streetjibs Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 (edited) hey guysok im not a skirt wearing nancyboy but lately the amount of pain im gettin in my rear brake finger has been incredible. Its actually caused me to stop ridin cuz i cant pul the rear brake in anymore due to the pain. Iv got an awesome brake that doesnt slip at all and is super reliable and i think all iv changed from before was the angle of the bar and levers... they feel comfortable but wen i pull brake lever in its causing pain. Before some1 says just harden the fk up ... im not a newbie, this is my 11th year ridin trials and iv spent most of my working life as a mechanic so my hands are pretty much solid. as this pain has only jsut started im hoping its something that can easily be fixed. ideas???my brake setup - xtr lever, ultimate arms, odyssey linear slick inner and outer, coustsink pads, salsa booster.. almost no flex at all.. very firm feeling brake.My only thought is maybe its cuz iv moved the levers maybe im grabbing it at a weird angle, but iv looked and its all the same either side. So idunno but i hate riding in gloves and would really like to solve this problem asap. Any guidance at all would be greatly appreciated.thanks in advanceDanny Edited June 9, 2007 by streetjibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_skj0lsvik_ Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 You have probably checked this, but is the levers to far away? Maybe try to adjust them a little so they are closer to the handlebar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece B Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 You have recently moved to v brakes right? Does it feel stiff to pull etc?maybe thats what is causing the pain....maybe swap it for a maggie for awhile and see if you finger/hand stop hurting.Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 ... almost no flex at all.. very firm feeling brake...Maybe it's too firm. I know breaks that are too stiff definitely fee worse to me. I always find that there needs to be a certain amount of flex, just so it doesn't feel like I'm wrenching my hand.Also are your levers at a very steep angle? this would cause trouble for your rear breaking finger but not your front, due to you body position during most front/rear wheel moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjibs Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 You have probably checked this, but is the levers to far away? Maybe try to adjust them a little so they are closer to the handlebar? thanks i have tried... will probly continue tryin different positions til it feels right again.You have recently moved to v brakes right? Does it feel stiff to pull etc?maybe thats what is causing the pain....maybe swap it for a maggie for awhile and see if you finger/hand stop hurting.Reecenah mate iv used vees for few years now. it was feeling fine til i moved my bars/levers.. im sure they are in same position as before. It could be that the position of the lever along the bar is too far in/out il try em out tomorrow. Oh and my armshave got as little return tension on as possible.. jsut enough to take upthe slack. Thanks for suggestions Maybe it's too firm. I know breaks that are too stiff definitely fee worse to me. I always find that there needs to be a certain amount of flex, just so it doesn't feel like I'm wrenching my hand.Also are your levers at a very steep angle? this would cause trouble for your rear breaking finger but not your front, due to you body position during most front/rear wheel moves.Thanks mate.. i was thinking the same thing.. maybe my fingers hurting cuz i pull the lever in then its got nowhere to go (no flex) so its like im pullin on soething that wont budge so it hurts. Will have to have another look at it tomorrow. Its such a pain in the arse cuz the brakes are awesome n iv just started holidays, so keen to ride my levers are run about 45deg angle down from horizontal.. compared to most people i think my levers are fairly flat. Feels really nice on rear wheel and surges. I might just have to spend more time experimenting til it feels right again... Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONGO Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 sounds to me like leukemia caused by not eating enough sweetcorn.Top up your yellow food in your diet and you'll be good to go in a week or so .hmmm, sorry, dunno where that came from. I've had black knuckle syndromw for a few years when i ride. I realised it's from when i keep my finger on the lever and get my body over my bars on big sidehops or up's, and my lever finger is bent back. Dunno why it actually makes it black, but it doesn't really hurt me like.Sorry i can't be much help!Bongo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 try riding with the lever clamps loosened off a little, they should move to the perfect position when you ride, then just tighten them up thats what i tend to do, works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjibs Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 brilliant idea... will try that!THANKS:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concussion Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Maybe try putting some brake lever grip thingys over the levers? I've got some if you want? = cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoNnY__Mc Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 my freind used an xtr lever on the front and it savaged his finger... he now uses some shimano deore one and no longer has the same problem... you could sell your lever and change it to an avid sd7 or ulimate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 my freind used an xtr lever on the front and it savaged his finger... he now uses some shimano deore one and no longer has the same problem... you could sell your lever and change it to an avid sd7 or ulimate?sd7's are very sexy, im very impressed with mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 sd7's are very sexy, im very impressed with mineonly the newer ones though, the older ones are savage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 only the newer ones though, the older ones are savagei cant comment really, so whatever one mine is its naice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjibs Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 thanks everyone took the advice of loosening off the lever and rode for 5mins then tightened. i think its ok now but will find out from todays ride.got some old sd7s nowt spesh.. will check out the new ones if problem continues.thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 May/may not be useful to you, but when I used to ride motorcycle trials I had the same problem on my clutch finger. Basically it pretty much boiled down to dehydration. Take a bottle of water on a ride and keep drinking. I drink a lot on bigger rides, only downside is you sweat like a b*****d. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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