small hands and brake levers

[.8down]

my Girlfriend has been riding with me every weekend, and she seems to like it(at least the flats), but her Iron Horse comes with these Vbrakes with levers that are pretty far away from the grip....so she has issues with braking(reaching for the Levers) any one got recommendations on brakes to get for peeps with smaller hands? I don't want to have to up grade at a high cost, because shes not in love with the sport like I am....

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by .8down

my Girlfriend has been riding with me every weekend, and she seems to like it(at least the flats), but her Iron Horse comes with these Vbrakes with levers that are pretty far away from the grip....so she has issues with braking(reaching for the Levers) any one got recommendations on brakes to get for peeps with smaller hands? I don't want to have to up grade at a high cost, because shes not in love with the sport like I am....

Avid makes levers where you can adjust the reach: Speed Dials. With traditional Shimano shifter/brake combos you may be SOL.

[.8down]

Originally Posted by Zippy

Avid makes levers where you can adjust the reach: Speed Dials. With traditional Shimano shifter/brake combos you may be SOL.

thanks for the heads up, nah no shimano stuff, this bike was 200 and perfect for her usage..

[autoduel]

My shimano levers have a reach adjustment. Look for a 2.5mm set screw.

[2wheel_lee]

When there is no reach adjustment, another quick and dirty trick I do to motorcycles that are ridden by small-handed women is to wrap a zip tie around the inner cable between the lever and the perch. This positions the lever a bit inward. The width of the zip tie determines the spacing. Then I readjust the brake and clutch so they work from this position. You could use something other than zip ties, but in the case of these motorcycles, they're usually loaners, so I have to make it quickly reversable.

[hoovermd]

My wife also has this issue.
Combine that with some grip strength issues due to a lot of time on a keyboard and V-brakes suck for her.

We just test drove a set of Magura Hydraulic V's and she likes 'em.
http://www.magura.com/english/produk..._2008_hs11.htm

Originally Posted by .8down

my Girlfriend has been riding with me every weekend, and she seems to like it(at least the flats), but her Iron Horse comes with these Vbrakes with levers that are pretty far away from the grip....so she has issues with braking(reaching for the Levers) any one got recommendations on brakes to get for peeps with smaller hands? I don't want to have to up grade at a high cost, because shes not in love with the sport like I am....

[station]

get a girl with man hands.

[el_d00der1n0]

I have the LX levers on my SS, and they have a lot of adjustment including reach.

[BoingBoing]

Even the cheap levers that came with my $200 Diamondback had a reach adjustment!

If GF's don't, then ask and someone here will prolly give you a pair of levers with adjustment.