Small Rider, Small Hands

[Eden]

We may be functionally talking about the same thing? I can't stand drops the are not level - so first and foremost I need the ends of the drops level or nearly level, then I like to have my hoods level too. I find that this combo is the most comfortable for me and I can still reach everything. I have standard DA levers.

[aicabsolut]

Maybe. It probably depends on the bend of the bar and how deep the bend (and how long the reach). I'd guess for some bars, the only way the lever could get close to the bend of the drop would be for it to be relatively far down.

I didn't mean to suggest that you'd have the levers pointing slanted relative to vertical. It just sounded like you were advocating putting them farther down on the bend of the drops than I do. That could be more or less effective for reaching with small hands, given different bar shapes.

I still have my hoods up higher than what would make the levers the closest to the drops, but I can still reach them fine in the drops. It makes for a shorter distance from the corners to the hoods. I like those huge Shimano hoods up high. That may not work as well for different hood shapes though.