Cycling UK Forum

My current road tourer has rim caliper brakes, operated by Campy ergo levers and a pair of cross-levers.I'm already planning my next bike and am thinking of disc brakes - is there any reason why I couldn't add cross-levers to cable-operated disc brakes?
EDIT: sharp-eyed & keen readers will recognise the red oil port on the rear brake cable, courtesy another, Cornwall-based, TSR user...

no reason why not, provided the cable pull matches.

cheers

My Focus runs that set up, helps make the brakes semi useful!

Brucey wrote:no reason why not, provided the cable pull matches.

I always thought it was push (on the outer) with x-levers... #pedant

actually that does raise one point; you may want to use compressionless outer with disc brakes. However if this means the outer cable doesn't flex easily e.g. near the crosstops, then it can be sub-optimal; all the movement of the brake housing (which occurs when the brake is applied using the crosstop) has to occur between the crosstop and the first cable guide/stop.

cheers

Maybe a Jones-style handlebar, and use flat bar brakes would be worth thinking about. [edit: and I wouldn't recommend Veloce ergos if the current crop are like my old 10 speed]

Simon
I use cross tops with BB7 road calipers and I've also used them with BB7 MTN calipers
Road require Tektro RL721 (31.8mm clamp)likenthe ones in your photo:- https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-lever ... amp-black/

MTN are V brake cable pull so require a different lever RL740 :- https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-lever ... 0mm-clamp/
But SJS only have them in 24mm clamp size.

PS,After a bit of digging I found out the V brake MTN crosstops are now discountinued so SJS stock are perhaps the last ones

reohn2 wrote:Simon
I use cross tops with BB7 road calipers and I've also used them with BB7 MTN calipers
Road require Tektro RL721 (31.8mm clamp)likenthe ones in your photo:- https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-lever ... amp-black/

MTN are V brake cable pull so require a different lever RL740 :- https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-lever ... 0mm-clamp/
But SJS only have them in 24mm clamp size.

PS,After a bit of digging I found out the V brake MTN crosstops are now discountinued so SJS stock are perhaps the last ones

When I got my RL740s, probably 5 years ago, they were available in 2 sizes. The largest was, I think, 31.8 so you could mount them to the centre bulge. The smaller one which I got was probably 24 - I forget what the different bar diameters are but mine needed shims to mount on flat bars (with drop shaped bar ends) when I converted the Circe tandem to drops.

As you say they seem to be discontinued now.

simonineaston wrote:My current road tourer has rim caliper brakes, operated by Campy ergo levers and a pair of cross-levers.IMG_1708.JPGI'm already planning my next bike and am thinking of disc brakes - is there any reason why I couldn't add cross-levers to cable-operated disc brakes?
EDIT: sharp-eyed & keen readers will recognise the red oil port on the rear brake cable, courtesy another, Cornwall-based, TSR user...

I have Shimano Sora STIs and Tektro RL721 cross tops, operating (at the moment) Avid BB7 road cable disc brakes.

The cross tops are fine. There has been discussion about the matching of the Shimano levers to the BB7s. The Sora levers are OK. And the RL721s are more than OK. I don't think the cross tops will be a problem.

It's not worth repeating the discussion re NSSLR and road callipers. Brucey sums it up on about page 3:

https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=137578&hilit=avid+bb7+shimano+sora+r317&start=30

Brucey wrote:actually that does raise one point; you may want to use compressionless outer with disc brakes. However if this means the outer cable doesn't flex easily e.g. near the crosstops, then it can be sub-optimal; all the movement of the brake housing (which occurs when the brake is applied using the crosstop) has to occur between the crosstop and the first cable guide/stop.

cheers

For my TRP Spyre cable discs, the recommendation is to use compressionless outer cable, which might help

Maybe a Jones-style handlebar

Jeeperz - they're weird! (Doesn't mean they're no good, mind!!) See what you're saying, Linus...