Drop bar hoods work differently on gravel than they do on smooth pavement. When the surface roughens up, your hands naturally migrate forward and grip tighter, which changes the leverage angle on the brake lever and shifts your weight distribution on the controls. Shimano shaped the ST-RX810 hoods with a more pronounced slope that keeps your wrists in a neutral position during this forward grip, and the textured anti-slip surface on the brake lever blade itself maintains your purchase when sweat or rain would otherwise compromise your hold.

The hydraulic brake system pairs each shifter with a BR-RX810 flat mount caliper, arriving pre-bled with the hose already connected. The front lever comes with a 1000mm hose while the rear gets 1700mm, covering most gravel frame cable routing without cutting. Shimano's SERVOWAVE technology manages the lever feel, with initial pad travel happening quickly to eliminate dead stroke, then the leverage ratio changes at pad contact to spread the remaining travel across the power application zone. You get modulation without the mushy feel that some hydraulic systems exhibit.

The calipers use ICE Technology with ceramic pistons and finned brake pads that dissipate heat on long descents where sustained braking would otherwise cause fade. The flat mount interface bolts directly to frames and forks designed for that standard, with the front caliper including an adapter for 140mm or 160mm rotors. The One-Way Bleed system simplifies maintenance when it's eventually needed, and the easy hose joint design means you can swap hose lengths without special tools if your frame routing requires it.... Read More