Bent brake levers

[CriticalBill]

Hey everyone. Apologies in advance for the lame posting but this is something which continually hounds me...so, I succeeded in bending both brake levers at Foxboro last night. One of them pretty well. Seems to happen at least 4-5 times a riding season. I'm riding Avid Mech brakes.

Do they make shields/guards/??? which one could mount on the bars to prevent levers from getting whacked?

Also curious to know how people deal with this. Ignore and just deal? Throw 'em in a vice and bend 'em back? Replace? Buy better levers??

Thanks in advance.

[slapheadmofo]

I just bend 'em back.

[MTBME]

I believe their designed to be bent back into position.

[Jisch]

Also curious to know how people deal with this. Ignore and just deal? Throw 'em in a vice and bend 'em back? Replace? Buy better levers??

Thanks in advance.


I rode with a guy a couple of years ago who rode with his brake lever clamps not quite tight on his handlebars. They weren't sloppy loose, just enough to allow them to rotate around the bars if a little force was applied. He was an ex-MXer and said that was a common practice in MX (though I never did that when I rode MX). Personally, I keep 'em tight and for some reason I rarely bend 'em. One of the guys I ride with regularly has levers which are so bent, its amazing he can even use them. I guess he just gets used to it the way they are. When I do bend them, I just bend them back.

John

Avid brake levers are designeg to bend and to break if necessary at the thin spot on the lever. They desribe this in the literature included with the levers( i know i am the only man that reads directions) and on the web site.

They have a deal with their retailers if you bring them in bent/broken you can buy just the handle part for $5. I confirmed this by phone with the avid cust. rep. and have had my handles replaced more then once.

If you are in good with the LBS you can get them for free, usually if you bought the bike or levers there.