Brakes and small hands.

I have very tiny hands...my 7 year old neice laughs because my hands are the same size as hers.
My problem is that no matter what position I put my hands on the bar, it seems like an incredible stretch for my fingers to reach the brakes. I always feel a little out of control because of this.
When I was measured for my bike, I asked if they could do something about the brakes...but they said they didn't know of anything.

Anyone else have this problem or know what I can do to feel more in control when braking?

Hmm. Are you a roadie or a mountainbiker (or have one of each?) On a mtb, there are often little screws right next to the brake lever that can alter the brake reach necessary. That might be able to help you to an extent, but not knowing your exact hand dimensions, I'm not sure how much.

When I was looking at bikes today, the salesman (I hesitate to even call him this, as he was much more like a helpful mentor - thank you Excel Cycles) showed me a brake set-up that was smaller than the "typical" brakes. I have very small hands as well (x-small biking gloves are still loose on me) and the narrower brakes were much easier for me to manipulate. I literally cannot stop a bike with a normal brake system (on a drop-down handlebar set-up especially) because I'm trying to control them with my fingertips. The smaller brakes were on some Bianchi's that I was looking at, but I'm sure they could be put on any bike - I wish I knew the technical term for these narrower brakes (and by narrower I do mean a closer reach with the finger/handspan).

I've adjusted my MTB to a fit that works for me, it's my road bike that I'm having trouble with. I've always had trouble with the reach, but since I've gotten the new bike I've had more trouble feeling in control. DH says it's because it's my first "performane" bike and I'm "twitchy"...god knows what that means.

There's a shop in the next town over that deals mostly with Bianchi...I'll check them out...thanks for the suggestion.

What brand brakes do you have? If you have Shimano there is a shim that can be put in them to help the reach. If you have Campy there is no shim but there are 2 handlebars that are designed to bring the reach closer in for smaller hands.

I'm having the same problem on my new bike. One guy at an LBS said that the guys adjust the brakes for their hands. I'm not sure if that's the issue or if being new they are just stiff and need to be broken in.

I can reach the brakes on the new bike I just cannot squeeze them well because the grip is too wide. I have the same handlebar and brakes on my old bike and I can reach and squeeze the brakes just fine.

Do a search on this forum. There are many threads on this issue.

Soma has small reach brake levers for road bikes. (They are actually made by Tektro). Because there is no shifter mechanism, the whole thing can be smaller. You'd have to put bar end shifters or downtube shifters on, though.

http://www.somafab.com/aerolevers.html


Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Bianchi uses Campy. Campagnolo are smaller than Shimano.

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Originally Posted by Kitsune06

Hmm. Are you a roadie or a mountainbiker (or have one of each?) On a mtb, there are often little screws right next to the brake lever that can alter the brake reach necessary. That might be able to help you to an extent, but not knowing your exact hand dimensions, I'm not sure how much.

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My road bike has the little screws too, I couldn't reach the brakes either and my LBS mechanic said "well didn't you adjust the screws?"
I wanted to say "Screw you! how was I supposed to know they were there!"
He always assumes everyone knows everything. Then I needed to find a screwdriver small enough. As a newbie I know NOTHING except what I learn here and from Bicycling mag.So thanks everyone and keep the info coming

I have Campy brakes. Thanks for all the suggestions and the websites...I'm going to start to research...I appreciate the help!

Modolo Venus or 3 T Eva handlebars will solve your problem. They are short reach and designed to bring the brake levers closer to the bar.

The Eva 3 T come 38-42, I think, the Modolo Venus go as small as 34cm. I use the Molodo Venus because I need the 34 cm. I love them. I have a thread that shows pictures of them on my old bike.

If your handlebars are too wide for you the correct size will help because your hands will line more directly with the brakes. Hope that makes sense.

My hands are tiny too, my 2nd graders used to laugh because their hands were bigger!

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Originally Posted by Kathi

Modolo Venus or 3 T Eva handlebars will solve your problem. They are short reach and designed to bring the brake levers closer to the bar.

