PoTaToZeng

Hi everybody,

I have a Cannondale CAAD12 for my girlfriend, but she complains that she cannot fully squeeze the break (she has some illness in the palm), which makes her very nervese.

I am thingking about changing a flat handlebar, but before doing that, I hope to hear some other suggestions that mey solve the problem better. Thank you guys in advance.

seau grateau

Cross top levers?

Jakedatc

Certain levers have adjustments that will bring the levers in closer.

Wildwood 

Make sure the brake cables are adjusted so the pads engage the rims quickly. Cable stretch increases the lever pull distance.

redlude97

Id say do the opposite. Hand leverage increases the closer the levers get pulled to bars.

tigat

Cross top levers improve the hand position leverage and shorten the throw, but are no easier to pull and mean the brakes and shifting require hands changing position.

Flat bar conversion means not only a new bar, but new levers and shifters.

How about SRAM hydraulic rim brakes? Easy to pull, great modulation, and great power.

Wildwood 

The answer lies in a better understanding of the problem - @PoTaToZeng stated "...she cannot fully squeeze the brake".
I assume that means she has a problem with the distance needed to move the lever before engaging the rim brake.
If the pressure on the lever needed to stop the bike is the problem you may be correct, but now lever movement to engage the brake is increased.



On a separate note, my wife came up with 'problems' to cover the fact that she did not enjoy cycling. Every issue 'solved' revealed a new problem. T'was an expensive experiment, even bought a tandem that sits largely unused. Some people just do not like the bike.

MoAlpha

There are levers made specifically for people with small hands, e.g., women. I put a set (Tektros, I believe) on a bike for my wife some years back.