New Stem?

[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.

[SouthernBelle]

Just wanted to say my new stem came in last night (mail ran at 5:30!). I got it on but haven't been able to try it out yet. It looks so short and fat.

[SouthernBelle]

Finally got to ride with the new stem today, and it is an improvement. It's a 65mm. I'm also looking at new bars, trying to decide between 40 and 38 cm Salsa Poco. I've got an alert set up on ebay, which if anyone is interested has a 36 for 10.00.

[suz]

Hi,

My first post here, but I couldn't help but offer my two cents (about what it's worth!).

Did your LBS fit you to a size medium without trying a small first? I'm 5'7" and fit bikes with a top tube of anywhere between 53cm to 54cm coupled with a 100-110mm stem. I'm also leggy (80cm inseam) and ride with a fairly flat back and stretched out position. If I'm not mistaken, the top tube on a medium Giant is 55.5--way too long even for me. I don't know why you would have been sized to a medium unless you had issues of not enough saddle setback or the need of a taller headtube, etc. Riding a bike that's so big that you have to use a very short stem (<80mm) and shove the seat far forward to obtain a comfortable reach can adversely affect your weight distribution and create handling problems.

In any event, I hope you resolved your fit issues and are out there riding and having fun