FrankTuna

I have the same bars on my road and gravel bikes. Gravel (gray tape in pic) has Force AXS shifters, road bike (black tape in pic) has Shimano Ultegra Di2 8070 shifters. I have thousands of miles on Shimano hydraulic shifters but lately I can't get comfortable on the hoods because of the way the hydraulic hose junction protrudes. The Sram hoods don't have this problem with the hose more on top of the shifter.

It's like when you have a rock in your shoe and can't stop thinking about it!!

I don't know why this is happening lately. Has anyone else run into this? Any tips (e.g. wrap extra bits of tape?) to help make this less noticeable?

I really prefer the ergonomics of the Sram hoods but am not quite ready to swap over the road bike to Sram given the cost and hassle.

PeteHski

Only thing I could suggest is to rotate your Shimano levers slightly inward (which is also fashionable). It might help or it might not.

mihlbach

Re-wrap your bars so the tape goes further out onto the lever and covers the mineral oil port. The tape softens the edge created by the mineral oil port. My di2 ultegra levers are set up that way and I've never noticed it as an issue.

t2p

I’ve wrapped both ways - but most recently wrapped over the mineral port protrusion

( my levers assemblies are installed just slightly outward - so the protrusion could be more annoying to some)

in addition to wrapping over the protrusion and other suggestions - you could try adding small piece(s) of bar tape near the protrusion (before installing bar wrap over it) to ‘build up’ the area and reduce / smooth the transition ? ( I fiddled with this idea for a bit and then dropped it )

t2p

please note: regardless you still might be crazy

FrankTuna

I'm with you there

Thanks for the tips!

nomadmax 

Take off one pedal. Remove all the grease from the bearings, reinstall pedal. The grinding under one foot and the associated noise will make you forget all about those hoods

Iride01 

I've noticed that I can't make then look as good as other STI's I've had. But I've not been bothered by the bump.

And I don't know anyone that scrutinizes my bike that closely for it to be noticed how well they look in that area of the bars.

You might be. Might not really be related to the bump. Might be just a short drive for you! <grin>

SoSmellyAir

After riding Shimano hydraulic STI hoods for a while, the palms of your hand, particularly the thenar on each hand, will develop a callus, which should render you immune from any further effects.

79pmooney

For a few years I had Tektro levers on a bike with fat bottoms like they were designed to incorporate brifter mechanisms someday (perhaps when a Shimano patent expired?) Never felt right to my hands.

I've always considered brake levers and hoods a fit item; one of the key contact points with the bike. A place that should be right on perfect. Like the seat and the pedals/shoes. Not one size fits all. Requiring brake hoods and derailleurs to be sold and used as matched sets never made sense to me.

genejockey 

Same. My hands aren't ever over on that side of the brifter.

Psimet2001 

Yes, you're crazy.

In regards to the bump or different ergonomics - move the lever up higher so you get a flat transition from the top of the bar on to the lever and the "bump", as you call it, will be more under the tops of the bars as it is angling the hose to run along the front or bottom of the bars.

Of course you can run a gel pad cut up in a way to help with the feeling or simply cut a piece of tape to have it match the way you want to feel.

Everyone is different. If you don't like a lever's ergonomics then you don't like it. Luckily in the Shimano lineup there are more than a few choices you can try that are compatible - especially if it's a Di2 setup. Personally I love the Shimano ergonomics. I have never really had a problem with SRAM's either tbh but I have definitely had some blisters/sore spots on hands from the Campagnolo ergonomics in the past.