Removing interrupter brakes

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hello O Wise Ones.....

I have a question- I have the auxiliary set of brake levers on the top of my bars called interrupter brakes. I am getting ready to remove them as I don't use them as muc as I used to. You can see them on my bike here:
http://harmonias.com/209.jpg

My question is- can I just take these auxiliary brakes off easily myself without changing the brake cables, or will I have to get new brake cables and/or cable housing tubes when I remove them?
Is it something I should take to the bike shop to do, or is it real easy and obvious when I start removing them?
Obviously, I did not install them myself.

[Tuckervill]

I think you should be able to do it by yourself.

Are you interested in selling those brakes? I just ordered some for my son's bike and I wish now I had gotten some for my bike, too. With my carpal tunnel syndrome, I'd prefer to brake from the top of the bars.

From the description about how they are installed at Nashbar, it's just a matter of unwinding a little tape, disconnecting them and removing them. No rerouting cables, etc. Yours could be different, of course.

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Karen, can you point me to the Nashbar instruction info?
Once I find the time and figure out how to get them off, I probably WOULD want to sell them. But it's a process I'm just getting started on now....

[Tuckervill]

The weblink is long, but I've pasted the blurb below.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...All%20Products

--Take advantage of that bar top position! In-line brake levers allow confident braking from the bar tops on any drop bar equipped bike with brake cables under the tape. To install simply peel back the last inch of tape, cut the cable housing, run the inner wire through the in-line lever, and adjust your brakes as normal. After a few rides you will want them on all your bikes, the best 85 grams you ever added to your bars. Works with most cable operated brakes. --

Now that I think about it, you'll have to take the wire off the calipers to get it in the clamp, no? Yep. I decided to sleep on it, and that's what I've realized. I thought maybe there was some device that encased the cable without having to disconnect it anywhere, but no. You disconnect the one end from the caliper, run it through the lever, and then reconnect it to the caliper.

In your case, disconnect the cable from the caliper, unwind a bit of bar tape, remove the cable from the brake lever, and then remove the lever from the bars. Rewind the bar tape, reattach cables, adjust brakes, and you're done. The length of the cable housing might be an issue. Maybe not, since it looks like you have extra bar tape wrapped up around there. Just carry it on more toward the center and to meet the housing.

No, wait, wouldn't there be a gap in the housing then? That could be a problem.

I definitely think you can do it yourself. You could, in fact, mark the cable in some way so you know precisely where it was in the caliper before you disconnect. At least that would be a starting point for readjustment.

When/if you get done, let me know. I'll be happy to take them off your hands.

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Karen,
Thanks for going through that whole thought process for me!
Yes I think i would at least need new cable housing.
I was thinking of trying out some new handlebars soon. So perhaps this whole project should just be done at the same time.
I really appreciate your input! I will indeed contact you again when I take them off.

Meanwhile- if anyone else has experience with this I'm happy to hear about it.

[Tuckervill]

You're welcome. I was already thinking about it, because I ordered some for Will's bike.

But I want some on my bike, too. I need to redo my bar tape because I bought the bike used and the tape has some gaps. I may even replace it with something spiffy. I think it would be wise to do it all at once, like you said. I'm going to wait and see what you do, and then do mine!

Karen