LHT handlebars/brake levers are TOO big

[ginny]

Ladies, I know we have discussed this a number of times, but I need to revisit it...I have a 46 cm LHT with 26" wheels. I ride it every day as my commuter, and I have found that when I ride her for a number of trips a day, I am beginning to develop what feels like an over use / over reach injury in my right hand (probably from using my rear brake at all the lights in town). So, my road bike is a Bianchi Eros Donna and the handlebars on her are Deda Element 4girls - I love them. I am thinking of a) changing to those smaller handlebars on the LHT, and b) changing to smaller hoods/brake levers.

I have looked up smaller brake levers, and I found the Campy Ergo and Shiman STI levers. Here is where I am confused, both of those incorporate shifters, and as well all know and love, Surly's have bar end shifters. I would be happy to switch the whole bike over to campy, but I'm not sure that is warranted with the bar end shifters (what I love about Campy is the sweet shifting and easy throw on my road bike). Um, so can any of you help direct me to just brake levers and hoods for small hands?

This actually seems like it may be a relatively cheap and easy switch... thanks!

[MartianDestiny]

I'm not versed on any just brake options.

I will say that you can use the combo levers as just brake levers if you want (just don't run the shifter lines to them). My shop owner runs standard Ultegra levers on his fixie that obviously doesn't shift (actually one of them isn't even hooked up to a brake as it only has a front brake...guess there are some advantages to being a shop owner...).

They do of course make brake lever only options that are probably lighter and make more sense. I just have no clue which ones are small or adjust well.

[OakLeaf]

The particular Shimano model brifters for small hands are R700 for 10-speed or R600 for 9-speed. Anything else is pretty big. As we were discussing a week or two ago, it's still rather hard to shift to a larger chainring with those.

Another thing you might do is search eBay or LBS NOS for pre-brifter Campy levers.

[lunacycles]

Cane creek makes short reach brake levers in both black and silver.

[Buster]

I just got my LHT a couple of weeks ago. I had the shop put smaller bars on it, which is nice, although I'm not sure they helped the brake lever reach any. I also have the R600s, but I still struggle to feel comfortable reaching the brakes (my hands do hurt after riding). I'm not sure if I've got the wrong bars or what.

As OakLeaf noted, it's really really hard to shift into the large chainring. I am actually contemplating moving to bar ends to see if that makes things any better! How do you like the bar ends? I really like the convenience of the STI shifters, but it's annoying to not be able to use the big chainring.

I believe they do make brake levers that you can shim - I wonder if that would help?

[MartianDestiny]

I believe they do make brake levers that you can shim - I wonder if that would help?

I have standard Ultegra combo levers that are shimmed with the largest available Specialized shim. I run them on Specialized Ruby bars with no issues (and I wear a children's medium in gloves). IMO the bars really make a huge difference as well. Mine have nice deep drops that I can get my whole hand in and really crank down on the brakes, as well as a short reach top so I can reach from the hoods easily as well. The shallow drop bars completely prevent me from getting to the brakes, tried a set once...didn't even have the shop tape them they were so bad.

Shims won't help if the throw is too much when shifting to the large ring though; they only pull the whole lever assembly closer to the bar. I wonder if the shops can adjust throw because I don't have an issue shifting into my large gear (it is a hair reachy, but it always slides right into gear for me. I *heart* my shop...my bikes always run flawlessly (until I wreck them...)).