Re: [CR]Mafac two cable brake lever question

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PX-10LE)

Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 21:08:29 -0400
From: "Harvey M Sachs" <sachshm@cox.net>
To: g.duke@civenv.unimelb.edu.au, fred_rednor@yahoo.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Mafac two cable brake lever question


With all due respect, I've only seen one application where controlling two brakes with one lever seemed appropriate. The rider of that bike was one-handed.

IMHO, in all other cases there are just too many compromises to be made. 1) One lever controlling both rim brakes. Obviously impossible to modulate relative force for better control on long grades, curves and turns, etc. Since front brake is able to do more speed reduction, want it to contact first and exert more force. But, if so set up, will wear its pads more quickly, so vigilant and frequent maintenance is required. 2) (mostly tandems) One lever controlling front rim brake, dual-cable lever controlling both rim brakes. In general, leverage (cable take-up) varies between rim brakes and hub brakes, so one or the other will do next-to-nill work if actuated by same lever with same travel for both.

If everything is working as you imagined it would, you can get into real trouble. One day in Corvallis Oregon on a friends Jack Taylor tandem, I got in trouble wrt oncoming car in a right turn situation. So, I hit all the brakes (two cantis on dual lever, drum on the other). Predictable result in a turn: rear wheel, "benefitting" from two brakes and light load, locked up, so rear could slide nicely toward the car.

Our preferred solution is pretty simple: rim brakes separately operated by conventional single-wire road levers. Auxiliary (hub) brake operated by tourist lever mounted very low on right bar. This makes it impossible to operate both rear brakes at the same time, but get excellent modulation of rear hub brake by using it while riding on the drops.

So, that's personal preference and reasons, I promise not to be a nanny if your views differ.

harvey sachs mcLean va

Geoff,
     The twin-cable MAFAC levers on my tandem are exactly the same shape as an ordinary, single cable lever. So you really can only mount them on the "hook" of the handlebar. I suppose you could try modifying the actual lever portion of the piece, but in that case, I wonder if you would get sufficient leverage to properly operate the brakes.
      Best of luck with the project,
      Fred Rednor - Arlington, VA (USA)


--- geoff duke wrote:



>> I am wondering if anyone can tell me if a Mafac twin cable
>> tandem
>> brake lever would work if it were placed on the top of the
>> handlebars.Like a cyclocross lever.Would it be able to work
>> on the
>> flat section of bar or do they need to be on the bends like
>> other
>> levers.Thinking about setting up a single speed bike with
>> canti's
>> front and rear with one lever and considering that there
>> would be a
>> good place for it.Sorry if this question is a bit clunky but
>> hoping
>> for an answer,
>> Geoff Duke Melbourne Australia