is that why the gap between the brake lever and shifter paddle?
Yep.
Mind, your brake pads will move closer to the rims after closing the quick releases (the opposite effect being the point of the qr mechanism), so you might have to readjust your brakes if you set them up with the qr open initially.
Yep.
Mind, your brake pads will move closer to the rims after closing the quick releases (the opposite effect being the point of the qr mechanism), so you might have to readjust your brakes if you set them up with the qr open initially.