Salsa Poco vs. Short-n-Shallow

[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.

[dex]

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

Noooo! Because I wouldn't be able to shop there.

[KnottedYet]

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

I wouldn't be able to shop there, either! (I can't ride WSD, they always feel cramped for my body proportions.)

Salsa's Poco and Short-n-Shallows come in 2 cm increments as far as width goes. I think 36/38/40/42/44. I'd have to look it up, and I'm too busy watching Utilikilt mock-u-mercials right now! www.salsacycles.com

[Kathi]

Here's the handlebar that I use. I can reach my brakes very comfortably but I also had to have the lbs adjust them for my hands and not theirs.

http://www.modolo.com/1_road_handlebars_temp.php?id=9

BTW, my middle finger measures 2.75" and I have had 1st graders with larger hands than mine.