Getting your hands onto brakes in time

Tigerandahalf

Does anyone find it a bit difficult to get their hands on to their brakes? Maybe my fingers are just short!
Did bikes years back have brakes on the top of the handlebars as well so braking was easier especially if your hands are not in the drop bars.

Could be your bike set up is off? When I first got my Planet X and set it up myself (incorrectly), I couldn't get into the drops.

Tigerandahalf

Dónal wrote: »

Could be your bike set up is off? When I first got my Planet X and set it up myself (incorrectly), I couldn't get into the drops.

I can get into the drops fine but to reach my fingers fully around the brakes is the problem. It is more of a problem though when hands are on the handlebars and have to reach the brakes from there.

BoardsMember

I think some of the cyclo cross bikes still have those brakes on top...

cdaly_

They're called cross levers and they're pretty handy to retrofit.

Lumen

Only use the tops when climbing

nak

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I can get into the drops fine but to reach my fingers fully around the brakes is the problem. It is more of a problem though when hands are on the handlebars and have to reach the brakes from there.

Are your levers adjustable? If not, change your bars, I had the same problem with my first bike as the reach was too long on the bars. I have FSA Omegas on one bike, 3Ts and Specialized compact women's bars. All work well for small hands and make descending much more enjoyable and safer.

I have seen people use the crosstop levers and think that they generally lead to poor cycling technique. Up to the individual of course, but if you have your bike set up properly I can't see any need for them for road or cyclocross.

aFlabbyPanda

You can also get shims for the sti levers to shorten the distance to the bars.

laraghrider

I never have any problem reaching the brakes in time. That said I only ever ride on the tops when climbing or when at the front of a group on a country road where I know there are no lights and such like. When commuting especially in the city I'm on the hoods where I can use the brakes no bother. I'd recommend riding on the hoods in the city for 2 reasons. 1. you can use the brakes easily. 2. When on the hoods you're higher up than in the drops so you can see a little more.

If you are having trouble reaching the brakes from the hoods adjust the reach screw which will bring the level in closer to the bar.

outfox

BoardsMember wrote: »

I think some of the cyclo cross bikes still have those brakes on top...

In the 80s, the cross levers were directly linked to the normal levers. But the new ones are very nifty - the cable runs through them. Beautiful in its simplicity. I dont know how long the new ones are around.

Tigerandahalf

laraghrider wrote:

If you are having trouble reaching the brakes from the hoods adjust the reach screw which will bring the level in closer to the bar.

I think that could be my issue. In the drop bars I find I can strain my neck having to look up and view the road ahead. Can you explain the adjustment a bit more, with a picture perhaps.

outfox wrote:

In the 80s, the cross levers were directly linked to the normal levers. But the new ones are very nifty - the cable runs through them. Beautiful in its simplicity. I dont know how long the new ones are around.

That was what I was remembering. There were too sets of brake levers linked to each brake cable and you could brake using either set of levers.

beauf

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I think that could be my issue. In the drop bars I find I can strain my neck having to look up and view the road ahead. Can you explain the adjustment a bit more, with a picture perhaps....

Might be a fit issue on the bike? Aren't some bikes set up with relaxed position to give you a more head up position?

Tonyandthewhale

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

That was what I was remembering. There were too sets of brake levers linked to each brake cable and you could brake using either set of levers.

Yeah but they were shite brakes.

CramCycle

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Yeah but they were shite brakes.

The ones connected directly to the drop levers were/are horrendous but the cross ones that go directly to the brakes should be as good if set up correctly.

smacl

beauf wrote: »

Might be a fit issue on the bike? Aren't some bikes set up with relaxed position to give you a more head up position?

Yep, frame geometry, spacers, stem angle and compact bars all affect how upright you are in the saddle while using drops at the cost of aerodynamics.