Search found 7 matches

by Harry Sp
29 Jan 2019, 1:03pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

Ugly wrote:I used to ride with a chap, Peter who had a badly deformed hand he had a foot lever to operate the rear brake. This was custom made by a competent engineer and attached to the frame by a brazed on boss, it comprised a lever mounted to the left chain stay that the riders foot cleared in his normal pedalling action but by putting his foot in a horizontal position it enabled his heel to engaged with the lever and pull on the back brake. Peter is no longer with us but one of his bikes is owned by a friend of mine, the foot brake equipment is now removed but is kept by my friend if anyone is seriosly interested I will see if I can get some photos.


That sounds cool but I wouldn't want it on my road bike as cycle clipped in and don't want to change that. And I've gone dutch with my everyday bike so have a back pedal brake anywho.
by Harry Sp
26 Jan 2019, 9:46am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

Cyril Haearn wrote:Riding fixed or using a back-pedal brake could be worth trying
I have hand-operated brakes too but they are hardly ever used :wink:


hey yeh i already ride my city bike fixed with a back pedal brake. but i miss cycling in the hills so need to adapt my road bike :D
by Harry Sp
26 Jan 2019, 9:43am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

pwa wrote:Not hydraulic, but I did find it possible to use two flat bar Mtb type levers with one hand at the same time on a tandem. It isn't the most ergonomic arrangement and you don't get quite the same level of fine control, but it kind of works.


cheers specifically looking for hydraulic options but always good to see some examples
by Harry Sp
26 Jan 2019, 9:41am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

thirdcrank wrote:You need two separate braking systems so one lever operating both brakes without any other system won't do.


whilst the law there is examples where this has been successfully challenged so not my prime concern 8)
by Harry Sp
26 Jan 2019, 9:38am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

Tigerbiten wrote:
NickJP wrote:
Harry Sp wrote:I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of adapting hydraulic disk brakes so the back and front brakes can both be controlled by only my right hand (I have a brachial plexus injury and not able to use my left hand).

Really appreciate any ideas. I have di2 so don't need to use my left hand for gear change but the mechanics at my local bike shop are struggling to find a solution for braking (beyond switching back brake to right hand).

Why would you want to switch the rear brake to your functioning hand? If you currently have the front brake controlled by your right hand, use just the front brake - it will stop you far more rapidly than the rear, and on dry roads, with good brakes, you can brake just as quickly with front brake alone as with both brakes - maximum braking deceleration is achieved when the rear wheel is almost unloaded, at which time the rear brake is contributing almost nothing to the stop.

I agree that in the dry most of your braking is from the front brake.
But ......
In the wet the use of the front brake becomes a lot more iffy.
If the back wheel skids under braking in the wet then you should/may be able to recover it.
If the front wheel skids under braking then you'll probably hit the deck.
So in the wet the back brake becomes more useful.
It's that shift in the balance front/back that cannot be overcome easily with one lever to two brakes.

Unless you're on a trike.
Then you must be doing something very silly if you fall off when you skid a wheel.

The other question is how safely you can let go of the handlebars with your good hand.
That's one of the reasons my back brake is setup as a drag brake.
I can set it to slow me down and then stick my hand out to indicate a turn, mostly useful for downhill turns.

Luck ............ :D


yeh i am thinking back brake safer as in the event of having to slam on a brake more likely to go over with the front, whereas skidding on the back but less likely to go over
by Harry Sp
26 Jan 2019, 9:28am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Re: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

[XAP]Bob wrote:There are various cable splitters, not sure whether a simple hydraulic split would quite do what you want...

The issue you'll face is that you need to move twice the amount of hydraulic fluid, or run with half the clearance. At least pressure is transmitted well though, so you should be able to get decent performance.


What's your current bar layout (are you on flats, drops, tiller, superman...)



Lots of ideas: http://www.mtb-amputee.com/bikemodifications.htm


cheers. yeh i think with a splitter for the hydraulics it will result in two weak brakes compared to having at least one good brake operable with right hand. am on drops
by Harry Sp
25 Jan 2019, 9:41am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand
Replies: 40
Views: 3464

Hydraulic brakes with one functioning hand

Hi

I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of adapting hydraulic disk brakes so the back and front brakes can both be controlled by only my right hand (I have a brachial plexus injury and not able to use my left hand).

Really appreciate any ideas. I have di2 so don't need to use my left hand for gear change but the mechanics at my local bike shop are struggling to find a solution for braking (beyond switching back brake to right hand).

Thanks so much, Harry :D :D :D