Salsa Poco vs. Short-n-Shallow

[KnottedYet]

My guess would be the bar and the ergo bump are the issue, just because your hand looks like mine on my Bell Lap. Like if your hand was just comfy further up the bend everything would line up right. What happens if you move your hand off the comfy spot to just behind the lever? Can you wrap your fingers around the lever then? Or do you need short reach levers, too?

On my S-n-S my hand sits much closer in line with the levers, the ergo bump is in the "right" spot, though I still have to move my hand a little to get a really good grip on the levers.

(hey, if you go for a shallower drop bar and your Pocos need a new home, let me know. )

[divingbiker]

My guess would be the bar and the ergo bump are the issue, just because your hand looks like mine on my Bell Lap. Like if your hand was just comfy further up the bend everything would line up right. What happens if you move your hand off the comfy spot to just behind the lever? Can you wrap your fingers around the lever then? Or do you need short reach levers, too?

On my S-n-S my hand sits much closer in line with the levers, the ergo bump is in the "right" spot, though I still have to move my hand a little to get a really good grip on the levers.

(hey, if you go for a shallower drop bar and your Pocos need a new home, let me know. )

When my hand is further up, above the ergo bend and below the hood, I can reach just fine. It's just not comfortable. It's weird, though, because when I was using the Poco bars during my bike fitting, I could reach the levers just fine.

Those brand new Pocos just might be looking for a home soon...

[KnottedYet]

DB - If they were good at the fitting, maybe something just needs a little tweaking to make them good again.

Starfish - I've never really looked at short-reach levers, but it sounds like you could sure use them! I wonder if you can shim short-reaches and make them super short? (what levers do Kona and Trek use on their kids road and cyclocross bikes? Would they be cheaper than "adult" short reach levers? They've gotta be small for kids hands, right?)

[divingbiker]

DB - If they were good at the fitting, maybe something just needs a little tweaking to make them good again.

Yeah, I think another trip to the shop is in order. Except the "L"BS where I did the fitting is an hour away...

[dex]

Starfish, your hands sound very similar in size to mine (though probably not as chubby--my mom *still* teases me for having chubby little kid hands). I think my middle finger is about 3.25" and my palm is about 3" at its longest line. If I were at home, I would measure it, but I'm currently trying to trick myself into being productive by sitting at a coffee shop with my laptop.

I do have one shim in my R700 levers, and I know I have the option of putting another in there, but I don't need it. Unfortunately, I can't compare my levers with the 105's that you're using. I went from the un-adjustable Tiagra levers to these.

Here's a link to the levers I have on the Shimano site. If you're ever near Seattle, let me know and I'd be happy to let you check out the levers on my bike for yourself. Even on eBay, they weren't exactly cheap, so I can understand the hesitancy to drop money on something that may not meet your needs.

[sundial]

OK, I've been meaning to ask. I know the Salsa bars are shallower--are they narrower too? I have broad shoulders and my stock bar is fine width wise, but I have to shim my levers too.

[sundial]

Knotted, I think you should open a bike shop that carries ONLY WSD bikes.

[Starfish]

All straightened out as long as possible, my very longest finger is just shy of 3" (that's the middle finger...the index is a full 1/2 inch shorter than that), and at its longest, my palm is 3.25". I already have my Shimano 105 breaks double shimmed. That enables me to hit the lever just closer to my hand than my last knuckle out toward the fingertip.

From the drops with the double shims, I can reach OK, but the double shims do compromise full braking strength, and I want more braking power.

I have comfy ergo bars...love the shape and feel of them except for the braking issue, and I also have fairly good padding (all Specialized comfort stuff), and that could maybe make the bar a little fatter.

I think my hand is about as close to the levers as it is going to get...I don't think position is the issue. I just have hands that are typically a full inch or so shorter than most everyone I know.