Top Mounted brakes on drop bars

I know that these brake levers are meant as a safety measure

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Tektro-Tektro-top-mount-brake-lever-for-use-as-an-extra-lever-on-standard-Drop-handlebars-(max-24mm-clamp)-per-pair-NOT-V-brake-7187.htm

and should be used with the normal brake levers on a drop bar, but wondered if they could be used as brake levers on their own as the primary brake lever? I'm looking to put some on my bike but want them to be quite minimal like these

Any help would be great

i think they are meant as an alternative rather than a safety measure, i might be wrong but i don't see why they won't be fine on their own.

yep, lots of people use them on their own.

I think their design came out of cyclocross where it (apparently) is desirable to be able to break in both hand positions.

At the way they are intended to be used in 'interrupting' the brake cable, but could they be attached to the end of the cable instead, used alone?

Yes, can be used on their own.

awesome, thanks for your help, just need to find somewhere to buy them in london tomorrow

awesome, thanks for your help, just need to find somewhere to buy them in london tomorrow

On a bank holiday Sunday in August? With the Tektro factory workers in the third week of the strike? Good luck with that.

would brick lane bikes have them?

specialized and other brands do top cross levers as well.

cane creek, if you just need the RH and have 26mm bars then talk to me i.e. I have one

The ones you linked to look a lot like the Tektro RL720 which Charge put on the Plug as the primary/only lever. I had the same quandary with some Salsa Halter Tops which have a perfect sized fitting for a pear nipple'd brake cable, but the go to great lengths to explain that they should be used as secondary levers. Maybe they have to pay/test for some certification to sell them as primary levers? Any body know for sure? I decided to risk it, I'll let you know if it proves disastrous.

I'll let you know if it proves disastrous.

or not.