the brake/shifter is two pieces. the silver longer piece you pull toward you to brake.. you bump it "in" to shift (bumping the long silver one makes peddling easier) behind it is a black "paddle" that you bump in to make it harder to peddle. (see.. told you i was a newbie!)

you don't have to/should have to take your hands off the bard to shift.... one good reason for having the women's cuz they are smaller... with the men's i had a harder reach.

am i making sense? is that what you are asking?

the only time you MAY have to move your hands is if you ride with your hands in the middle.. uhm... top most part of the handle (the part that comes out of the stem)

if you ride the hoods they are right there.. if you ride the drops they are right there and if you ride the "corner" which is my fave spot.. they are still reachable.. but i think i slide my hands forward to the hoods to break.. i'm pretty sure i can shift from that "corner" (i'll check tonight when i ride!)