New Stem?

[DarcyInOregon]

I recently purchased a Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD. When I first took the bike out I loved everything about it except that I felt I didn't have the bike under control. I finally figured out it was the stem and handlebars, that the strech was too long for me. I have arthritis in my back, and a few ruptured disks, so I will never have a normal stretch. I called the LBS. He ordered a new stem for me, and new handlebars. The LBS made the stem shorter to bring the handlebars closer. However, he decided the WSD bars were too big for me, as strange as that may seem, because I am 5'9" and 50 pounds overweight. He said the drops should be in line with my shoulders, but the drops on the original handlebars were too far out to the sides. We scrapped the original handlebars and the LBS ordered smaller bars. Don't ask me for sizes because I don't remember. I requested additional brake levers in the front, which is how I rode decades ago. Once the new bars and stem arrived and were installed and I was out on the road again, the riding was awesome. Oh, and I had the bars wrapped in pink. I really love having the additional brake levers.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks Darcy. Hadn't really thought about the bars being too wide for me, But I will look at that too. Of course pink would clash with my orange trimmed bike.

[xeney]

I just remembered that my husband -- who is a little over 5'8, maybe 5'9 -- had to swap out the stem on his Giant to a 9 cm because he was getting backaches. You guys have the exact same bike, I think -- a medium 2005 OCR C3. It's just on the verge of being too big for him so I'm not at all surprised that you feel like you need to swap out the stem.

His other bikes are 54 cm and 56 cm and they fit him fine; he had a lot of problems with the geometry of that Giant.

[wannaduacentury]

I just remembered that my husband -- who is a little over 5'8, maybe 5'9 -- had to swap out the stem on his Giant to a 9 cm because he was getting backaches. You guys have the exact same bike, I think -- a medium 2005 OCR C3. It's just on the verge of being too big for him so I'm not at all surprised that you feel like you need to swap out the stem.

His other bikes are 54 cm and 56 cm and they fit him fine; he had a lot of problems with the geometry of that Giant.

I have the Medum OCR 2 and I'm 5'8 and leggy, long arms avg torso for a gal. I have that adjustable stem on mine and I'll eventually swap it out for a shorter one. I want to ride a little more to fine tune my fit. I'm a little stretched, but I enjoy the ride so it doesn't really bother me right now. I like the geometry-it was a big selling point for me anyways. Jennifer

[SouthernBelle]

I think the geometry on that bike works well for women overall, might even be hard on a guy's proportions.

A friend on another board asked me if I had tried flipping the stem. (Another duh). So I'm going to drag it into the living room, garage has gotten strangely cold, tonight and give that a shot. May just make me too upright.

I got a coupon from Nashbar too, so If I'm going to do this I don't want to wait too long.

OK, I'm occasionally thrifty.

[SouthernBelle]

I ordered a stem and will report back on the results.

[limewave]

Darcy,
I love the additional brakes! What a great idea. When I was pg I always rode in that more upright position. I was always really nervous about having to make sudden stops because I had to move my hands to brake. Next time I get pg, I'll have to see if they can make that addition to my bike as well.