Brake cable under tape and question on hoods?

[Lynn39]

I have had my new bike for 2 weeks. The LBS just put on smaller handlebars for me. It doesn't seem like they ran the brake cable correctly coming out of the STI hoods, there is this a pretty big bump that is right at the base of my palm when I have my hands in the hoods. The cable runs along the top of the bars, I can really feel it even with the gel tape. I didnt notice this before on the original bars.

Also, Is there a standard spot that the hoods should be in on the handlebars?
They seem different to me now, maybe lower than they were. And to make matters worse, the brake hoods are not even with each other, the left is 1/2 inch lower than the right. I think the "new" guy at the LBS installed the handlebars

I rode 25 miles yesterday and my hands were tingling and numb. I have ridden about 80 miles since I have got the bike. First time I have had such a problem with my hands.

I went from a comfort bike to a road bike, so I expect some muscle soreness and new aches and pains.

Thanks for any help, I want to sound like I know what I'm talking about when I go back to the LBS.

[KnottedYet]

The cables should run either on the front side of the bar or on the back side of the bar. NOT on the top of the bar where you rest your weight. Lots of bars even come with grooves front/back to house the cables under the tape.

The hoods can pretty much go where you want them. But they SHOULD be even! (choose the one you like, and tell the LBS to make the other match it?)

I'd take it back, and make the LBS do it over again right.

[dex]

When I had the shift/brake levers and bars replaced on my road bike, the shop had me ride it around a little (inside the shop...w00t! for bike shops in huge open loft spaces) to get the position of them right before they put new tape on. I'd take the bike back and ask them to experiment with it a bit before they re-tape it.

(And I definitely wouldn't pay extra, since they couldn't even manage to get them placed evenly--let alone in the right position for *you*--the first time. But I'm a bit of a butthead like that.)

[roadfix]

And to make matters worse, the brake hoods are not even with each other, the left is 1/2 inch lower than the right.

Now that is inexcusable. That is worse than getting a bad hair cut!

[Triskeliongirl]

Or, you can set it up the way you like it yourself, in less time than it will take you to take it back (not that they shouldn't have done it right, but what is your time worth?). Just unwrap the tape, and unsrew the sti levers, place them how you like them, ride around a bit to be sure, and retape. If you don't know how to do this, pick up Zinn's Road bike maintenance, or the Park Tools Blue Book. It is really oh so easy to do.