brake lever shims?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I know one can buy or make brake lever shims for Shimano STI levers to improve the finger reach to the levers for smaller hands (like mine).
But is there a part or a way to shim Aero levers? I dont really want to go all the way to changing my brake levers, but was hoping for a shim "fix" to make the reach a bit easier for my fingers when gripping the brakes.
Anyone done this?

[Triskeliongirl]

I know one can buy or make brake lever shims for Shimano STI levers to improve the finger reach to the levers for smaller hands (like mine).
But is there a part or a way to shim Aero levers? I dont really want to go all the way to changing my brake levers, but was hoping for a shim "fix" to make the reach a bit easier for my fingers when gripping the brakes.
Anyone done this?

I am not sure if you can buy shims for brake levers, but I know terry carries a brake lever designed for smaller hands. If you ring them up they may know about shimming too, since I think Georgena designed the first shims for sti levers before they started to market short reach levers.

[velogirl]

I use the Cane Creek SCR-5C brake levers on my touring bike (the C stands for compact). They're great because they're shaped like Campy levers (smaller for small hands) and have the QR right in the lever so perfect for cantilever brakes. Lisa, you have a Rivendell, right? I think Rivendell sells them or you could order them through your LBS. They're not shimable, but they're nice and small and the spring is easy to compress.

[SadieKate]

Velogirl, good recommendation. The Cane Creeks are available with a brown gum rubber hood for that traditional Riv look. I have them on my singlespeed and like the size.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I use the Cane Creek SCR-5C brake levers on my touring bike (the C stands for compact). They're great because they're shaped like Campy levers (smaller for small hands) and have the QR right in the lever so perfect for cantilever brakes. Lisa, you have a Rivendell, right? I think Rivendell sells them or you could order them through your LBS. They're not shimable, but they're nice and small and the spring is easy to compress.

Thanks for this recommendation- the CaneCreek SCR-5C's seem like the perfect levers for me, gum hoods too.
It seems there is no "fix" shim that I can put on my existing brake levers. I was hoping to not actually have to switch them out.
DRAT....I just finished carefully retaping, twining, and 3-coat shellacking my bars all over again when I changed my stem last month!!
I can live with my slightly annoying but not insufferable reach issue until the next time I have some reason to remove the tape again...I think I will wait til then to make the lever change. The Cane Creeks are indeed the ones I will switch to when i take the plunge to change brake levers. They look perfect.

[roguedog]

I've found the Trek WSD brifters to be the most comfortable for my smalerl hands. Does anyone know what model they are .. or is it how they mount them on the bars?

[SadieKate]

RogueDog, I've never heard of WSD brifters. Shimano makes short reach ones called, I think, SR-600. You can also shim Ultegra and 105 levers.

[kelownagirl]

My LBS created some for my small hands.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What did they create??

[michelem]

The shifters found on the Trek Madone 5.0 WSD and the Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD are Shimano ST-R700STI, adjustable reach. Maybe this is to what roguedog is referring?

[kelownagirl]

They just cut up a piece of rubber I think, and glued it in. It has held solid for a year and solved my problem.

[roguedog]

Actually, I don't know what I was referring to

I guess what I ought to have said was.. in testing Trek WSD bikes (the 1600 and the 1500) I found the brifters on the Treks to be the most comfortable of all the bikes I'd tested. I've been curious is anyone know what model they are and can I get them?

I also wasn't sure if the comfort comes from the combination of handlebars, placement of the brifters and the brifters themselves.

Since I'm kinda in the market for brifters, thought this might be an opportune moment to inquire if anyone knew.

Seems like MicheleM knows what model .. well at least for the Madone anyway which I didn't dare try I also can't seem to find this info on the Trek site.

[michelem]

Hmmm . . . looks like the 1600 wsd comes with Shimano 105 STI, 10 speed w/Bontrager FIT reach adjust shifters and alloy dual pivot w/short reach Shimano 105 STI brakelevers. I couldn't find a 1500 wsd.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

They just cut up a piece of rubber I think, and glued it in. It has held solid for a year and solved my problem.

Is the piece of rubber glued INSIDE, where you don't normally see it, or is it showing on the edge of the lever?