Braking when in the drops

wilwil
wilwil Posts: 374
edited November 2008 in Workshop
How much finger can you wrap around the brake levers when in the drops? I can only get the tips of my fingers up to the first joint and often this doesn't feel like enough. I don't have small hands either.

Comments

  • wilwil wrote:
    How much finger can you wrap around the brake levers when in the drops? I can only get the tips of my fingers up to the first joint and often this doesn't feel like enough. I don't have small hands either.

    I agree entirely. I too have difficulty reaching the brakes. On cold alpine descents I have really struggled at times. Like you I do not have small hands. I usually buy cycling gloves that are size M or L.

    Who are the brake levers intended for?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I'd suggest trying some different shaped bars and the position of the Ergos.

    I have pretty small hands and don't really have any issues with braking from the drops.

    I've got some of this bars on my winter bike- http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/100491.html

    Really comfortable and make braking from the drops fine, I'd have them on my summer bike too but they don't offer suffcient drop.
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  • What levers do you have? Sounds daft but if you have campag, make sure the buttons are both clicked in on the brake levers, as this gives you a extra inch to grab your fingers around the brakes. Sounds funny but ive known a few people who have campag levers, and didnt even notice these button exist!! :oops:
    Up hup hup hup.....fricking hate that!
  • Yes they are Campag but the little buttons are in the correct position.

    My ergos are a little higher on the handle bars because I tend to be ride big mileages and it is more comfortable to be on the hoods most of the time. However, they are not that far away from the "classic" position.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    If you have to bend your wrist to brake then you need to lower the levers or get bars with a different shape. Many so called 'ergo' bars are very bad for this. Variable radius ones are better. Having the bars low also makes reaching the levers more difficult.