... I am average size, probably less than average strength, use all drop bar hand positions in urban traffic, and get effective braking from the hoods with single pivot calipers....
Are your fingers longer or shorter than average? Do you have the more recent "aero" levers?
No, no, and yes.
20 cm (7" 7/8) measuring from wrist to end of the middle finger. For sizing gloves this is medium to small.
Running Tektro R200A aero brake levers.
Quoted message said:
I have shorter than average fingers [1] and I never could get decent braking on the hoods with the older exposed cable levers. I understand the newer "aero" levers are supposed to be better in this regard.
I have no problem doing an intentional "stoppie" on my knobby tire ATB with generic linear pull cantilever brakes.
On 2007-10-22, [email hidden] <[email hidden]> wrote: [...]
Quoted message said:
> > A drop bar does have more hand positions, but when riding in traffic > > (let's call the bike an urban commuter) you need to have your hands on > > the hoods at least to have ready access to the brakes. So you don't > > really get to use those extra hand positions and the one you do use > > has arguably worse braking than a flat bar with mtb levers would.
Quoted message said:
Yes but drop bars are narrower so you can fit into the gaps between buses. This is important on an urban commuter.
Flat bars can be cut to any width you like, and some couriers cut them very narrow indeed.
I still think drop bars and cross levers are the best compromise,
Wide, flared-end drop bars (e.g., the WTB Mountain Drop or the On One Midge), positioned fairly high and used in conjunction with cross levers are a great solution, IMO.
... I am average size, probably less than average strength, use all drop bar hand positions in urban traffic, and get effective braking from the hoods with single pivot calipers....
Are your fingers longer or shorter than average? Do you have the more recent "aero" levers?
No, no, and yes.
20 cm (7" 7/8) measuring from wrist to end of the middle finger. For sizing gloves this is medium to small.
That is not that small. For me the measurement is 18 cm.
-- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
Yes but drop bars are narrower so you can fit into the gaps between buses. This is important on an urban commuter.
i've never actually understood this claim. i would have thought that if a space was so narrow that you could only make it through by having narrower handlebars, you wouldn't want to be going in there anyway! squeezing between buses (esp. moving ones) sounds like a very bad idea.
You're right: the narrower bars are probably mostly psychological. And yes, it is not advisable to try to make such narrow gaps.
Yes but drop bars are narrower so you can fit into the gaps between buses. This is important on an urban commuter.
Quoted message said:
i've never actually understood this claim. i would have thought that if a space was so narrow that you could only make it through by having narrower handlebars, you wouldn't want to be going in there anyway! squeezing between buses (esp. moving ones) sounds like a very bad idea.
You're right: the narrower bars are probably mostly psychological. And yes, it is not advisable to try to make such narrow gaps.
Wider things like your shoulders can be twisted and made to fit into narrower gaps. They have a certain amount of give. Bars do not. As Andrew says, brushing your arms and shoulders into things isn't that big a deal. Brushing your bars on things is a big deal.
