Dropbar brake levers

Road bicycles, track bicycles, triathlon bicycles, and cyclocross bicycles all use drop-type handlebars. This type of handlebar uses different brake levers than those used with a flat-type handlebar.

Choose the type of dropbar brake lever on your bicycle:

· Standard, or traditional, brake levers (Figure 1)

· Shift/brake levers (Figure 2)

For some brake levers, there are separate instructions. See the manufacturer's owner's manual.

Figure 1:

Road brake lever

Figure 2:

Road brake lever with shift function

Controls for opening the brake

With most brakes for road bikes, the mechanism for opening the brakes is on the brake caliper.

Inspection

Every 3 months tighten the attachment bolts on the brake levers (Figures 1-4) to the torque specifications.

Adjustment

To adjust the reach to the brake lever

With some brake levers, you can change the reach, the distance from the handlebar to the lever.

Not all levers are designed to allow reach adjustment.

1. Insert the shim into the lever body (Figure 4).

There are two thicknesses of shims offering two additional reach settings.

2. If needed after adjusting the reach, re-adjust the pad clearance.

Figure 4:

Reach adjustment shim

Lubrication