Stem and Hoods questions

[lunacycles]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunacycles View Post
Unless you have profound neck/back issues, you really shouldn't shoot for a position in which your handlebar is higher than your saddle, imo, unless your bike is designed for it (and yours isn't).Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob View Post
Why?
I agree, why?

Having your bars higher than your saddle effectively reduces the amount of body weight that goes over the front wheel. Almost all stock bicycles (Rivendells might be the only true exception) are not designed for this kind of biased weight distribution. The result is that the bike does not handle as it should/was designed to, especially your steering. If you ride a well fitting bike that allows you to get lower without discomfort, a whole new world opens up. In addition, a conditioned body riding in a position that allows some drop from the saddle to the handlebar allows the chest to open up, and permits a more aerodynamic and aggressive position that responds more quickly and efficiently to changes in terrain. It tends to make the transition for in the saddle to out of the saddle easier and more natural. Your arms/upper body can actually contribute to the cycling process besides just handling the controls. Plus, you usually go faster.

A poster recently commented on how she switched her stem from the stock one to one that is 6cm long in order to fix her reach problem. She said it made her bike handle horribly, but she got used to it. OK. We can get used to anything, really, but my point is simply to state that this kind of "fix"--which is striving for the same goal as getting a stem with more rise--is on some level a compromise compared to what's possible as far as position goes for the average jane or joe the big bike company designs their bikes for. Unfortunately, if you are on the very small end of the spectrum, that often doesn't include you.

Riding with the vast majority of your weight over the back half of the bike can also create saddle problems, although there are certainly saddles designed for this kind of leisure riding.

A lot of small folks on smallish stock bikes that don't fit well end up in this rather upright position as it is more comfortable when compared to where they started. It is a very common way to alleviate the discomfort caused by an overly long reach--and sometimes the only way to get comfortable on a stock bike that almost fits. There is nothing wrong with that. I believe if you aren't comfortable, you won't be efficient on the bike, regardless of how you sit on the bike. But if you are comfortable and efficient, you will get more out of cycling.

And I have found women by and large prefer a higher front end/less drop from saddle to handlebar than men do. Including myself. Sage folks like Dr. Andy Pruitt often recommend a higher front end position for racers who feel they need to look like Tour de France racers but just can't find the sweet spot comfort wise, or who have incurred stress-related injuries by trying to force themselves into Lance's position without residing in Lance's body. There is a point at which coming up a bit at the front end makes a lot of sense. But there is a point at which it truly effects efficiency and handling. When the bar height exceeds the saddle height, I generally draw the line....unless it is absolutely necessary for anatomic or joint pain, and then I try to design the front end (head tube angle and fork offset) to accommodate it.

Wow that was wordy. Thanks for reading.

[jobob]

Wow that was wordy. Thanks for reading.

Thanks for 'splaining! That was interesting.

[hilldweller]

Thanks for 'splaining! That was interesting.

Yep thanks from me too. Very helpful

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yes that was an interesting explanation, and makes sense for this situation.

Of course I always think it's good to remember now and then that probably 90% or more of the world's active bicycle riders are neither leisure OR competitive riders- but are riding their bikes for basic transportation and for transporting things. Few of those people ride with their handlebars lower than their saddles- they ride mostly upright and they really lay on the miles on a daily basis. These are serious bike riders, not leisure riders (as most of us actually are). They would be bewildered and bemused by all our endless fussing about aerodynamics, knee position, CO2 cannisters, clipless shoes, aerobars, and carbon seatposts. I like thinking about this from time to time to put bike riding in perspective in my mind.

[jobob]

Yes, and some of them even put baskets on their handlebars

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yes, and some of them even put baskets on their handlebars

Yes, and they actually have ROOM to put baskets on them since their handlebars aren't 18" from the ground!

[lunacycles]

Of course I always think it's good to remember now and then that probably 90% or more of the world's active bicycle riders are neither leisure OR competitive riders- but are riding their bikes for basic transportation and for transporting things. Few of those people ride with their handlebars lower than their saddles- they ride mostly upright and they really lay on the miles on a daily basis. These are serious bike riders, not leisure riders (as most of us actually are).

Good point. It occurred to me later I should have asterisked the whole spiel with some reference to this referring to traditional roadie positions. Frankly, I think if people are happy with their positions and loving their bikes, regardless of what style of riding they do, then there is definitely nothing to "fix."