SRAM Red Hoods Uncomfortable?

[ZeroPlay]

Funny that you mention it now' date=' but I have felt slight discomfort before and then during the Vasbyt my SRAM Reds were hurting my hands just as you described ZeroPlay. I put it down to distance, rough potholed roads and very hard tubbies, but I may have to take a closer look 'cos if it is the case Panorama is going to be murder on my hands

By the way, I have also shortened my stem and find it much more comfortable so there is definitely a change in position between DA and SRAM Red.

[/quote']

 

This guy (review on roadbikereview) also noticed something:

 

Reviewed by:  omar(Unregistered User) Review Date June 18, 2008 Overall Rating http://www.roadbikereview.com/Channels/roadbikereview/images/4star.gif 4 of 5 Value Rating http://www.roadbikereview.com/Channels/roadbikereview/images/3star.gif 3 of 5 Used product for Less than 1 month < method=post>Rate this review? < name=ReviewRate>< value=5 ed>5 Highest>< value=4>4>< value=3>3>< value=2>2>< value=1>1 Lowest>>< = value=15 name=Index>>< = value=1 name=SortID>>< = value=2249347 name=ReviewID>>< = alt=Submit ="http://www.roadbikereview.com/channels/roadbikereview/s/arrows2.gif">> Shop for this product >>

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Price Paid:  $1200.00 Favorite Ride: all my rides Bike Setup: Archon, calviculas, zero G's, tub 404's Summary: The hoods felt strange enough for me to have a look under the bar vise area, to see if the tech guy had bunched some bartape under it. The hoods feel thick at the back and tapered towards the front, making the hoods feel unusual in the palm. Shifting is crisp [borderline harsh] then DA/Ult and feels less refined. The RD reacts precisely and maybe a tad faster but noisily so and is quite jarring. There is a solid feel to all the mechs. The FD also shifts confidently. Strengths: Solid feel. Shifts confidently. Weight weenie attributes. Levers well designed Weaknesses: Chunky, unrefined feel. Not as smooth as DA/Ult. Chain whirr. Similar Products Used: DA 7700, 7800, Ult 6800

I have seen another review where the reviewer describes the bump where the hoods meet the bars and he thought maybe it was related to the bar not having the ideal curves for the SRAM Red levers.

[Jason]

 

 

 

[ZeroPlay]

Thanks for posting the pic.  My tape is wrapped pretty much like yours.  The section where the top of the levers meets the bars does look a little raised on your bike too. Is it still comfortable for you?

 

Try not wrapping the bar-tape under the hoods too much and ensure that the hoods are seated properly without any protrusions.

I too find that the reach is slightly more than my previous Dura Ace because of the flatter profile of the SRAM's. I've got Ritchey WCS bars and the transitions is just about perfect.

[Edition 507]

I'm in IT so maybe I have soft sensitive hands from typing and gently moving my mouse around while playing Solitaire from 8-5. Perhaps the others are manual laborers and hence the calluses from swinging that pick all day protects their hands from their lumpy SRAM hoods<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[ZeroPlay]

I've bought a set of these bars

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/30381.jpg

 

They're Pro PLT Compact bars.  I got them for my singlespeed, but I might try them on my geared road bike since the curve is very different to the smooth, rounded one of my FSA bars.

 

Looking at the "curve", the main part of the drop is almost straight down instead of curved.  I reckon I should be able to move the levers down that section until the top of the hoods are flush with the tops of the bars just before the drop starts.  Will let you know how that goes when I get time to try it.

[ZeroPlay]

I'm in IT so maybe I have soft sensitive hands from typing and gently moving my mouse around while playing Solitaire from 8-5. Perhaps the others are manual laborers and hence the calluses from swinging that pick all day protects their hands from their lumpy SRAM hoods<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

I'm in IT too, so you may be onto something.

 

The pics I'm seeing here seem to show that the hoods are slightly raised where they contact the bars, but it doesn't seem to bother the people who are posting the pictures.

 

So maybe it depends on how tough (or not) your hands are.

[Matchstix]

Have you tried to losen your levers move them a fraction lower. due to curve the angle that the Hbar and hood makes might change a bit.

I might be talking nonsense know. .  just thinking

 

[ZeroPlay]

Have you tried to losen your levers move them a fraction lower. due to curve the angle that the Hbar and hood makes might change a bit.
I might be talking nonsense know. .  just thinking

 

I have tried small adjustments, but will try some more extreme ones now that I'm going to remove the bar tape anyway.

[SL7]

Any other problems with this groupset? Thinking of getting a second hand set.