Brake lever for Cinelli Criterium 26.4mm bars?

anyone got any ideas? I have an old road bike style lever but really would prefer a discreet bmx style brake lever. I actually bought a Paul Comp for £35 (feeling flush) but even that wont fit on the Cinelli Criterium - mainly because it is a slide on design that struggles to go round the drop bars. So that was a waste of cash... i best stick it on ebay.

Anyway - someone must have these bars? What have you done?

thanks

Goldfinger or a Dirt Harry.

A Promax cyclo cross lever should do it also, pictures on ebay show the lever sticking out quite a way but you can dial it in closer to the bars. Very cheap though so possibly not your best option.

Goldfinger or a Dirt Harry.

Goldfinger yes.
Dirt Harry- no (22.2 mm diameter)- knowledge gleamed from mis-purchases.

The Cane Creek Crosstop should fit.

I got an Oddysesy mono lever and filed the inside. Fits ok, 3 different sized levers to choose from too.

anyone got any ideas? I have an old road bike style lever but really would prefer a discreet bmx style brake lever. I actually bought a Paul Comp for £35 (feeling flush) but even that wont fit on the Cinelli Criterium - mainly because it is a slide on design that struggles to go round the drop bars. So that was a waste of cash... i best stick it on ebay.

Anyway - someone must have these bars? What have you done?

thanks

Don't ebay your Paul Comp levers !! They do go on !!

With most of the slide on (non-clamp) levers you need to get a screwdriver into the opening and prise it apart before installation on drop handlebars.

(this is also true for quite a few quill stems)

My Paul Comp would not even get half way around the first bend until I gently put an extra 3-4 mm into the space between the ends of the opening and I think my track drops are even more tightly curved than a set of Cinelli Criteriums.

If you are precious about the finish on your new lever - stick a tea towel or bit of cloth (so as not to scratch the finish) over the business end of the screwdriver before gently levering open. If you are precious about the finish on your bars lightly sand the leading edge/corners of the clamp opening so it is not so sharp. Should take you 5 minutes to install successfully.

If you do give up on the e-lever, take a look at the specialized crosstop levers (£15 a set from wiggle, flog the other one on here). Hinged clamp, and you can polish them up to look like this:

^^^That's JOL's, mine came out similar although I didn't put quite as much elbow grease into it so it ain't quite as shiny.

If you do give up on the e-lever . . . . .

. . . I'll take it.

Two? That's just greedy.

Two? That's just greedy.

Two ? There must be 10-12 brake levers 'round these parts, it's an ongoing problem, I am seeking help.

thanks fo rthe suggestions.
tynan - the paul comp has been snaffled up by jonny wilkinson. sorry.

Criterium + gold finger

sorry for not having a close up photo

thanks fo rthe suggestions.
tynan - the paul comp has been snaffled up by jonny wilkinson. sorry.

:(

I haven't bought a lever all week.

were you ever successful in putting the e-lever on the 26.4 criteriums?

thanks

Remember 26.4 is only the raised bit on the bars that the stem clamps on to, the diameter of the rest of the bars will be less. Not measured it myself, but I'd imagine it would be 25.4 or even less ?

True. The clamp diameter of the e-lever is 23.8.

I had this exact problem a couple of months ago. Searched. Found this thread. Put lever on bars. Drank beer. Glad to see it's still working away!
The thing with the screwdriver that tynan mentions is the key ^^^

did you try this with 26.4 bars?

i got a gold finger on mine no probs :-)