Bicycles Network Australia - Australian Cycling Forums

by **mikesbytes** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:31 pm

Riding at the velodrome on Saturday, the handlebars felt too close to me. Looking at the photo my body seems to be too high.

For the record, my set is setback 1cm behind the legal forward position, so I can bring it forward 1cm if I want. I'm using a 120mm stem, which is as low as it goes.

by **BNA** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:51 am

by **foo on patrol** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:51 am

Hi mike,

To me, it looks like you need to (if possible) turn your stem over, so that it drops your bars down and then level your bars so that they are square to the ground, not angled up like yours. :idea:

Other than that, you look fine.

Foo

by **toppity** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:59 pm

foo on patrol wrote:Hi mike,

To me, it looks like you need to (if possible) turn your stem over, so that it drops your bars down and then level your bars so that they are square to the ground, not angled up like yours. Other than that, you look fine.

Foo

i think that would probably set the bars higher. That stem looks about 84deg so instead of pointing down 6deg it would point up 6deg. Perhaps look to a 130mm stem with a greater angle? Otherwise it looks o.k. to me.

by **ciaran** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:26 pm

you could try a ridgey didge pista stem. Ribble have a Cinelli one and it is a pretty extreme angle, 65 deg I think.

Here's the link

by **trailgumby** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:35 pm

Frame looks a tad small. Your knee is almost clipping your elbow - I'm not a road bike expert but I'd say that doesn't look quite right.

The stem's already flipped over and I don't think bigger drops would be the answer. Trust your instincts and go the next frame size up, I reckon.

by **foo on patrol** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:41 pm

This what I am talking about!

Level bars and the angle of drop.

by **rkelsen** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:50 pm

Awesome photo.

by **foo on patrol** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:07 pm

Thanks.

Here is the whole bike, so may give a better perspective.

by **toppity** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:43 am

absolutely awesome FOP

by **othy** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:10 am

Rotate your wrists out - they look all cramped up in the drops - and I think it would change your position.

by **foo on patrol** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:37 pm

I could be wrong, (which is quite often :wink:

) but it looks to me, like he is throwing at the line. :?:

by **mikesbytes** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:54 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I've got short legs, long body, long arms. The frame size is 56cm square. Difficult to get a frame that's 56cm high * 58cm long. Also a lot more expensive and simply changing the stem. Existing stem is already upside down.

Is it a reduction in height, using the 65 deg stem or an extension in length using a 130cm stem, or do I need to go for both? Can I get such a stem in 25.4, or do I need to pick up new handlebars too?

by **foo on patrol** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:01 pm

The longer stem may do it but, how do you feel on the bike?

by **mikesbytes** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:10 pm

Your not on a track bike long enough to have to worry about comfort. It seems to me that a 130 stem will sacrifice a small amount of maneuverability for a small increase in power. I do run a 130 stem on my road race bike.

Suppose I could buy oversize handlebars to go with the stem

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pp/road-track-bike/Handlebars-Track-Oversize/HBAK