Does anyone remember just when it was that "safety Levers" became popular on (or should I say, began to plague) so many bikes in the US?
Seems to me that it must have been a lure to get inexperienced American riders to begin feeling comfortable on Road bikes. During the great American Bike Boom of the early 70s, affordable imported "lightweight" road bikes were suddenly becoming regarded as attractive and desirable by a much broader spectrum of the public. On one occasion, even my dad, who'd only ridden before on balloon-tired cruisers (during his younger days), actually took one of my racing bikes out for a brief spin. But, because braking from the hoods was not very effective back then, his only comment was "That damn thing was absolutely terrible to try to stop."
Of course, Racer-Boy types, like myself, considered being seen riding a bike with safety levers about as embarrassing as being caught riding a "Girls" bike would have been.
But, Schwinn was putting the levers on almost EVERYTHING that had dropped bars. Their Weinmann version is even proudly displayed on the P15-9 "Deluxe Paramount" (touring) bike in my 1971 catalog (and listed as a standard feature)... and, yes, they certainly do make even that bike look like garbage.
Anyone who had seen the less common Mafac safety levers may remember that those could actually still use the standard rubber half-hoods... other brands had to leave their levers with just naked metal. I'm so glad that all of those levers are now just an ugly footnote in cycling history.
Bob Hanson, riding with no safety, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Jerry Moos wrote:
The few times I used them, I found that the safety levers actually had quite good stopping power. But only if the brakes are properly adjusted. The problem is that it's fairly easy for cable stretch or general lack of maintenance to create a situation where the levers bottom against the handlebars. And the less expensive bikes with less knowledgeable riders where the levers were typically used were of course exactly those less likely to be properly maintained. And besides, they look dumb.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Sprng, TX
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Bob Freitas wrote:
Mention of the "SAFETY LEVERS" on the Raleigh Pro brings back a story you might all like.
Back in the 70s I was a wholesale rep for Wilson Bicyle Sales (same place Tom Martin works for today) Peter Rich at VELOSPORT would remove those levers from every Nishiki or Raleigh that he sold. They would throw them in a box for me and I would take them to a bike shop in Vallejo where the owner would install them on every Peugeot he sold
BOB "SAFETY LEVER" FREITAS
foggy MILL VALLEY,CA