Help, my bike has shrunk...

[punkypossum]

Well, it must have done, cause I haven't grown...

Seriously, I have always been dead comfortable on it, but over the past few rides, the reach has for some reasons felt really short. Feel like I want to be more stretched out, and I'm sort of sitting on the back of the saddle and pushing against the handlebars rather than resting on top of them. I think this might be partly due to them currently being slightly higher than the saddle because of the stack of spacers underneath. Was going to shift them round a few weeks ago, but had a girly moment, the bolts are so tight i can't get them loose and haven't had a chance to visit the lbs yet . Will moving them down a bit help in increasing reach?

The stem is already 110mm long, so I don't really want to put a longer one on, however, it has something like a 25 degree rise, so would flipping it or putting one with less rise on help? Have also been considering bar ends, I know they are a bit of a no-no on riser bars, but am just thinking the different hand positions might be useful for Amsterdame...just those short stumpy ones would do...

I think it's felt shorter since I shortened the handlebars, as they were so wide that my hands ended up hurting because of being at a funny angle, but obviously that has now made me more upright, and therefore it all seems shorter...

Any help appreciated!!!

 

[domtyler]

You mention twenty five degrees, but are you sure you didn't wash it at sixty degrees?

 

[punkypossum]

Hmm...yeah, it might have ended up in the washing machine without me noticing, got a habit of accidentally sticking smallish items in the wash that shouldn't be in there!

 

[Crackle]

I think lowering them will definitely help. And I know you're not supposed to but bar ends will extend your reach, really helpful I find. You could also leave it at this height and put flatbars and bar ends on or would that look funny (what bike is it)?

 

[punkypossum]

It's a trek 4300, like in the picture - apart from the forks which I upgraded to Toras...

Just don't understand why it suddenly feels so short...

 

[Crackle]

Reasons for it suddenly feeling different: You've adapted to more riding and therefore your body is trying to take a more efficient position. Might be time to re-set things like saddle height and position and bar height. Sometimes a few small changes is all it takes.

I know my riding position has changed over the years: Not as flexible as I used to be so my Marin needs a steeper angle stem on it now and you'll find me on the drops far less often unless there's an Osteopath handy at the end of the ride

 

[punkypossum]

The one thing I know is right is the saddle height. So as that can't go any further up, because I would not be able to get my feet on the pedals anymore, I suppose something else will have to go down, as nothing can go forwards or backwards really...

 

[Rapples]

Might be worth checking the saddle hasn't slipped forward on the rails. Happened to me once!

 

[Mac66]

May just be that all the riding you are doing has increased your flexibility and your natural riding position has changed as a result.

Are you sure that you haven't got saddle creep as well. Its a nasty condition you know.

Care to demo the flexibility?

 

[fossyant]

Try flipping the stem if you can - can't be having bars higher than the saddle - they should be at least 4 -6 inches lower than the saddle.....

 

[punkypossum]

Try flipping the stem if you can - can't be having bars higher than the saddle - they should be at least 4 -6 inches lower than the saddle.....

In your dreams!!! Not that flexible!!!

As for the saddle, it's still were it always was...might try moving it back a couple of milimeters, although that would get my knee slightly behind the pedal axle... But it sounds like the main thing will be to get the bars further down, so I suppose a trip to the lbs is in order for a strong man to loosen the bolts...

 

[Night Train]

I found a very similar thing when I got back into riding. I ended up pushing the seat back along the stem clamps until it jammed and then I got a different saddle that allowed just a little bit more. I then changed the handlebar clamp for an adjustable one and found a better bar position.

 

[punkypossum]

In fact, here is a picture of the Simon in real life, rather than the stock picture... that should give you a better idea of the current setup (ignore the horrid mudguards )

Taken 5 minutes before the p-fairy attack

 

[simonali]

That stem has a pretty big angle on it and flipping it will make the bars a lot lower. Might be worth getting an 8° one, which will provide 2 lower, but similar positions to try out?

 

[mickle]

We have two-way adjustable stem @ work. It's very neat (if a little heavy) and once installed can be adjusted without tools. You're welcome borrow it to establish your ideal position.