My preference leans towards Campagnolo brake/derailleur systems. I paired a Chorus 11-speed set up with Paul MiniMoto calipers on my Surly Cross x Check and found them to be lacking in their stopping power. Paul does say that they’ll work with most short pull levers. I then added Travel Agents and they worked really well.
Russell Duncan Connecticut River Valley, MA On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 1:17:22 PM UTC-6 Garth wrote: > Jeff, it sounds like brifters is the way to go, with either mini-v type or > cantilevers. Some users can't figure out the cable adjustment of cantis > though, so maybe the mini-v brake with less things to adjust would be best, > given they have the clearance you need. The closest brake only lever to a > brifter lever body in size/shape is the TRP RRL. I have those, as well as > some Tektro 340's and the prior generation before that. I can't say I'd > favor any particular version. I mean, they're brake levers and they work > and the body on them is notable larger than the traditional small lever > bodies. I'm not a fan of the dogleg lever style however, a widened straight > lever with or without a slight flare would be better, like brifters use. > Doglegs are too abrupt for my liking. > > Brake levers need a bar to mount on though, and that bar can have an > influence on the ease of use and comfort of the levers. With such a wild > variance of drop bar flares and sweeps today I can see where finding a good > spot for them could be challenging ! > > > > On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 10:11:31 AM UTC-4 Nick Shoemaker wrote: > >> If you want to keep your current brakes, look into Travel Agents >> <https://problemsolversbike.com/products/travel-agent> combined with >> whichever Shimano 9s brifters you fancy. Should work without much fuss, but >> I can't personally vouch for the solution (maybe others can chime in with >> real-world experience?) >> >> I did once have a bike with Cane Creek Drop V levers (out of production?) >> and v-brakes that worked perfectly well, but that obviously doesn't solve >> for the integrated shifting piece. >> >> On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 8:59:37 AM UTC-4 philip....@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> I think if you’re going brifters and want options, I would ditch the >>> V-brake completely and opt for either a cantilever or mini V-brake. If you >>> like the Motolites, you’ll love the Minimotos! >>> >>> Running those would mean you can run any short pull brifter your heart >>> desired. >>> >>> >>> P. W. >>> ~ >>> (917) 514-2207 >>> ~ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jul 8, 2025, at 5:40 AM, Jeffrey Zelevansky <jeff.ze...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Thanks for the reply. I'm kind of agnostic on indexed vs. friction. My >>> goal is to get to an integrated shifter/brake lever solution in as few >>> steps as possible, which suggests an indexed system. I'd also like to clean >>> up the cockpit as much as possible. >>> >>> >>> The Tektro levers I'm currently running are the RL341s, which seem to >>> be short pull aren't actually compatible with my brakes. I have pretty big >>> hands and, ergonomically, these aren't great anyway. They're just what I >>> had around when I went to a drop bar. >>> >>> If I get almost any brifter, it seems I could use a travel agent or >>> similar, but I'm looking to streamline and simplify. As much as I like the >>> form and function of the Paul brakes, if they are the limiting factor, it >>> might be time for a change. Maybe a set of Shimano V-brakes and brifters >>> would be simplest? >>> >>> On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 6:52:19 AM UTC-4 Garth wrote: >>> >>>> Jeff, Indexed or friction ? >>>> Tektro makes long pull drop bar brake levers, the RL520 I believe is >>>> the model. Tektro levers have the model designation often on the underside >>>> of the levers themselves. There aren't any long pull indexed brifters. >>>> For >>>> shifting you could use say either a Dia-Compe ENE stem mounted shift mount >>>> for DT levers or even their wing mounted shifters. What sets their stem >>>> mount is that the position of the cable angle is adjustable. >>>> https://www.diacompe.com.tw/product/ene-stem-mount-shifter/ >>>> https://www.diacompe.com.tw/product/ene-wing-shifter/ >>>> >>>> Then there's these levers with DT shift mounts. Short pull only. >>>> https://www.gevenalle.com/shifters/ >>>> >>>> DT shifters though off the most crisp shifting from my experiece, night >>>> and day difference from bar top shifters and their long housed cable run >>>> with their inherent additional friction. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Monday, July 7, 2025 at 4:51:42 PM UTC-4 jeff.ze...@gmail.com wrote: >>>> >>>>> After some very fun gravel rides on my Hillborne, I am considering a >>>>> change from bar ends to brifters but it seems like I am running into >>>>> compatibility issues at every turn. I have made many changes to this bike >>>>> since I purchased it secondhand and finally feel that I'm coming to some >>>>> conclusions. >>>>> >>>>> I'm a drop bar devotee (Crust Shaka). The stock Silver 38/24 cranks >>>>> are great. Currently running a Microshift FD and a Deore 9-spd RD. The >>>>> brakes are Paul Motolites, which I like very much. I have old Dura Ace >>>>> bar >>>>> end shifters and some kind of Tektro levers, which are prbly not a good >>>>> match for the Pauls...very squishy and perhaps not long pull? >>>>> >>>>> I want to somehow unify the drivetrain and stop doing things by half >>>>> measure. I'd like to keep the brakes but feel like everything else could >>>>> be >>>>> changed up. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for any suggestions. >>>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c8151e67-3b5a-41a2-aff5-c06e367f883bn%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c8151e67-3b5a-41a2-aff5-c06e367f883bn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6275745d-124b-43d2-9f6e-5821542827b4n%40googlegroups.com.
