Sti shifters for small hands

[TonyEnjoyD]

My wife is potentially taking to road biking but is using my Giant SCR3 with Shimano Sora Flightdeck shifters.
She if finding it hard to get sufficient braking power on the hoods or drops due to her smallish hands.
Having a brief look, most sti shifters look much the same or am I being a chump here?

Any bike related advice is welcome

Tony

 

[Hacienda71]

Not going to help you much if you are sticking to Shimano but Sram are adjustable for reach.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Unfortunately, Dura-Ace seem much better suited to smaller hands than Sora or 105 (so a pricey solution). However, with all Shimano STI's you can buy little rubber shims which bring the levers closer to the handlebars.

Alternatively, you could fit some additional interrupter brake levers, so she can brake when holding onto the bars.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

She does prefer to be on the top bar and in was thinking of top levers (interrupters??)
Do they come with fitting instructions would you know? (sounds a stupid question, I know).

With regard to reach adjustment, it's more that she cant activate the levers very well on the hoods where she prefers to have her hands.
Tony

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

I think I just answered my own question re fitting cross levers here: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/in-line-brake-levers-cross-levers

I now understand how they work as I thought they "pulled" the inner but see they push the outer acting like a barrel adjuster!

Marvellous

Oops, didn't think to check if it was ok to post that link - I don't work for park tools, honestly.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I've got them on what is now my touring bike, and they're useful. However, it was a bit scary after 5 years of riding a bike with them, and then getting a new bike and trying to pull on non existent levers when rapidly approaching a junction.

Now my brain has accepted 2 different drop bar set ups, it's very rare to make that sort of mistake.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Know what you mean flying dodo, Your reply gave me a flashback to the 80's having "cruising" brakes on my roadie which was nicked after using it for three years.
I got a new bike and second day went a over t into bushes after going for my now non-existent cruisers!
Happens!

 

[gavintc]

My wife started road cycling with Sora gears. She had similar issues and after borrowing a bike from a friend with Campag, it was an easy decision to upgrade to Veloce as a result. The brakes are apparently easier to use with smaller hands.

 

[Andrew Br]

Shimano make some levers specifically for small hands. I think they're called R700 and they're supposed to be Ultegra level.

ETA:- yes they are R700 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27234

If these aren't suitable then, as FlyingDodo says, there are also shims to put into standard Shimano levers. My GF has a pair in her (Sora) levers but they aren't the complete answer, she still struggles a bit to get full braking power. The R700 shims are thicker than the others.

FWIW, 2012 Ultegra levers seem to come closer to the bars than 105 and the rest, at least on the bikes we've been looking at recently.


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