City Bike Brake Levers, and Stuff

Many people have asked us where they can get old fashioned city bike levers, the type that CLB, and Mafac, and a dozen other companies used to make. They particularly wanted them in a size that would fit bars made from road bar tubing, 23.8mm. Our super popular Montmarte, and Left Bank bars, for example, are made with 23.8mm tubing so they fit bar end shifters. And we'll have two new 23.8mm bars this winter.

This type of lever is still made, but mostly in low quality models for kids bikes and third-world markets. Most are heavy steel and have rust-prone zinc-plated mounting bands. Many are also too small for big western hands.

We found what's probably the best model still made. They actually come from Taiwan, not China. They are all alloy with good quality castings with a nice shiny finish. The manufacturer made them for us with a stainless steel clamp, which we think is a big improvement.

But best of all they are available in both MTB (22.2mm) and road bar (23.8mm) sizes. So you won't have to scour E-bay or the back rooms of old bike shops looking for vintage levers. And the price? It's a hefty $11 a pair.

One caveat though, they take the button type cable housing ends used on some BMX levers, not the common tube-type used on road bikes. Almost any bike shop will have them for under a dollar, but our shipment of cable housing ends is not due until next week.

Also we now have the Pletscher double kick stands in stock. They are a fascinating bit of engineering.

We also have some new aluminum city/MBT bar plugs and some new inexpensive expandable road bar plugs.