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WOW, Lisa....those pix were worth thousands of words! thanks so much!
I still, however need a picture of you riding yr Luna Bee...in my mind you're on the Riv.....;)
Why? Becasue when I first started riding, I was using you on yr bike photos as a kind if "fit" guide...they were ---of course---very helpful.....
you must be a Sag or a Virgo.....???:cool:
Taurus. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
way off....:o
but Taurus women are my faves....;)
Hey, my Luna just showed up in the Luna Cycles photo gallery, it's 'famous'! :p :p:Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
http://www.lunacycles.com/Gallery.html
and I think it's one of the best looking of all the Lunas....!
butternut...;)
Nitto Noodles? too big I think..???
I found a good price for the salsa pocos....here's my set-up (not the stock photo)
should I get the salsas? my hit is that most of you think it will help me reach from the drops.
I had the Nitto Noodle bars on my Rivendell and they contributed to my long reach problem. I switched to the Salsa Pocos and it did help some. So I also got the Pocos on my new Luna.Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
I see you already have ergo bumps on your current bars in the photo?....if so and you like the ergo shape, then the Pocos would be similar but shorter reach for you. (it still won't give you longer fingers to reach around the brake levers though, for that you'll need shimmed short reach brifters)
P.S. I still say that's one gorgeous bike!
The Poco bars would shorten the cockpit (length from saddle to bar drop) but not shorten the reach from bar to brake lever???? So she would not have to lean as far forward to reach the bars, but still would have problems grasping the levers?Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
I tried the Salsa Pocos and I still had the reach problem. The ones I ended up with are like Zen's--Bontrager Fit VR.
ah...excellent points you make....I don't need a shorter cockpit....I need longer fingers....I can ALMOST get them all around...
sooo..I need shims. Or should I get a new set of levers? Or try the shims first.
I'm SORRY if I'm being dense...I can't quite get a clear sense from the thread about my best option.
:o
I know...I'll take a photo of MY hand!!!!
thanks Lisa:p she's my ride...wonder how ol'Sandra is liking her Aurora....
Yes the first (and best) thing to try is to see if they make shims for your current brifters! That would be a simple solution to the hand-grasping-the brakes issue.
Don't just take an LBS's word for it- see if you can contact Shimano and ask them if shims are available for your model shifters (I assume your brifters are Shimano?).
I thought you already knew that you had non-shimmable brifters....sorry, or I would have recommended this first before changing bars. :(
here's where we are
Yikes i know that feeling well.
Nice clematis.
Looking at those pictures, I think the first thing I'd try is repositioning the levers a little further down on the bar. That might buy you just enough distance to make you feel more comfortable getting a bit more of your fingers around the levers.
I know that seems to make sense, but have to say I tried that on mine and it just made my finger reach even worse. I tried everything. Shims were the only solution that really made a big difference in the hand spread and solved the short finger problem for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by dex
Ultimately I ended up changing out my levers to solve my reach problems, but I don't think it would hurt to try moving the levers as a first step. If it happens to work, great. And if it doesn't, there are still other options to try. Just a thought.
i'll give it a try.
I finally found my Zinn book buried under a pile of old New Yorkers...(the magazine, not the people:rolleyes:)
He suggests first changing the bar....sigh
I'll check out the shims, move the levers and then see. I want to put my brown Brooks leather tape on anyway....:p
they're Tiagras
thanks for all the suggestions!
(I have been looking at Terrys...for someday...)
are you sure all shimano's not shimmed with the same shims?
now say that 10 times fast!
Only on the south seashore.Quote:
Originally Posted by madscot13
I am so glad this is being discussed, because it think this is the problem i am having with descending...the pics are really helping!
thanks!
I am going to try to illustrate with pictures what everyone has been saying about handlebars. The issue you are having with handlebar reach is associated with the bend shape of the handlebar, not the reach (imagine a vertical line drawn perpendicular to the ground, from the bar top to somewhere at the end of the drop. Now bisect that line with a horizontal, perpendicular to the ground line that extends to the farthest point at the drop bend. The distance of this second line is the "reach" of your bar), or the drop (that's the length of the first line, actually). So "short reach" or "compact drop" bars are not necessarily going to help. To illustrate:
Here is a picture of my old bike, with Ritchey Biomax bars (anatomic bend) and NO SHIMS. The distance between the drop "ramps" and the levers is fairly large.
Attachment 6435
Here is a picture of my new bike, with the same Biomax bars, with shimmed R700 levers. Notice the distance between the levers and the ramps is a little smaller with the shimmed levers.
Attachment 6436
Finally, here is a picture of the new bike, but with FSA Wing Pro bars. Notice that with the more traditional bend, the ramp "falls away" from the levers much more gradually, and the levers are much closer.
Attachment 6437
So, to summarize, shims will make a difference, but it's a smallish difference (though a smallish difference may be all you need). As to your question regarding whether switching bars will help, I think it depends on what you look for in a new set of bars. I think that new bars CAN make a difference for you, but I'm not sure an anatomic bend like the Salso Pocos have is going to do what you want, even if it is "short reach" and/or "compact".
Even though they are somewhat related, we are actually taking about two different reach issues- the overall reach from seat to hands on bars....and the hand reach around the brake levers. Important to keep these two things distinct, especially when talking to LBS guys.
Yes, Liza...I see.
I was looking at the Bontrager bar that Zen has...also Specialized makes a WSD bar.. but Zen's is more compact. I'll check the FSA ones too.
I have those Ritchey Biomax on there now....
