A Dutch inventor has come up with a bold new idea that gets rid of brake levers entirely.
Maas van Beek’s electronic braking system enables you to slow down by squeezing the handlebar, with no need for levers.
Sensors inside the grips detect how hard you squeeze. These then send that signal to a central unit, which applies the brakes for you.
It’s a simple idea on the surface, but one van Beek is confident could change how we control our bikes.
Van Beek is no stranger to bicycle design, claiming he developed the patented shuttle stem, licensed to bicycle manufacturer Gazelle, and created the racing simulator platform behind Gameseat.
He says his new design "challenges over 100 years of brake lever design by making braking more intuitive, immediate, and safer".
No levers, no hand repositioning
Traditional brake levers have been around for more than a century, and while almost every other part of the bike has evolved, this basic setup hasn’t changed much – something van Beek says should change.
Van Beek’s says that because his braking system is built into the handlebar itself, you can brake from any hand position without needing to move your fingers, which could make a real difference in an emergency.
He recalls a recent ride where a car began to pull out in front of him while he was in the drops, which inspired him to design the new system: “I needed to brake instantly, but couldn’t reach the levers fast enough,” he says. “For a split second, I had no braking control.”
“Fortunately, the car stopped, and nothing happened – but it made me realise how critical those fractions of a second are.”
It was moments such as this, he says, that helped shape the idea.
Squeeze to stop
The system uses pressure sensors inside the handlebar to detect when you squeeze, which then sends that input to a central module, which activates the brakes.
There’s also a motor in the system that boosts the braking force. Van Beek says this means you don’t need to squeeze especially hard. The system is similar to a servo you’d see in a car's braking system.
Van Beek says there’s a built-in mechanical backup, so the brakes should still work even if the electronic side fails.
The Dutchman says the idea could suit performance road bikes, where levers aren’t in reach when on the tops, but he sees believes there is merit to the idea on everyday bikes too.
He sees it as a wider rethink of how bikes are controlled, rather than a niche racing upgrade.
What happens next?
Right now, the system is still at the concept stage. Van Beek says he has filed a patent application and has shared detailed designs, but there are no working prototypes yet.
He’s now looking to team up with bike brands and component makers to bring the idea to life.
