I will say I definitely have issues with how much I have to reach to brake or shift. My hands are very small. I had the mistaken impression that buying a women's specific bike would include taking into account my small hands. Oh well. I will try the shim thing. There is a bike store here that insisted I pay them $75 to fit me before even letting me test ride a bike (the $75 would have then gone towards the purchase of the bike). Their suggestion irritated me but they would have made sure the brake reach fit. I would gladly have paid them the $75 to fit me had I been able to test ride first and had an idea if I liked a bike from their store. Oh well - what is that saying - hind sight is 20/20?