Moving on up

[Houthakker]

After many years of pootling around on a hybrid, just bought a road bike from my LBS. had my first proper run out on it yesterday. Feels very different to the hybrid, and the new position will take a bit of getting used to, but feels nice on the road. I changed the stock tyres for some Marathons for over winter(although I will still use the hybrid in anything less than really nice weather)
It's a Raleigh Airlite 200 and very pleased with it so far

 

[SimonJKH]

Good looking bike

 

[Zakalwe]

Get that stem flipped!

Nice bike, happy riding!

 

[Houthakker]

Get that stem flipped

I've seen that mentioned a few times on here, but have no idea what it means?
Anyone care to enlighten me what it is and what benefits it brings?

 

[Zakalwe]

Just pulling your leg, it's a much repeated recommendation.

Basically, the stem that attaches your handlebar to the steerer tube have usually got some degree of angle, and can also be mounted both upside down and downside up. One way round will tip the bars lower to the ground, the other - as you have on your bike - brings them higher. Each way will result in a different posture for the rider.

People always recommend that everyone get the bar as low as possible and your arse as high as possible, and get the back straight for maximum efficiency - in reality, people are all different shapes and of different flexibility, there's no one rule for all.

 

[Houthakker]

Thanks for that, I had wondered.. Never realised that there was a difference in angles but then I've only had it two weeks,
After moving from a hybrid, I'm already noticing how much lower I am with the bars as they are. Who knows, when (if?) I get used to this position, I might look at it again in the future