SHorter stem or bend more
- gururug
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- Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:05 am
SHorter stem or bend more
Postby gururug » Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:54 am
I think I need a shorter stem. Currently I have a stock 90mm but find that while riding I always have straight arms. Seems more comfortable when I put my palms on the back of the tops. Also, I find that I keep sliding forward on my seat about 2-3cm.
I am a fairly new rider and probably don't bend my back enough. Seat adjustment is about right.
Should I wait until I develop more technique (bend more) or just get the damn stem?
I think I need a 60mm but remember reading somewhere to go one cm longer than you think you need.
Also whats the deal with 5degree and 10degree stems, this one seems good;
http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product ... 198&page=1
I am guessing I will lose a bit of steering control and weight centering.
- europa
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Postby europa » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:11 am
Another thing to consider before buying new stems is the seat fore and aft position. The tradition is KOPS, Knee over Pedal Spindle, when the cranks are horizontal, though this has been challenged in recent year. You get your seat right first (height, then drop a plumb bob from the bone beneath the knee cap with the pedals horizontal), THEN fiddle with the reach, you don't use seat adjustment to adjust your reach, however, if the seat is too far back now, it might be exagerating the reach issue.
The 5 and 10 degree stems refers to the angle of the stem - the greater the number, the higher the bars will be.
Richard
- tuco
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Postby tuco » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:08 am
After paying $1 per mm for the stem I found out the cycling club (of which I'm a member) had an array of spare stems. If I had of know I could have just done a swap. Do you have a club nearby? Our club is very good and will happily set up a bike correctly. One more option for you to look into.
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:24 pm
A photo of you on your bike will help focus our comments - it might be that the best thing is stretching / exercise to give you some more flexibility!
- gururug
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Postby gururug » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:34 pm
I have done the plumb bob thingy and i'm pretty sure my seat fore/aft is about right.
Here's some pic's tell me what you think.
TOPS
GRIPS
DROPS
- europa
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Postby europa » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:45 pm
I wouldn't have thought you were too stretched out, but ...
Richard
- gururug
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Postby gururug » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:02 pm
So I guess when I develop flexibility these can be lowered slightly? Who would have thought, maybe we need a topic area "online bike sizing", many opinions are better than one right!
Thanks.
Heres a pic with the bars up two spacers, arms feel better but am somewhat upright. Maybe I need a shorter stem after all???
- tuco
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Postby tuco » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:52 pm
.
- Bnej
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Postby Bnej » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:53 pm
Uprightness and slowness, versus bentness and uncomfortableness, is a compromise. If you're going a long way you probably don't want so much weight on your arms, and you'll want higher handles, so a more upright position is ok.
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:11 pm
I was going to say this!tuco wrote:Something I noticed on one of the early photos. The handle bars are sloping down. Mine were like that when new so I angled them up. It also helped because my hands were pushing down into the levers, causing pain, angling them slightly up stopped that problem plus I wasn't bending over as far.
.
Just rotate the bars in the headstem a bit, it makes quite a bit of difference.
Sorry, but I think that your position looks pretty right.
Edited to add
You can also move the shifters on the handle bars - in your case back towards you. It means removing the bar tape, so you might be up for new tape.
- gururug
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- europa
- Posts: 7334
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:51 am
- Location: southern end of Adelaide - home of hills, fixies and drop bears
Postby europa » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:45 pm
You may even find that in a few hundred kms, you'll be able to lower the bars again too.
Richard
- sogood
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Postby sogood » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:00 pm
One more thing, shortening the stem below 90mm can adversely affect the handling of the bike. i would be very reluctant to suggest further shortening if you are serious about your cycling.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- gururug
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Postby gururug » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:12 am
Seat is as forward as I can get it but still end up 1-3 cm forward on it. Will wait to see if I get more flexibility.
Now I am thinking I need a shorter crank.
How can a small bike (46-48 cm's) use a stock (700?) crank. Surely someone short enough to need a bike this size would have shorter legs that require a shorter crank.
Can anyone tell me the sure signs that my crank length is too long?
- sogood
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Postby sogood » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:27 am
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO
As for crank length, there's no specific formula that's universally recognized. But yes, if you are short, 165 may work better for you.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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