Handlebar height?

macondo01

What's the thinking behind lowering your handlebars? I mean is it a good thing to do, getting more aerodynamic, if you can still feel comfortable? I was thinking of taking out a couple of spacers. Cheers.

Ben6899

If you're comfortable on the bike already, then I'd be tempted to leave everything as it is.

Other people like to try different setups in search of bike fit utopia... and lower handlebars will generally mean a flatter back which is generally more aerodynamic.

macondo01

Yes I was comfortable on the bike before. May be I'd be better off doing more yoga than fiddling with the set up.

Pross

More aero but very possibly less comfortable and may also restrict your breathing a bit.

skyd0g

There's no harm in trying out a lower set-up on the handlebars. Try it in increments of no more than 1cm at a time. Then test on a ride. If it doesn't work for you it's easily reversible. If it works, then you can consider cutting-down the stem.

On my bike, I lowered the front end by around 25mm in total and it actually felt comfier! Everything just fell to hand that much easier. 8)

macondo01

There's no harm in trying out a lower set-up on the handlebars. Try it in increments of no more than 1cm at a time. Then test on a ride. If it doesn't work for you it's easily reversible. If it works, then you can consider cutting-down the stem.

On my bike, I lowered the front end by around 25mm in total and it actually felt comfier! Everything just fell to hand that much easier.

I think I will have a go at lowering. Two spacers look about a cm put together.

I had thought the LBS had flipped the stem on my CAAD9 to make the position more comfortable (higher) on my bike (I was a newbee back then) but actually they hadnt - so it set me thinking may be I could go lower and faster

skyd0g

Macondo01 wrote:

There's no harm in trying out a lower set-up on the handlebars. Try it in increments of no more than 1cm at a time. Then test on a ride. If it doesn't work for you it's easily reversible. If it works, then you can consider cutting-down the stem.

On my bike, I lowered the front end by around 25mm in total and it actually felt comfier! Everything just fell to hand that much easier.

I think I will have a go at lowering. Two spacers look about a cm put together.

I had thought the LBS had flipped the stem on my CAAD9 to make the position more comfortable (higher) on my bike (I was a newbee back then) but actually they hadnt - so it set me thinking may be I could go lower and faster

As you're no doubt aware, you can just loosen-off the stem bolts and the tension screw, then put the spacers above the stem. Just be careful not to over-tension the pre-tension bolt when re-assembling.

There's a good guide on the entire process here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuTxugV6yY that goes through it. 8)

macondo01

Thanks. That looks straightforward enough. Noted about tension.