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So I'm this bike polo tournament and it is looking great...some very skilled riders playing.
I've noticed they all play with 1 hand (seems to be right handed players)...when I'm daft enough to give it a shot, I seem to be quite happy changing my hand and can play just as badly left- or right-handed.
I'm now thinking I'm going to get myself a polo bike...but they tend to be track frames with no rear brake. I'm fine with only a front brake, but I'd like to have a brake lever on each side of the bars so if I do swap the hand the mallet is in, I still want to cover my brake.
Is there a way to have 2 levers into 1 brake? I'm assuming hydraulic would be 'easier', but no idea what I should be looking for. Anyone know?
Is there a way to have 2 levers into 1 brake?
Probably fairly simple with a cable operated caliper. With hydros, it might be easier to do with a remote master cylinder operated by cable levers.
End of the day, it doesn't need to pitch me over the bars, so no issues if it is cable, hydraulic or mixed...I've said in my original post that I'm assuming hydraulic is 'easier' but it might not be...
If you can find an older frame you might be able to run a v brake and a disk brake on the back wheel, one lever for each hand.
I'm now thinking I'm going to get myself a polo bike...but they tend to be track frames with no rear brake. I'm fine with only a front brake, but I'd like to have a brake lever on each side of the bars so if I do swap the hand the mallet is in, I still want to cover my brake.
Also, talk to other players and learn the technical rules. There may be technical restrictions in place to keep costs under control. Limiting bikes to a single brake lever operating on a single wheel would be an obvious way to keep costs down.
It's actually easier with cables believe it or not. You just need one of these dinky little things.
https://www.jtekengineering.com/products/double-control-brake-cable-splitter/
JTEK Double Control Brake Cable Splitter
It was originally designed to allow you to run a brake lever from an aerobar and one on the normal bar to the same caliper but it'll work fine for what you want. There are separate versions for caliper and V-brake to account for the differences in cable pull.
I'd never hear of Polo bikes until this week!
Did you spot this thread?
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/in-35-years-of-riding/
Crosstop brake lever for cable brakes.
It (they) fit in a run of outer casing. The primary lever pulls the inner cable, the crosstop lever pushes the outer casing for the same brake.
The primary inner cable just passes through the crosstop.
They're designed to work on the same side of the bars as the primary lever so might need a fettle
http://www.bikemonger.co.uk/tektro-cross-top-levers-22525-p.asp
@PJay, I had spotted that thread, but I've restarted bike polo a few weeks back and now thinking the long wheelbase full suspension mountain bike isn't cutting it!
@timba, thanks for this but I don't think that would work, I'm needing a brake lever on each side of the bar and both operate the front brake.
It looks like @crazy-legs has found a solution for me, thanks.
