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I personally love cx levers.
but you dont see them much in races, in fact I get the feeling that they are perceived as 'soft' not something a cyclocross 'purest' would even contemplate.
I suppose they add a little weight and a place for water and grit to enter your cables, but apart from that I can't think of a negetive
They are completely unnecessary?
Because braking in the drops is hugely better; gives much more control and allows better stoppage.
In CX races, you are either going faster or slowing down, not fannying about with your hands too close together.
Racing Cx....what the hell are you doing on the tops you girl (I bet you take a bottle as well!).
steep descents which let you get way back in the saddle?
i cant think of any time i have ever help on to the tops in a cx race. mainly on the hoods.
steep descents which let you get way back in the saddle?
You can go 100 times quicker in the drops.
Just as an aside, there was a guy riding for Europcar in Paris Roubaix this year running them, I noticed. Probably quite useful in a tightly packed bunch on bumpy roads.
[quote=sefton ]steep descents which let you get way back in the saddle?
Descents are better in the drops
sounds like you want a mountain bike - does away with those drops you dont need :d
good on the commute & trails
good on the commute & trails
Cross racing is a lot quicker and a lot trickier than riding alone...
I do race cx, commute and occasional trails.
I do race cx
Then get in the drops! You'll go far quicker downhills...
building 2nd bike for this year (will try) 😉 other bike doubles as commuter / 3peaks
so you guys reckon its all about speed (not 'purism')?
Because they are totally pointless
I took mine off for last years 3 peaks; they are only useful for a rest in that race, otherwise all braking was done in the drops, because sitting more upright with your hands closer together means less control, so you brake earlier and go slower.
It's about weight distribution too; in the drops you are much more planted and I can ride more accurately.
For CX racing, they're pointless.
For everything else - trail riding, commuting, towpaths, pootling along looking at the scenery - they're brilliant.
I built my CX bike specifically for the Three Peaks and for general trail riding. I very rarely do 'proper' CX racing. So I'm not ashamed to admit that I've got bar-top levers and I wouldn't be without them. When you're 3hrs into the Three Peaks, every muscle is screaming at you and you're rattling down Pen-y-Ghent in the pouring rain, that extra hand position and the associated sitting-up-a-bit is very welcome.
Besides, Nick Craig uses them and if he can get away with it, I can!
The fact that Nick had been sitting in the pub for 30 minutes when I was bouncing uncontrollably down Pen-y-Ghent is obviously neither here nor there... 😉
Had my Pinnacle Arkrose for two weeks now - admittedly I don't race, but have commuted on it, done a couple of easy off road rides and a big 60 mile ride on it last weekend.
Not once have I used those CX levers - they are there only to annoy me and get in the way of lights and other gubbins I do use in the middle of the bars. When I can be bothered, they will be off.
(I bet you take a bottle as well!).
Not on mine real cross bikes dont have bottle cage bosses
I think there's some confusion between CX bikes and drop bar hybrids. 😉
frazchops - Member
I think there's some confusion between CX bikes and drop bar hybrids.
since no one uses cx levers for cx racing i'd vote for renaming them "touring levers" and isn't a drop bar hybrid a tourer being ridden a bit faster?
😀
When any of you are as fast as Marianne Vos you might be in a position to comment about their inappropriate use in cross...
Just a thought like!
Raouligan, I was just about to post this, so will anyway;
[img] 
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thank god for this I was just about to go and beat myself 😛
I was thinking about this last night and yeah it makes sence that descending in the drops (especially off camber or in turns) the leverage with hands placed in the drops would make for a much more controlled turn)
cheers I will try in autumn
You can still ram your weight back with your hands in the hooks - it's not as bad as you imagine. I feel a lot less secure on the tops with my hands too close together. Heck though, use what you like, wear a camelbak even!
if it wasn't for the mud i'd have thought that was an identity parade and the guy in the blue coat is the perv - maybe cx doesn't translate too well in dutch - though i suspect that picture must be in belgium
I was just about to post this, so will anyway
I note her riding using the tops in that pic...
Quite a few riders in Paris Roubaix were using them this year.