For the first time I saw the Vision Tech /FSA Aero Brake Lever on a bike at the LBS, last week. Those ends sure are pointy! USAT officials get upset about lack of bar-end plugs - what about these “daggers”?
A "friend of a friend " here in Hawaii punctured his left lung on a bike crash last year (hit a dumpster!) with a roadie bike with STI levers. The FSA look/feel more like weapons.
http://www.visiontechusa.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=159&pid=122
Well, I guess it could cut down on drafting.
Seriously, though, as short as they are (and the fact that they point more downward than backward) I wouldn’t be real worried about it, I’d be more worried about someones spinning tri-spoke getting cozy with my flesh.
I’m not hacking on you Hairy Legs, but this is internet tomfoolery at its finest.
This thread is how ridiculous rumors get started. By Wednesday there will be people in my sotre saying “The FSA brake levers are illegal becasue they puncture lungs!” I guarantee it.
I have owned four bikes with these levers: A P3SL, A Guru Cron-Alu, A Cannondale IM2000 and I am putting them on my new Guru Carbonio Tri and my P3 Carbon.
I have an entire season on these brakes last year and a lot of miles this year.
They are not dangerous. They worl very well, have excellent stopping power and are comfortable, lightweight and compact. They are likely somewhat more aero than other levers too for whatever difference that makes (probably not much).
But they simply aren’t dangerous. They are actually very nice. We sell about six different types of aero base bar brake levers from Dia-Compe, Profile, Tektro and Cane Creek. The FSA lever is the best one in my opinion.
I’ll go so far as to argue they are the safest too since they are the easiet to grip with the nice little curve and the easiest to hold on to, even in wet conditions, since they are so narrow.
They aren’t dangerous: No more than any brake lever. This is how Internet fables start.
I can hear it now: “Did you hear about the guy who woke up in the bathtube full of ice with his kidneys missing and a pair of bloody FSA levers next to him!?!”
"I can hear it now: “Did you hear about the guy who woke up in the bathtube full of ice with his kidneys missing and a pair of bloody FSA levers next to him!?!” "
Wasn’t that an old “Law and Order” episode?
So are the bar-end plugs, or lack of, that the USAT officials are anal about, are simarly internet fables too? Seriously curious.
As I stated, I was only “looking” and have not ever rode with them - I am pleased that they are not a real-world hazard.
Although, 2 weeks ago at the Honolulu Tri I did get a nasty side-ways push/bump/hit from a younger-wave competitor riding up Diamond Head - his damn left bar/STI level grazed my right leg as I was doing a (legal) pass and he crept/swept in front of me.
USAT officials do check for bar end plugs. I have been to races where they will not let you bring your bike into the transition area unless you had the bars plugged.
Yeah, I know they do…but any idea if there has there been any real-world problems/accidents/injuries in the past to warrant this checking?
Now you have me wondering. My profile clip-ons didn’t come with any plugs for the open end that is up under the armrests. Obviously my base bar is plugged by my brake levers and the front end of the aero bars are plugged by my barend shifters. But, “technically” the aero bar’s other end is unplugged. Do you think this is an issue at a USAT event. Nothing was said before but wan’t to avoid any possible issues.
Michael
Try one of these. Talk about a lawsuit!
Yah, but how do you stop?
I actually agree with you. Those things are razor thin, enough so I wouldn’t want to have to hit the brakes hard just because of the discomfort it would cause to my tender fingers.
Imagine one of those things on a HED-like aerobar (where there is no up bend at the end of the bullhorn) swinging around in a crash. I’m sure all of you have at least seen dented toptubes. I just saw a colnago dream toptube that’s now about half of what it used to be. Put your leg in between there and you’re gonna have a bad day.
I don’t think they should be illegal, but I also see no reason for the plug rule or outlawing the Spinergy quad spoke wheel (that may also be and unsubstantiated rumor). The way I see it, if you’re in a crash, you’re f’ed anyways. I just think that there is just as much risk as the bar plug thing.
“I’m not hacking on you Hairy Legs, but this is internet tomfoolery at its finest.”
Come on Tom,
just because you and others have a lot of miles on them without incident is proof that they are safe?
This is foolish!!
I certainly would not like those to poke or slice me in a pileup. I agree that those levers don’t have the potential to cause deep and wide puncture wounds when you fall into one, but they still may slice you up pretty good. In old times those levers used to have a little knob or a round edge. Better than what I see on todays levers that are just designed for “style-points”.
I would not put them on my bike. Just two cents from a “fool”.
The reason for the bar end plugs, is because it is possible to take a core sample of the muscle tissue in your legs or any other body part if/when you crash. I am a road racer, and if you have witnessed any crashes during races, it is more likely that you will hit the end of your handlebar, or some other riders chainrings, than get injured by a brake lever.
I have the Vision levers on my TT bike, and they work really well. I agree with Tom…this is how rumors get started…I worked in a shop for 8 years, and everyone has a “I was just riding along…” or a “I heard from a friend…” or a “I saw on the internet…” story. If you don’t like them, fine, don’t buy them…use something else that you are comfortable with.
Not sure about any punctured lungs, but the damn things are poorly designed. They are not comfortable. I want to know at all times that I have the power at my fingertips to be able to accomplish an emergency stop rapidly without slicing into my fingers.
These don’t do the trick (as in they are way too narrow, and for really no purpose at all).
I have just installed these and must also agree I really like the feel and stopping power. I had been using the syntace levers but needed to change to the external clamp for the vision bar.
My question concerns the plastic ‘hood’. It seems to pop off pretty easy and I am afraid I will lose one during a ride or race. What is stopping me from just glueing this thing to the brake body to eliminate this worry? thoughts?
Andy
Hmm. Strange. I noticed them on Lance Armstrong’s time trial bike even though he has to use adapters to install them, is not sponsored by FSA/Visiontech and is given and paid to ride Bontrager brake levers.
But still, for some reason… These FSA levers have been on several of his time trial bikes in the past.
Well, this certainly explains where the finger in the Chili at Wendy’s came from.
You guys are right, these things are poorly designed and downright lethal. Clearly, based on the amount of people who have received documented injuries from incidents directly attributable to these they should not only be banned but the designed should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Oh wait, no one has ever been hurt by these…
Darn, well, I did know this guy who talked to this fella in this bike shop who new a guy in Seattle who fell in a race and had his small intestne ripped out of his abdomen and pulled into his spokes byt this brake lever. I heard it on the Internet too…
Come on guys. Worry about something really dangerous, like cars.
Also, for all you guys who are criticiszing these levers as “dangerous” without the slightest thread of evidence beyond a cursory examination or feeling them on someone else’s bike:
Have *you *ridden them?
Do you *know *of an empiracle incident where this specific product may have contributed in any way to an accident?
This is the internet at its worst.
Can’t explain lance’s tastes. He likes harleys, for god’s sake. (If there was ever an icon for poor and primitive design, harleys would take 1st prize). But maybe lance likes 'em cause they look cool. I mean, lot’s of people do very strange things for looks (women in high heeled shoes for one…).
But tell me this, captain, what is the purpose of making the damn things as thin as a knife blade? Give me any answer you want, but not “aerodyanmics.”
their new slogan: “Visiontech brake levers: guaranteed to save you 1/5 of a second per 40 km at 30 mph!”
They are currently the lightest brake lever on the market.