Eurobike faves: the Hope V-Twin hydraulic converter

Disc brakes on 'cross bikes: the time is now, and for now you need a box like this

10 comments

by dave_atkinson on October 27, 2011 - 12:00

Eurobike 2011 Nick Day 5 Sat 11.jpg

Like we said, soon you'll have road shifters with hydraulic internals and discs on your road bike. It's the future, though seemingly not the future everyone wants. Anyway, for now the focus is on cyclocross and Jo's first ride on the Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6 was enough to persuade him that actually, he did like discs for CX after all. And he's a proper luddite. You'll be next.

For now, you need a box to convert cable pull into fluid push. There were quite a few on display at Eurobike, but perhaps the prettiest was Hope Technologies' V-Twin, so named (by road.cc readers, not by Hope, although we reckon they'll use it...) because of its resemblance to said engine design. It attaches via a spacer insert, underneath your stem, and all the trickery goes on inside the box so it looks nice and neat. Here's Alan from Hope explaining...

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Like we said, soon you'll have road brifters...

NOOOO, please don't EVER use that horrible Americanism "brifter" again. You've gone and ruined all your good work just by using that one word.

posted by crazy-legs [72 posts] 27th October 2011 - 13:52

Americanism? I have fond memories of my Raleigh Brifter. Oh, hang on.

posted by Coleman [240 posts] 27th October 2011 - 14:01

Shucks we can't all be perfect and Dave does have a bit of a penchant for americanisms. Can't stand it myself but nothing we say will persuade him to quit it… y'all

Mebbe we'll change it, not cos it's an americanism but cos lots of people don't actually know what 'brifter' means (although I'm sure most of you can work it out) one of the team here thought it was a typo. Dave won't mind…

posted by tony_farrelly [3556 posts] 27th October 2011 - 14:07

So what should be used instead of "brifter"? "Shifter" isn't right, because they contain brake levers too. "STI" or "Ergopower" are manufacturer specific. Sheldon Brown liked "brifter", so its good enough for me. Americans who ride bikes are one of the good parts of America.

two wheels good; four wheels bad

posted by cat1commuter [1002 posts] 27th October 2011 - 14:34

will someone shut that child up

posted by VecchioJo [471 posts] 27th October 2011 - 14:35

Shrake.

posted by Coleman [240 posts] 27th October 2011 - 14:36

I've used it about three times in three years. That's not very often. You do the math.