So, I have been riding for a little over a month on a brand new Felt F5c. It is a good bike excluding the several issues on with it recently. Tonight on my ride, I noticed something that I was not to keen on. About 1/2 way through, my left hood had moved a significant amount down and to the left. It makes sense, for the first part of my ride is climb. Yet, I am kinda of shocked cause I didn't think that they could move with not really that much pressure. (about 175lbs) Has anyone seen this on any of their road bikes? If so, best way to readjust the hood to proper position?
So, I have been riding for a little over a month on a brand new Felt F5c. It is a good bike excluding the several issues on with it recently. Tonight on my ride, I noticed something that I was not to keen on. About 1/2 way through, my left hood had moved a significant amount down and to the left. It makes sense, for the first part of my ride is climb. Yet, I am kinda of shocked cause I didn't think that they could move with not really that much pressure. (about 175lbs) Has anyone seen this on any of their road bikes? If so, best way to readjust the hood to proper position?
Thanks, Jonathan
My guess is the builder of the bike, didn't tighten them enough. No biggie, since most cyclist like to personalize their hood settings before we crank 'em down. I ride my hoods a lot and sprint in them, so I like them very tight, but I have friends that keep them a bit loose so they fold inward if the bike is crashed. My advice, loosen both, get them in the proper positon and tighten them down with an allen wrench. The adjustment bolt is under the rubber hood. Shimano's are a little easier to get to than Campy (IMHO).
in the old days a straight edge across the bottom flat part of the drops of your handlebars would just touch the bottom tip of your brake levers... as a starting point.
in the old days a straight edge across the bottom flat part of the drops of your handlebars would just touch the bottom tip of your brake levers... as a starting point.
how about nowadays, anyone?
I think that's still the way Campag specify they should be set up.
...but I have friends that keep them a bit loose so they fold inward if the bike is crashed.
Tighten them down enough so that they don't move when you ride, but loose enough so that they will move if the bike crashes. Replacing a broken brifter is expensive.
If you have carbon handlebars you have to be extra careful not to overtighten brifters because you can crack the carbon which can lead to catastrophic failure.
My guess is the builder of the bike, didn't tighten them enough. No biggie, since most cyclist like to personalize their hood settings before we crank 'em down. I ride my hoods a lot and sprint in them, so I like them very tight, but I have friends that keep them a bit loose so they fold inward if the bike is crashed. My advice, loosen both, get them in the proper positon and tighten them down with an allen wrench. The adjustment bolt is under the rubber hood. Shimano's are a little easier to get to than Campy (IMHO).
Funnily enough, I just came in from tightening up my Campag hoods. Took about 2 seconds, although I'd admit it's easier if you have a ball ended allen key rather than a conventional one. Like you I like mine tight because I sprint on the hoods. BTW, to get them level, sit a rod or small diameter tube on the hoods and let it roll down so it's on the same part of each hood. Then you can sight across that to the top of the bars and make sure the two are parallel.