The Eva 3 T come 38-42, I think, the Modolo Venus go as small as 34cm. I use the Molodo Venus because I need the 34 cm. I love them. I have a thread that shows pictures of them on my old bike.

If your handlebars are too wide for you the correct size will help because your hands will line more directly with the brakes. Hope that makes sense.

My hands are tiny too, my 2nd graders used to laugh because their hands were bigger!

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Thanks for the specifics...I'm going to see if I can test some out.

The Rivendell Rambouillet comes with little additional brake levers up on the top of the drop bars. You can see them a bit here- the little silver levers on either side of the center of the handlebars:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rambo...lue-34view.jpg
Can't remember what they are called, but my new Rambouillet will have them.

In addition to having a lever that's more suited to your hand and a bar that minimizes the reach, brakes can be adjusted so that the point at which you are applying force is close to the grip length at which your hand can comfortably apply its max force. In other words, you may feel like it's a stretch to grab the lever, but once you pull it a certain distance, then if feels comfortable in your hand and you can apply your maximum braking force. But if it grabbed the rim sooner (further from the bar) you would have trouble applying force. Adjusting the caliper to be as close as possible to the rim is not always optimal (though a new bike should always be adjusted this way because the cables will stretch).

Also agree with KnottedYet that brake-only levers could make you happier if you don't get a good fit from Shimano or Campy dual-control levers. There used to be many brands of such brakes (you might get a good deal on used levers) and they almost all had a shorter reach than dual-control levers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

The Rivendell Rambouillet comes with little additional brake levers up on the top of the drop bars. You can see them a bit here- the little silver levers on either side of the center of the handlebars:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rambo...lue-34view.jpg
Can't remember what they are called, but my new Rambouillet will have them.

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they sell those little brake levers in a lot of the LBS's !

[QUOTE=DebW]In addition to having a lever that's more suited to your hand and a bar that minimizes the reach, brakes can be adjusted so that the point at which you are applying force is close to the grip length at which your hand can comfortably apply its max force. In other words, you may feel like it's a stretch to grab the lever, but once you pull it a certain distance, then if feels comfortable in your hand and you can apply your maximum braking force. But if it grabbed the rim sooner (further from the bar) you would have trouble applying force. Adjusting the caliper to be as close as possible to the rim is not always optimal (though a new bike should always be adjusted this way because the cables will stretch).

QUOTE]


You just described the problem I'm having right now. I compared the actual distance between the lever and the bar on both bikes and it is identical. I can reach the levers just fine its just that they feel so tight compared to the old bike.

From what your saying it sounds like the cables will loosen up and I shouldn't worry at this point?

I have the same problem, and after I got my first road bike my fingers would feel so stiff and cramped after a ride from the effort of stretching out to grab the brakes and yank them in. I didn't want to spend money on new brakes just yet, but one thing that helped me immensely was to have the bike shop "loosen" (I'm sure there's a technical term) my brakes, so that they require a lot less force to apply. Not only is it easier to brake, but they are now loose enough that I can ride with the levers depressed slightly by my fingertips, thus basically holding them in closer range.

If that makes sense. Anyway, this is one of those things the bike shop will probably adjust for free (although whenever I go to get a "free" service I end up dropping more dough on some accesory or other - funny how that happens!)

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Originally Posted by Kathi

You just described the problem I'm having right now. I compared the actual distance between the lever and the bar on both bikes and it is identical. I can reach the levers just fine its just that they feel so tight compared to the old bike.

From what your saying it sounds like the cables will loosen up and I shouldn't worry at this point?

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If the bike is new or the cables have just been replaced, then they will stretch. But if you are uncomfortable with the brakes to the point where you don't want to ride, go back to the LBS now and get the brakes adjusted looser. The LBS is afraid that when the cables stretch, the brakes might get so loose that you can't stop the bike, and then you will sue them. Promise to bring the bike back for adjustment as soon as the cables stretch. Better yet, buy a 3rd hand and an allen wrench (<$15) and have the LBS show you how to adjust the brakes yourself. Then you can always have the right cable tension for yourself.

I took my bike to the shop and there's a barrel on the cable that does the adjustment. Much better now!