Originally Posted by
SunnyFlorida
I'm using the original "long reach" brake levers on my R20. I'd like to have the levers a little closer to me though. However, the original levers doesn't have that little screw adjustment that more modern levers have that would bring the levers closer to me.
Any way I can adjust the levers that I may not be aware of? If not, any suggestions on levers that would work with the original R20 brake calipers I'm also using?
My LBS suggested I work with the original brake levers since they were made to work with the calipers. Doing this has saved me some bucks since I didn't have to buy new levers or brakes. However, it's proving to be uncomfortable as well as a tad unsafe, as time goes by.
I too is still using the "old" (but never really used and like new just like the rest of the bike) brake levers that came with the bike. I surely have the same smaller hands and fingers that most women have and you seem to have yourself. When my bike was purchased, the levers were positioned with the levers facing forward, rather than downward as was usual with the previous bikes I purchased. This was more suited for my smaller hands & fingers, plus a bonus of more power when applied. My previous Dahon Boardwalk's brake levers were set up just like this bike is. My Brompton originally when first purchased had it's brake levers pointed completely downward causing me much pain. The bike mechanic that tuned it simply rotated them up a small fraction. I use them now completely free of pain and improved braking along with it's own Kool Stop brake pads (so much that I don't have a need to upgrade them anytime soon with dual pivot ones).
Just look at the photos of my bikes below and you will probably get a good idea of each bike's present set up (from left to right, Raleigh Twenty, Dahon Boardwalk S1, and Brompton CE3).