Brake Reach Adjustment!

[bikeman66]

Hi all,

Think I already know the answer to this, but would appreciate any input you guys might be able to have.

My daughter has inherited her brothers old road bike (a Carrera TDF) to get her around at university, but having fairly small hands, struggles to reach the brake levers satisfactorily.

Having ridden mountain bikes for years, I know it is possible to adjust the handlebar to lever reach in most cases, but can't see a similar system with the road bike levers.

Is it possible to make reach adjustments on Shimano Claris levers, or in an extreme instance, are shorter reach levers available to buy?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Hi all,

Think I already know the answer to this, but would appreciate any input you guys might be able to have.

My daughter has inherited her brothers old road bike (a Carrera TDF) to get her around at university, but having fairly small hands, struggles to reach the brake levers satisfactorily.

Having ridden mountain bikes for years, I know it is possible to adjust the handlebar to lever reach in most cases, but can't see a similar system with the road bike levers.

Is it possible to make reach adjustments on Shimano Claris levers, or in an extreme instance, are shorter reach levers available to buy?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

You can get little inserts, that fit between the Brifters and the hoods, the bike may well have originally come with them. They effectively shorten the distance between the bars and the levers. Halfords ( or any LBS ) should be able to supply them.

 

[bikeman66]

You can get little inserts, that fit between the Brifters and the hoods, the bike may well have originally come with them. They effectively shorten the distance between the bars and the levers. Halfords ( or any LBS ) should be able to supply them.

Brilliant! Thanks for the tip Racing roadkill.

 

[Brandane]

Brilliant! Thanks for the tip Racing roadkill.

These are the type of spacers you need....

I am not sure if they fit ALL Shimano STI's, or if they differ between Claris/Tiagra/Ultegra etc..
Evans have these on their website for £4 and will post them out to you.
Obvious tip .... you will need to take up the resultant slack in the cable once they are fitted.

 

[Oldfentiger]

Obvious tip .... you will need to take up the resultant slack in the cable once they are fitted.

Other way round surely? Need to create a bit of slack in order to fit the spacers.
I'm sure that's what you meant

 

[Brandane]

Other way round surely? Need to create a bit of slack in order to fit the spacers.
I'm sure that's what you meant

Dohh! Errm, yes - I was just testing to see if anyone was awake .