Cane Creek SCR-5c

Price Paid:  $32.00 at aebike.com

Favorite Ride:
road, dirt, gravel or mud

Bike Setup:
Cannondale cyclocross w/ Dura-Ace bar-end shifters

Summary:
I ditched my Shimano STIs for bar-end shifters and SCR-5 brake levers. These levers resemble Campy Ergo right down to the brake release button. They are simple, light, comfortable and cheap. There's really not much that can go wrong.

Strengths:
simple design, light, comfortable

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Shimano STIs

Price Paid:  $20.00 at Bikeman.com

Favorite Ride:
I'll take anything I can get

Bike Setup:
redline conquest pro, dura-ace barend shifters, br550 cantilevers, scr5c levers :)

Summary:
I put these on my cross bike for use with bar end shifters. I have found them to be very comfortable (way better than the shimano levers they replaced). The lever quick release makes wheel changes a snap with big cross tires and cantilevers as well.

Strengths:
inexpensive, tough, lever quick release.

Weaknesses:
just a set of tektro levers with different graphics and hood rubber (and a higher price).

Similar Products Used:
tektro r200a

Price Paid:  $25.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
something sunny

Bike Setup:
Giant ocr frame, easton circuit wheels, shimano bar end shifter (left), sram gripshift shifter and RD (right), Cane Creek brakes

Summary:
I use these in combination with bar end shifters on my trainer/commuter.

These brake levers seem to have exactly the same shape and size as Campy ergo shifters, without the shifter of course. I've found them very comfy, as with Campy shifters they give a flat extension of the bars, unlike Shimano which have a dip.

Like Campy shifters they have a quick release for the brakes built in, so are compatible with Campy brakes. Or, if you use them with brakes that have a quick release, you can get a really big clearance which is handy if you have a spoke snap.

They have quite a strong return spring in them, which can be very strange at first if you're used to Shimano, although now I find myself wishing my Shimano SIS shifters also had a return spring, they reall are a good idea.

Strengths:
Very, very cheap (compared to SIS/Ergopower/doubletap). Very, very comfortable. Perfect for tourer with bar end shifters.

Weaknesses:
No gear changing mechanism, but that costs an extra $400.

The only flaw, is that to tighten the levers to the bars, you have to disconnect the brake cable, which annoying.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano sis shifters

Price Paid:  $40.00 at Cape Able Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
hilly

Bike Setup:
Lemond Maillot Jaune 853, Tange B9 fk, Ritchey WCS hs, DA 25th ders-calipers-post-cassette-dt shftrs, Raceface Cadence ck/bb, Wellgo spd pedals, Ambrosio laserpro WS, USPS Hutch + Vitt Rub Pro tyres, cinelli 2a + Modolo Flash bar/stem, Bonty tape, Cane Creek levers, 1st gen flyte saddle.

Summary:
All design elements well executed

Strengths:
Wicked good at pullin cable, nice ergo shape to lever blade, comfy and grippy hoods with little nubbins, cool quick release lever, light enough

Weaknesses:
pivot squeaks a tiny, tiny, tiny bit

Similar Products Used:
tektro, shimano da, sante, ultegra, old c Record aero

Price Paid:  $20.00 at nashbar

Favorite Ride:
every one without a flat

Bike Setup:
src-5 front brake lever and nashbar deluxe canti.

Summary:
this is of the src-5, NOT the compact.

simple setup, excellent feel, sweet look. the lever has great action and the blade has a wonderful contour, like it was cast for my hand position. the platform looks chucky, but my hand rests in there, again, like it was cast for my hand.

Strengths:
the lil brake release on the lever that lets you open the brake for wheel changes. i hear this is like on campy blades. when setting up the brakes, i just slid into "wheel change mode" and set the cable. popped the lil button back over to "riding" mode and everything was set!

simple, elegant design.

Weaknesses:
cant quite get the tilt right. but this is getting extremely nit-picky

Similar Products Used:
shimano levers, shimano brifters