Hydraulic brake/gear shifter reach

[12dan34]

Just received my new road bike with full 105 & hydraulic discs.

Love the bike and the fit is perfect until you get on the hoods of the hyd brake levers, they're sooo long that the position itself feels awkward. The only way around this I can think of is to fit a shorter stem but that would make the top of the bars position too short.

Anyone know what I mean?

The overall geo is the same as my existing bike but that has rim brakes and sensible sized hoods/shifters.

[frisbee]

It takes a little while to get used to the feel of new levers.

I went from 6600 ultegra to rs685 hydraulic and although the levers are bigger, there is a better transition from the bar. a longer flat section and a good cow horn grip. The old bike quickly felt less comfortable as I got used to the newer one and, especially on longer rides, there are a lot more hand positions available.

[12dan34]

I have also realised that the 'reach' on the bars is 100mm, compared to my other bikes that are 73mm - quite a difference, maybe I'll change the bars.

Last night I moved the saddle forward to get a comfy position on the hoods but it just doesn't feel right. I think they made the bars with a longer reach so that you have more positions but ironically the position I want is now too far away!

[lufbramatt]

As a last resort you can get R7025 short reach shifters but good luck actually getting hold of a set! and not exactly cheap.

Stem and bars are much easier and cheaper to fiddle with. I recently realised that the reach on my road bike was a bit long for me, I often found myself resting on the bend of the bars rather than the hoods. Swapped the 115mm stem to a 100mm stem and the bike felt instantly more natural and it feels much better in cornering. So worth getting it set up right if you're not happy..

[outnumbered]

12dan34 said:

I have also realised that the 'reach' on the bars is 100mm, compared to my other bikes that are 73mm - quite a difference, maybe I'll change the bars.

Last night I moved the saddle forward to get a comfy position on the hoods but it just doesn't feel right. I think they made the bars with a longer reach so that you have more positions but ironically the position I want is now too far away!

Saddle setback from BB should be the primary measurement for how you sit on the bike. Distance to bars should be adjusted to accommodate the required setback, so you’ll need a shorter stem or different bars.

[12dan34]

outnumbered said:

Saddle setback from BB should be the primary measurement for how you sit on the bike. Distance to bars should be adjusted to accommodate the required setback, so you’ll need a shorter stem or different bars.

Absolutely, a very temporary measure and doesn't feel right at all.

Thanks peeps, new bars ordered

[Maximus_Meridius101]

outnumbered said:

Saddle setback from BB should be the primary measurement for how you sit on the bike. Distance to bars should be adjusted to accommodate the required setback, so you’ll need a shorter stem or different bars.

Don’t confuse “set back” with saddle position. The set back is a fixed parameter, decided by the seatpost design, in regards to where the clamp is in relation to the BB. The saddle position is adjustable as a trimming operation, with a given fixed set back. But I do agree with you, don’t try to adjust distance to the hoods with saddle position, do it with the stem length.

[outnumbered]

Maximus_Meridius101 said:

Don’t confuse “set back” with saddle position. The set back is a fixed parameter, decided by the seatpost design, in regards to where the clamp is in relation to the BB. The saddle position is adjustable as a trimming operation, with a given fixed set back. But I do agree with you, don’t try to adjust distance to the hoods with saddle position, do it with the stem length.

I talked about "saddle setback from BB" which is the same as the "saddle position" in your terminology. The setback of a particular seatpost is obviously fixed, I agree.