Originally Posted by
macdonwald
Any ideas for what brake levers and brifters (or handlebars) are most suitable for someone with small hands? I currently have Tiagra brifters on my road bike and am basically limited to riding on the hoods if I want to either brake or shift.
I'm starting to think about my next bike and am wondering what combination of brake levers, shifters, and handlebars would work best. I'd like to be able to actually use the drops on a more regular basis. (I haven't really settled on what the next bike will be, but a working assumption is the Surly Crosscheck, which I know comes with bar-end shifters on the complete.)
Thanks!
I find that somewhat strange since I also suffer from small hands and can't stand to brake from the hoods due to the low mechanical advantage! I ride probably 99% in the drops, so it can be done.
As mentioned, Shimano makes shims for the brifters. Another option would be modifying the position of the brifter further down on the bar, or getting a bar that doesn't bend away from the vertical as fast as many do.
I am personally of the opinion that bikes as usually sold in stores are damn near unusable from the drops in most cases. Just look at most bikes from the side and they look like you'd need to have 10-inch fingers to ride comfortably in the drops as they're sold. But with some minor adjustments, it can be made to work for you quite well.
If you really do want to ride in the drops a lot more, I'd first consider sliding the brifters down on the stem, and possibly getting a higher stem if you don't want to be too hunched over.