increase saddle to bar drop

[Mr Haematocrit]

I'm looking to increase my saddle to bar drop, my stem is slammed and I have changed my bars from shallow drop, to full drop and want to go lower, as such I'm considering following the trend set by the pro peleton of using a smaller frame with a longer stem to get the reach required.

Is anyone running a frame which is small for them with a long stem of 110mm or more, if so what are your experiences of this like?

 

[Dusty Bin]

If you currently have a flat back on the drops, then you are already at optimum - and as such increasing it will probably be counter productive. If your back is not currently flat in the drops, then you have scope. Riding for extended periods with a deep drop is not comfortable for normal road riding though - why do you want to do it?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Stick a 650 wheel on the front.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

- why do you want to do it?

Comfort and curiosity.. I have reasonable flexibility and feel that I have some more drop available to me. I can comfortably get a flat back when on the drops but I have to bend my arms quite extensively to do so. It feels really good in the back but less so in my arms, which is the reasoning for considering this. I'm thinking that a smaller frame with a longer stem should in theory reduce the extent of the bend required in my arm.

 

[tigger]

I have 2 bikes with different top tube and head tube lengths which are set up exactly the same including the same reach and saddle to bar drop. The shorter top tube requires a 130 stem and the longer one a 110 stem. I'm 6 foot 4 BTW. My position is the same on both bikes but the smaller bike with longer stem feels more stable at speed with less twitchy handling. I think this is the main benefit.

So in short, I'd say go for it. You'll get the position you want and get a more stable bike at speed.

 

[Mr Bunbury]

You don't have to do anything so drastic as changing your frame just yet. Start with the stem.

1) Get a longer stem. The extra length will stretch you out and give you a more aero position.
2) If you really want to go lower, get a steeper stem. Many time triallists run a 17 degree stem to get extra drop.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Placing a longer stem on my Venge will not achieve what I'm looking for, the reach is fine and I do not need to be stretched out more. I am not attempting to get a more aero position, I am attempting to get my arms in a more comfortable and relaxed position. When I look at the frame size smaller than the one I own the top tube is 20mm shorter and the headtube length 20mm shorter as such I am thinking that moving to this frame size and using a 20mm longer stem will keep me in pretty much the same position as I am now, but the shorter head tube will poisition my arms when on the drops 20mm lower.. or am I wrong with my thinking?

 

[Mr Bunbury]

My switch from a 6 degree to a 10 degree stem dropped my bars by about 1cm, so if you're currently running a standard 6 degree stem, a switch to a 17 degree stem should drop you by something like the required 2cm. You could even try experimenting with an adjustable stem to get your position right before committing to buy a new frame.

 

[zizou]

Hard to judge without seeing what you look like on a bike but having bent arms is generally a good thing - better for control and handling of the bike but also for comfort (think of your arms as suspension). If you go too straight you may solve one problem but in doing so could start having issues with neck / shoulder and hand pain.

 

[HLaB]

No idea what stem I'm using but when I got a replacement frame for the kinesis I opted for the same size (a 54cm) as it was so comfortable; I am on the edge of Kinesis's sizing chart (based on height alone) which suggests a 57cm would fit too but I'd rather just show more seat post.

 

[Rob3rt]

Do you have a -17 deg stem? Try that 1st. Also what headset bearing cover are you using? You can get some that add minimal height rather than the typical 1cm+ thick ones.

Example:

 

[tigger]

Good call re: stem angles. This calculator may help give an idea of what you can achieve

http://alex.phred.org/stemchart/