Again....though....how would those more compact bars affect riding on the hoods? My fave place.....
oh....and Zen has the Tiagra brifters like mine and hers are shimmed. So it can be done.
thanks
Yes and no. I have two main positions in the drops. One is the hammer position, where my hands are near the ends of the bars. I cannot reach the brakes from that position.Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
The other position is a bit higher up, and, yes, I can reach the drops from there. I prefer to be in the drops on descents because I feel I have a lot more braking power vs. on the hoods.
I use a non-anatomic bar; got sick of only having a stub of a place for my hand at the end on my short and shallow bars. Easton EC90 Pro bend. Love them!
OK...these are the 3 bars I'm looking at (assuming shims and moving the levers will also help..)
The FSA doesn't come in 38 which I have now...
(and regardless...I decided I don't like the Ritcheys for these reasons and more)
What are your thoughts? I'm kind of drawn to the Dolce....?
in order: Dolce WSD / other Specialized WSD / Bontrager
Elk:
The FSA Wing Pro compact DOES come in 38cm -- it's what I have on my bike :D.
Here's the specs on FSA's website; note that the REGULAR (anatomic, non-compact) Wing Pro starts at 40cm, but the compact is available in 38.
http://road.fullspeedahead.com/fly.a...id=223&pid=196
Not every store stocks the smaller bar, but you can buy them online here (I did):
http://www.masherz.com/products/fsa/wingprocompact.htm
It looks like both of the Specialized bars have anatomic bends, for what it's worth, so they may not put you much closer to the levers than your Biomax bars.
The compact drop does not affect riding in the hoods at all. The tops are in exactly the same place as they would be on a bar with deeper drops. You will just not be quite as low when you are in the drops.Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
A short reach bar, on the other hand, depending on the shape of the bar, will probably bring you back a little when you are on the hoods. The effect is similar to shortening the stem a little, depending on how much difference there is between the old bars and the new ones (this is pretty easy to look up). You probably shouldn't notice much going to a short reach bar though, because I believe the Biomax actually has a shortish reach (doesn't it?)...
my stem wants a 26.0 bar...???
Hmmm... Elk... it looks like both the Fit and the Dolce both only come in OS diameter too...
if you can't find the perfect 26.0 bar, you could just get a different stem I guess :(...
this is getting complicated...I love my stem...it is adjustable up and down...hhmmmmm is right!!
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=25311
this one is 26 (it's the middle one in my previous post)
just read this on BikeFOrum:Quote:
Salsa Poco bars have the shallowest drop of any bars to my knowledge. They also have among the shortest reach, which is the distance from the centerline of the bar to the most forward point on the front of the bar. Short and Shallow bars are the next in line, but have both more reach and more drop than the Poco. The Ritchey BioMax is close to the Short and Shallow.
Elk, if I were you I would just first get shims and put them in. (you said Zen got shims for her identical brifters to yours). It would probably solve your finger reach issue and is the quickest cheapest easiest thing to try first.
I will.
I also just found another identical thread and Kathi got these bars which would work...and now I want new bars:D
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...o+venus&page=2
where do you GET those shims??????????? Or do the shops have them in with the wrenches....:p
Have you tried perhaps posting a WANTED thread here on TE under ForSale/Wanted forum? I'm sure there are women out there with your same shifters who have not used the shims that come with them....maybe they have your shims sitting in a box in their garage!Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
You must be sure to specify your exact model of brifter though...and they are Shimano Tiagra, right?....what model #??
Funny note: I googled "Tyiagra shims" by mistake and google asked me if I really meant to search for "Viagra shims"...... =8-D
let's talk about me a little longer...:rolleyes:
Lisa, Liza et al ;look at these and tell me if you think these will help...(I'm on the hunt for shims)
http://www.modolo.com/1_road_handlebars_temp.php?id=9
i've grown to dislike the look of those x treme ergos like these Ritcheys I have.. and I don't prticlualry find that lenading very comfortable...
I can't quite decipher the wording of their description:Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
"Five-stars comfort introduced in 1998: higher raise for "Gran Fondo" allowes a very comfortable rest-giving position, that is extremely appreciated especially in the long distance races and a very short shape "Venus" than decrease to 12 mm. the brake-lever distance. "
HUH???? Very confusing. :confused:
Compare that to Salsa's helpful descriptions of their bars, where they give exact measurements...including both REACH and DROP distances:
http://www.salsacycles.com/handlebars.html
i think it's just a bad translation....:p here's a better one:
http://estore.websitepros.com/193951...ars/Detail.bok
here's imilia's easton:
hers is the carbon EC90 equipe pro
Just noticed a dumb but confusing typo in my earlier post.
Ok, that section in red should read "a horizontal, parallel-to-the-ground line." Oops.Quote:
Originally Posted by liza
Elk,
The Modolo bars have a nice shape, that does look like it could bring your levers closer. My only concern about them is that it looks like they have given you a fairly limited range of hood adjustability, if you want to take advantage of that nice curve. Modolo has a very specific place where you are "supposed" to put the hoods. The picture in earlier TE thread you referenced shows this -- notice her hoods are fairly low, at least compared to how a lot of people are running them now. If you are comfortable with your hoods on the low side, those bars should be fine. If you like to run your hoods a little higher, you might not get quite as much benefit from that bend (it might still be better than what you have though).
Something like this might give you more hood options while still bringing your levers closer:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5255
Oversize, though... Why can't they just use one standard???!!!!!
the Easton bar comes in 26.0....and Sierra has it...but the smallest size is 42...38 is the size that of the Ritcheys on my Aurora; I can;t imagine 2mm per side would make that much difference for me. ?
also, Liza, re the Modolas, my stem is adjustable and one can always adjust the position of the bar IN the stem..right?
boy o boy...I learn alot from this list!!!