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Brakes for the Missus...
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I'm slowly but surely upgrading the Missus's hardtail....long term project. One of the issues I have is that she has petit hands and cannot reach the conventional levers on the current brake set-up. Can anyone advise me on what to look out for with regards to new levers or brakes suitable for ladies or something of a similar nature. Any tips welcome!
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I run avid elixer, X0 and juicys and they all have a small grub screw you adjust with an allen key. I think anti-clockwise brings the lever closer to the bar.
the new avid "code" (not "r" version) or "elixir cr" allow for adjusting pad contact and lever position without tools. The codes have ridiculous stopping power which would suit petit muscles
I run the above brakes and my boyfriend has adjusted them so the lever is closer to the handlebars. I have shorter fingers and feel very comfortable with the brake lever positioning, they are not that close that I have a small range to play with. ADjusting is easy (better be careful what I say here as I may find myself having to do my own maintenance!) there is an adjustment thingy near the lever that you adjust to bring the lever closer or further out. So you don't need any tools and your wife can adjust them herself.
Other ideas that may help
Handlebar grips could also be an issue in trying to reach the lever. I've found some grips to be too bulky, obviously the more surface area my hands need to cover the less mobility I have with my fingers and therefore reaching the lever. So maybe check to see if her grips are too chunky as this may be inhibiting her reach as well - hope that makes sense.
I guess you could also change the handlebars to be a smaller diameter
Handlebars are standardised at 22mm in the grip area. Necessary so that brakes, shifters and lock-on grips can clamp without shims.
Avid brakes with lever end-point adjustment AND pad contact point adjustment should give you enough options to work something out for your better-looking half.
Personally, I don't have real big hands for a male but recently found ODI Rogue grips (which are much fatter than normal) to be a bit of a revelation. More shock absorption and broader contact area for improved comfort, but what really stood out was a much greater sense of contact and control of the bike's attitude. Bigger diameter grips give better leverage I'm thinking. Won't be going back to regular diameter grips anytime soon.
So I'd encourage our female members to use the biggest grips they can, consistent with being able to reach the controls.
Well this is all very interesting, especially the comments from chica...very useful and I'll look out for those babies for sure.
Re the bigger grips for my better looking half(you better believe it!) where did did you get those rogue grips fella?
Thanks for all the wisdom dudes and dudettes, she'll be more confident with great, comfortable stopping power which will bode well for the future!
The Rogues came on the bike. Would never have thought to try them as a shop buy. Another option is ESI foam grips, that have a good reputation and are very shock absorbent as well. Except they're blue...!
The good news is both can be bought offshore from the usual suspects for a much more attractive price than is available here. My son has asked for a set of Rogues for his bike, and I'm putting a set on my commuter as well when I place the next order.
+1 for the rogues. On both my trusty steeds - grippy and comfy too.
This is a great segue about my new set of carbon Token handlebars that I'll be getting soon. There's not too much discussion around using clamp-on grips on carbon bars. What are people's thoughts on using rogues on these sorts of bars because the clamp is probably contra-indicated. The foamies might be better?One of my mates has made a smart little metal adaptor that fits inside the bar at the end to allow a clamp-on grip...
I reckon you have nothing to worry about.
The fasteners on lock ons are minute, you will strip the thread before you get anywhere near damaging the bar. It doesn't take much to stop a grip from rotating.
As far as I know the metal inserts are for bar ends which are subject to significantly greater forces.
I recently put some lock-on grips onto my commuter which has the old FSA carbon bars from my MTB. When I did them up to a level that stopped them twisting there was a nasty cracking from each end and you could see the carbon deforming into a distinct oval shape. At that point I took them off and threw them back into the spares box
I've run ODI Ruffians on my son's old bike which has Easton Monkey Lite CNT carbon bars and there were no issues.
If you are worried about them rotating, use a bit of Ritchey Liquid Torque carbon grease. Works a treat to stop any carbon component slippage. You can then use much lighter tightening torques