SRAM Apex

[MelC]

Bought a Specialized Ruby Apex and took it out for its first spin today. When I researched the shifters I was encouraged by the description that they were easier for women's hands etc. and also liked the idea that they could be pulled in closer to the bar to make reach easier. All these things seemed like good ideas for a woman's bike. About halfway through my ride I got stuck in a gear and the derailleur stopped responding. My friend had coincidentally just bought he same bike so she got on and it shifted fine for her. After struggling again after we started up again it dawned on me what the problem was.

I had picked the shifters based on an image of femininity and forgotten to factor in that I actually have completely abnormal freakshow strong grip strength. My hands are not feminine and my poor little bike was protesting my manhandling of the shifters. Once I mentally adjusted to "don't crush the butterfly strength" it was all good. Funny moment though.

[kelleil]

I have to manhandle my front derailleur for reals.

[Owlie]

I'm not sure there's a shifting system out there in which the left shifter does not require manhandling.

I had to do some tweaking with my front derailleur when I first got the CX bike (like, the day after I built it and brought it home, no riding it). But I haven't had issues with it since then. Hm.

[Crankin]

I don't have to manhandle my front derailleur on either of my bikes (Ultegra).
Something is wrong if that's how you feel.

[Owlie]

I don't have to manhandle my front derailleur on either of my bikes (Ultegra).
Something is wrong if that's how you feel.

Haha, I should be more specific. I have a hard time shifting into the big ring with either bike (Apex on the CX, low-end Shimano on the road bike). I have smaller hands and short fingers, so the long throw, even if everything's adjusted, is hard. I had an easier time shifting with 105 (still a fairly long throw), so it may well be that the entry-level stuff is more...ah, temperamental.

[zoom-zoom]

Haha, I should be more specific. I have a hard time shifting into the big ring with either bike (Apex on the CX, low-end Shimano on the road bike). I have smaller hands and short fingers, so the long throw, even if everything's adjusted, is hard. I had an easier time shifting with 105 (still a fairly long throw), so it may well be that the entry-level stuff is more...ah, temperamental.

The only bike I've owned that didn't give me a hard time moving up to a bigger front ring is my mtn. bike with a Shimano triple -- it has a really light touch in every respect. Road, mtn, and CX bikes with X5/X7, 105, Apex, and Rival have all been a challenge because I have shortish, girly fingers and hands. This stuff is not designed for us, unfortunately. Now that I have a weakened right hand and wrist after my wrist fracture I find that my SRAM stuff is a bit difficult to operate on that side, too...even though it was no issue pre-injury. I definitely see the appeal of Di2.