Bike fitting for height loss

I recently returned from my annual exam, and I have lost another inch. I wasn't too surprised, because I had noticed that the reach that seemed to be just right last summer has become harder. So far all of the loss seems to be in my upper body, but that just makes TT length even more important.

Have any of you dealt with this problem? What did you do? So far I've changed the handlebars on one bike to give a reach. The stems are already the shortest I could find. Since I've retired I won't be able to buy any new bikes, so I going to have to get by by rehabbing what I have.

Adjust the stem's angle?

I think this is you & your bike?
http://www.momentumplanet.com/profiles/jean-smith

I can't tell how shallow your handlebars are, but you could try getting a more shallow reach on the bars.

I'm also not sure how short your stem is, but race face does make a 50 mm:
http://gearattack.com/items/17553

There's this crazy look ergostem, which seems to allow you to adjust things via a wide range easily - but it's pretty expensive... it does let adjust the length from 0 to 150 mm:
http://www.bellatisport.com/shop/pro...ostem_HSC.html


Something else you could consider is switching to non-drop bars... a mountain bike set up with a backsweep, mustache bars or albatross bars...
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7118

There's several here:
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...?category=1678

That may not be the ideal solution for you - but I think switching to backswept handlebars might be the easiest to adjust.


One thing you might consider is watching ebay or craigslist for frames with smaller top tubes - and selling one of your frames if you find a good deal. You might luck out.

Yes, that is the bike. Those bars were the Salsa Short-N-Shallows. I am switching them to http://www.somafab.com/barsparrow.html . They bring my reach back quite a bit, while still keeping my wrists in a fairly neutral position. I'm still playing with them trying to decide if I want them flipped or upright. I'm inclined to go with flipped for now and save the upright for when I lose more.

Thanks for the link to the Ergostem. That is the first adjustable stem I've seen that starts with a short reach. That may be the way I will have to go. Thinking back on my mother's height loss, I expect to loss another 2 inches by the time I'm 70.

Let me know how you like the sparrow handlebars - I've been thinking about putting them on a bike that I've been building up and have been resisting ordering them for about a week now.

I might be interested in buying the salsa handlbebars off you depending on the size. I've been wondering about them for a while.