One of my index fingers is mangled (long story from when I was a kid) meaning I have a fused middle joint. This has prevented me on getting on the single finger braking bandwagon like the rest of the cool kids.

Also holds me back when steaming through any rough patches or downhill as I don't have a good hold on the grips.

So I googled some advice and yesterday I tried using my middle fingers, worked ok, felt a bit weird but got over it. Hurt straight after the ride but reckon that will clear.

Anyone else have any success using their middle fingers?

I use my middle fingers. Always have. I reckon I ride okay.

dwgknz wrote:Anyone else have any success using their middle fingers?

Giggle

What sides are your brakes on? If it's your right hand with the munted finger, perhaps swapping the front wheel brake to the left 'Merican style would be of assistance?

Use whichever finger works!!

happybaboon wrote:

dwgknz wrote:Anyone else have any success using their middle fingers?

Giggle

What sides are your brakes on? If it's your right hand with the munted finger, perhaps swapping the front wheel brake to the left 'Merican style would be of assistance?

This is a smart idea, reckon I'd end up down a cliff or in a blackberry bush many times first though!

I used to use my middle finger, but changed to index in the last few years as levers have gotten shorter and I couldnt get the levers far enough across, older XT levers were great for middle finger

phunk wrote:I used to use my middle finger, but changed to index in the last few years as levers have gotten shorter and I couldnt get the levers far enough across, older XT levers were great for middle finger

shimano do a touring brake that is longer, but it my be full length

philstar wrote:

phunk wrote:I used to use my middle finger, but changed to index in the last few years as levers have gotten shorter and I couldnt get the levers far enough across, older XT levers were great for middle finger

shimano do a touring brake that is longer, but it my be full length

Yeah, on my shimano brakes I am trigger (peow!) finger, but for the bb5s on the hardtail I am middle finger, levers are similar length and shape but my fingers move in mysterious ways (Oooooooer!!!)

An issue could be what you do with your index finger - tuck it inside or outside the lever?

Index finger on the wrong side at the wrong time could be a broken finger?

mark2c wrote:An issue could be what you do with your index finger - tuck it inside or outside the lever?

Index finger on the wrong side at the wrong time could be a broken finger?

Have always tucked mine inside. And the index finger on my left hand is the only digit on that hand that I've never broken

mark2c wrote:An issue could be what you do with your index finger - tuck it inside or outside the lever?

Index finger on the wrong side at the wrong time could be a broken finger?

pretty shitty brakes if they have that much travel, no?

or you have a fault and bigger problems

Just thinking of a prang with the brake lever passing through the tucked in finger (ouch)...

Unless the prang saw brake lever smashed directly into a tree, then surely the odds of this are super low.
Unless you try and ride out every crash with a vice like death grip of the bars?