People have been riding bicycles for many decades and have achieved great art in this. However, no acceleration will bring pleasure if it is impossible to stop. A stop depends a lot on what the handles for the bike brake are. What are they like to make the right choice?
Features
Approach the selection of such grips (and the brake systems themselves) will have to be carefully. Sometimes only a few hundredths of a second and millimeters separate a successful outcome from tragedy. That is why every cyclist should choose the brakes for his bike on his own, and not according to the pattern. A lot depends on:
- experience;
- riding style;
- level of physical fitness;
- reaction rates;
- the purpose of using the bike and its performance.
Main types
Fans of cycling most often use special pens designed for 1 or 2 fingers. This restriction becomes a serious advantage for athletes, because otherwise you can not keep the steering wheel escaping from the hands. Note: usually such control mechanisms are used in conjunction with powerful disc brakes. They will be able to easily stop the bike, even if the rider manipulates with one finger.
But for a road bike you need "something simpler." More precisely - 3-finger or 4-finger type pens. They will have to be pressed with the whole palm, which is not compatible with active riding. Such braking devices traditionally have a large length.
In the past, such an extension was justified, since there was no other way to increase the pressure of the hydraulic brake or cantilever.
The handles on the steering wheel are mainly combined with the Dual Control shifters. In this embodiment, the handle allows you to shift gears - and this solution is quite convenient. You can make 2 grabs for the wheel. Gear shifting is possible in both positions. On the same steering wheel, duplicate handles are provided, which are placed in the gap of the brake shirts on the cyclocross bikes.
On children's bicycles, unlike adults, pedal brakes are mainly used. But sometimes such designs can be found on an adult bike of a budget class. Foot pressure is much stronger than hand pressure. The pedal design is bad in that it allows you to use only a meager set of gears. Separate view - brake levers for hydraulic braking. In expensive versions of hydraulics, adjustment is provided (fine tuning). General universal rule: the higher the price, the more flexible the settings.
By default, the distance from the handle to the grips is provided. This option is designed to adapt the product to people with a wide variety of fingers. The vast majority of manual brake control designs allow you to adjust the distance to the steering wheel. The choice of this option is determined by convenience. But even with the strongest pressure, the handle should not be in contact with the steering wheel.
Additional nuances of choice
It should be borne in mind that the models for an electric bike should not be the same as for a mechanical bike. A handle must be provided to turn off the engine. The signal to the controller is synchronized with the pulling of the cable to block the mechanical components of the device. Many kits include 2 sticks at once. Their execution is standardized, so you can put any equipment on any electric bike of your choice.
But this does not mean that even the lightest carbon bike is easier to stop than an electric bike. A lot also depends on the adjustment. If change of a lever arm is provided, compatibility with various types of brakes is guaranteed. In all mechanical brakes (except those designed for road bikes), the cable tension can be adjusted.
The mechanical design may provide for quick disconnection of the cable (allowing the wheel to be removed).
Hydraulic brakes are often made with a completely free handle, which, however, can be adjusted. Quality handles are equipped with a detachable clamp. Such designs make it easy to remove the brake. Some handles do not have a clamp; they are mounted on an external universal clamp, which simultaneously holds two more shifters. Brake is popular handle Shimano Tourney EF65.
Such a model can be put on entry-level mountain bikes (as well as designed for non-professional athletes). The design combines trigger couplings and V-Brake sticks. Alternative is Model BL-T780 DEORE XT. It is done with the expectation of 3 fingers of the right hand. Design compatible with V-brakes.
You can put on the steering wheel Stern cgrip-5 city handlebar grips. The material of construction is optimal for the convenience of cyclists. Gripses will not slip out of your hand and extinguish minor strokes. Considered an alternative Tektro ML520. The handle is useful for both V-Brake and shifters, the aluminum construction is designed to control 2 fingers.
See below for how to install brake levers.
