 3:27 PM
Colin R said…
g --

it must be a roadie thing. as a mountain bike rider I feel way more in control on the flat bar on sketchy terrain than on top of the brake hoods.

i think maybe my brake levers aren't pitched up enough, maybe that's why i'm not as comfortable on them.

well, i'm hoping to take the inline brake levers and the stutter step remount to the A race some day. Maybe I can get some disc brakes, just in case anyone thinks I know what I'm doing.
12/21/2006 11:06 AM
Zoo said…
I like the extra turning leverage of having my hands on the hoods. And I was going to mention the dead weight thing that GeWilli is talking about, I think J Powers said it. I'm actually surprised though that Todd Wells doesn't use them since he's from the mountain biking end of the sport.
12/22/2006 10:40 AM
Zoo said…
I've gotta say though, I'm really liking those Easton carbon wheels.
12/22/2006 12:18 PM
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