Short fingers

This may have been posted in the past but I couldn't find anything on it. I
am cursed with shorter than average fingers for a person of my size. I have
never had this problem before but my hands are getting extremely fatigued
because my brake levers are too far away from my fingers. I'm think part of
the problem is because of the switch to disk brakes. My levers were a bit
more forgiving in the past when I kept a bit of tension on them.

Any solutions/workarounds other than getting different levers?

FYI: These are XT integrated shifters and levers.

Thanks,

CG

Chris Glidden wrote:
This may have been posted in the past but I couldn't find anything on it. I
am cursed with shorter than average fingers for a person of my size. I have
never had this problem before but my hands are getting extremely fatigued
because my brake levers are too far away from my fingers. I'm think part of
the problem is because of the switch to disk brakes. My levers were a bit
more forgiving in the past when I kept a bit of tension on them.

Any solutions/workarounds other than getting different levers?

FYI: These are XT integrated shifters and levers.

Thanks,

CG



Other than switching to Avid Juicy 7's which let you adjust the reach
(somewhat), thicker padded grips might give you another 1/4". How many
fingers do you typically keep on the lever? I know that most people use
one finger for disc brakes, but I prefer two. It's just more comfortable.

Another thing you can try if you cannot find more cushier grips is to
build them up using roadie bar tape. I have seen that done once for a
bigger child riding a full size MTB.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Other than switching to Avid Juicy 7's which let you adjust the reach
(somewhat), thicker padded grips might give you another 1/4". How
many fingers do you typically keep on the lever? I know that most
people use one finger for disc brakes, but I prefer two. It's just
more comfortable.
Another thing you can try if you cannot find more cushier grips is to
build them up using roadie bar tape. I have seen that done once for a
bigger child riding a full size MTB.

adding padding or thicker grips would increase the diameter of the bar,
consequently making for a longer reach.

I think he'll have the best results wih adjustable throw levers.

JohnH wrote:
Other than switching to Avid Juicy 7's which let you adjust the reach
(somewhat), thicker padded grips might give you another 1/4". How
many fingers do you typically keep on the lever? I know that most
people use one finger for disc brakes, but I prefer two. It's just
more comfortable.
Another thing you can try if you cannot find more cushier grips is to
build them up using roadie bar tape. I have seen that done once for a
bigger child riding a full size MTB.


adding padding or thicker grips would increase the diameter of the bar,
consequently making for a longer reach.

I think he'll have the best results wih adjustable throw levers.



Ah, I see what you mean but it worked for the kid. I guess if you have
a wide web between your thumb and forefinger it could work

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"JohnH" wrote in message
news

Other than switching to Avid Juicy 7's which let you adjust the reach
(somewhat), thicker padded grips might give you another 1/4". How
many fingers do you typically keep on the lever? I know that most
people use one finger for disc brakes, but I prefer two. It's just
more comfortable.
Another thing you can try if you cannot find more cushier grips is to
build them up using roadie bar tape. I have seen that done once for a
bigger child riding a full size MTB.

adding padding or thicker grips would increase the diameter of the bar,
consequently making for a longer reach.

That was my thought

I think he'll have the best results wih adjustable throw levers.

I don't know that I'll be able to swap out the levers without changing the
whole configuration of shifters, etc. as they are integrated:
http://tinyurl.com/bd24m

CG

Chris Glidden wrote:
"JohnH" wrote in message
news
Other than switching to Avid Juicy 7's which let you adjust the reach
(somewhat), thicker padded grips might give you another 1/4". How
many fingers do you typically keep on the lever? I know that most
people use one finger for disc brakes, but I prefer two. It's just
more comfortable.
Another thing you can try if you cannot find more cushier grips is to
build them up using roadie bar tape. I have seen that done once for a
bigger child riding a full size MTB.

adding padding or thicker grips would increase the diameter of the bar,
consequently making for a longer reach.


That was my thought

I think he'll have the best results wih adjustable throw levers.


I don't know that I'll be able to swap out the levers without changing the
whole configuration of shifters, etc. as they are integrated:
http://tinyurl.com/bd24m


Sh!tmano strikes again with those damn dualies. Can you get just
replacement handles (not the entire unit) that have more of a bend? I
was able to swap out the ones on my Hayes brakes for Razor Rock (yeh,
old school) levers which were much more comfortable. I have small
fingers too.


--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" wrote
Sh!tmano strikes again with those damn dualies. Can you get just
replacement handles (not the entire unit) that have more of a bend? I was
able to swap out the ones on my Hayes brakes for Razor Rock (yeh, old
school) levers which were much more comfortable. I have small fingers
too.


I'll check that option. Thanks brother.

CG

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Chris Glidden" wrote in message
news:5Lhue.13$Qo.6@fed1read01...
This may have been posted in the past but I couldn't find anything on it.
I
am cursed with shorter than average fingers for a person of my size. I
have
never had this problem before but my hands are getting extremely fatigued
because my brake levers are too far away from my fingers. I'm think part
of
the problem is because of the switch to disk brakes. My levers were a bit
more forgiving in the past when I kept a bit of tension on them.

Any solutions/workarounds other than getting different levers?

FYI: These are XT integrated shifters and levers.

Thanks,

CG


It's not covered in the break instalation PDF, but page three of the Front
Drive system PDF gives reach adjustment info on page three (they call it
"grip width"):
http://bike.shimano.com/media/cyclin...9830558601.pdf

The exploded view also has the reach adjustmant parts labled as part # 21

Real intuitive manual system shimano has /sarcasam

Jason

"slartibartfast" wrote in message
...

"Chris Glidden" wrote in message
news:5Lhue.13$Qo.6@fed1read01...
This may have been posted in the past but I couldn't find anything on it.
I
am cursed with shorter than average fingers for a person of my size. I
have
never had this problem before but my hands are getting extremely fatigued
because my brake levers are too far away from my fingers. I'm think part
of
the problem is because of the switch to disk brakes. My levers were a
bit
more forgiving in the past when I kept a bit of tension on them.

Any solutions/workarounds other than getting different levers?

FYI: These are XT integrated shifters and levers.

Thanks,

CG


It's not covered in the break instalation PDF, but page three of the Front
Drive system PDF gives reach adjustment info on page three (they call it
"grip width"):
http://bike.shimano.com/media/cyclin...9830558601.pdf

The exploded view also has the reach adjustmant parts labled as part # 21

Real intuitive manual system shimano has /sarcasam

Jason

Thanks. Hopefully this will work.

CG

On 2005-06-22, Chris Glidden penned:
This may have been posted in the past but I couldn't find anything
on it. I am cursed with shorter than average fingers for a person
of my size. I have never had this problem before but my hands are
getting extremely fatigued because my brake levers are too far away
from my fingers. I'm think part of the problem is because of the
switch to disk brakes. My levers were a bit more forgiving in the
past when I kept a bit of tension on them.

Any solutions/workarounds other than getting different levers?

FYI: These are XT integrated shifters and levers.


You could try changing the angle at which they're mounted to the
handlebars for better reach ...

I actually think that my hands are a lot less tired since switching to
disc.

--
monique

"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live."
-- Mark Twain