Riser Stem?

[Catrin]

Mmmmmm... from the picture, and not seeing you on the bike, your bars are very high.

I'd go so far as to say that if those bars are too low, the frame is too small for you. I really hope that isn't the case, since I know the effort you went to in getting something the right size.

It's actually possible that the bars are too high. I wish I could give credit where credit is due... but I don't remember who it was. Someone just gave a really excellent illustration of this... ...... There are postures where it's very difficult for your core to take the weight, and postures where it's easy. One of the objects of fitting is to find where that's easy.

I really hope that the frame isn't too small - though if what I understand what I am reading here there are other things that can be going on here regarding positioning and over-all bike comfort and the bar height may be fine....I really hope that proves to be true.

I guess I don't reallu understand why the bar end shifters are hard to use, even if they're low. You should be able to comfortable reach for your water bottles, which are much lower than your bars. Granted, I've never used bar end shifters, but I have to wonder if this is more a function of your general comfort level on the bike. As Oakleaf suggested in another thread, you're learning a lot in a short period of time.

And I agree that your bars seem high. Believe or not, your front end stability may have more to do with how your saddle is set up now. I agree that you may have too much weight in your hands, but raising the bars won't necessarily remedy that. Trust me on this.

Maybe I can see you on the bike if we get together for a ride.

This is good to hear Indysteel - that other things can be causing that front-end instability outside of bar height. I think that I will continue with my approach from the Shifting thread in new riders section - practice various movements on my Trek (which has been fit to me), lower my seat-post a smidgen on the LHT, pick a nice middle gear & basically treat it as a single-speed for now until I am comfortable doing those assorted movements on the Trek while on my Boone County country roads - then will work on doing those same movements on the LHT.

It would be good to go riding with you when we are both back from our trips. I am hoping this will be settled by then, but we will see