braking in the drops

[jessmarimba]

It isn't strain so much as an impossible angle, which would be cured by lowering the brakes as margrette and Becky suggested. My back actually feels better on the flat part of the bars or bent over lower in the drops...halfway up with my hands forward to kinda try to reach the brakes, the muscles pull over the screws in my back.

The brakes are unreachable on the hoods as well, I generally use them by wrapping my entire hand around the little plastic brake support thingies (what are those called?)

[OakLeaf]

If you can't reach the brakes on the hoods either, even when they're that high, you probably just need shorter reach levers. Expensive ... but you need to be able to brake.

[DebW]

Looks to me like the bars are tilted up too much. Try making the bottom of the drops flat and see how that feels.

[LivetoRide]

Looks to me like the bars are tilted up too much. Try making the bottom of the drops flat and see how that feels.

I second this and Becky's suggestion of moving the brake levers. If neither helps your problems, consider getting some different handlebars as a different one may allow you to get things set up to where you need.

[Eden]

I agree with Deb - it seems to be trendy these days to tilt the bars way up - I have no idea why.... but that is how shops put them together now.

I prefer the bottom of the drops to be horizontal (otherwise I always feel like my hands are sliding down them) and the brake hoods to be level as well.

It also may take some getting used to. Many people feel like they have a hard time with the drop when they first start riding a road bike. I have small hands and I have always used regular levers (as old as I am, there was no such thing as short reach anything when I was learning to ride....). I don't feel like I have any trouble reaching my brakes ever, probably because I am accustomed to it.

[roadie gal]

3+ on moving the brake levers down or rotating the handlebars so that the hoods are flat across from the top of the handlebars rather than above the bars.

Do you have a bike shop that you can bring the bike into that can do a fitting for you? They may be able to look and see if there are other problems in the fit that is making it difficult for you to reach the brakes.

[Trek420]

I agree with Eden who agrees with Deb. My LBS built the bike with the brake hoods level. I'm rarely in the drops unless climbing or accelerating but even then I mostly ride from the top of the bars or the hoods. I'm comfortable braking from the hoods with just two fingers. It's a rare day that I have to grab a handful of brake but if so I do I can do it from there. My hands are very small and yet this works for me.