Ultegra Short reach STI?

Scott Gates inquired:

Does Shimano still make Ultegra short reach STI Levers? I can't find any
info on them on the Shimano website. Does anyone know how much smaller these
levers are? I'm trying to make shifting and braking easier for my short
fingered wife. She is using Tiagra shifters now, and the LBS has installed a
small rubber block that brings the levers in closer to the bar by taking up
some of the brake throw,

That's basically how the ST-R600 brfters work.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/derailers.html#brifters

but the shifting throw still seems a bit long for
her.

I don't think there's any difference in shifting throw, just brake reach.

Any other ideas?

Angle the brifters a bit outward from one another.

Make sure the handlebar tape isn't too thick at the back of the
bar...sometimes folks use too much tape there, wrapping round in a figure 8.

There's also a Terry handlebar with a notch just below where the
brifters attach, to make more room for the thumb web.

Sheldon "Ergonomics" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| If you don't like yourself, you _can't_ like other people |
| --Robert A. Heinlein |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Thank you Sheldon. I turned the brifters out some, we will see how that
works. I know you have been kidding around some about bar tape this week,
but I think you may be on to something there. She has 31.8 mm bars and the
"Specialized Bar Phat" which may be too much of a handful for her. I'll look
into the Terry bars. Thanks again. - Scott
"Sheldon Brown" wrote in message
...
Scott Gates inquired:

Does Shimano still make Ultegra short reach STI Levers? I can't find any
info on them on the Shimano website. Does anyone know how much smaller
these
levers are? I'm trying to make shifting and braking easier for my short
fingered wife. She is using Tiagra shifters now, and the LBS has
installed a
small rubber block that brings the levers in closer to the bar by taking
up
some of the brake throw,

That's basically how the ST-R600 brfters work.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/derailers.html#brifters

but the shifting throw still seems a bit long for
her.

I don't think there's any difference in shifting throw, just brake reach.

Any other ideas?

Angle the brifters a bit outward from one another.

Make sure the handlebar tape isn't too thick at the back of the
bar...sometimes folks use too much tape there, wrapping round in a figure
8.

There's also a Terry handlebar with a notch just below where the
brifters attach, to make more room for the thumb web.

Sheldon "Ergonomics" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| If you don't like yourself, you _can't_ like other people |
| --Robert A. Heinlein |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com