Nice bike, struggling with set up........

flateric

Mainly i think because i am not finding riding on the drops very comfortable. the bike, a lemond Etape should on paper be the right size and has very similar geometry to my Hybrid which is comfortable to ride. As i find i am mostly riding on the brake hoods i am fast wondering wether drops are for me. This is awkward as all my brake and gear controls are on the levers.

[/url]https://picasaweb.google.com/100869186253409576803/LemondPics?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I am looking at converting this to a flat bar type like bull horn bars http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-slice-bullhorn-handlebar/

So can i do this and keep my current control levers or do this need replacing too? are there any other suggestions on modifying this bike for better comfort.

mike

explosifpete

For me your bars don't look very comfortable but you could try tilting them up for a better fit


riding on the drops it mainly reserved for descending,sprinting and riding in to strong winds.
You should spend most of you time on the hoods.
If you have a photo of you on the bike this would help determine if the bike is set up for you

explosifpete

For me your bars don't look very comfortable but you could try tilting them up for a better fit


riding on the drops it mainly reserved for descending,sprinting and riding in to strong winds.
You should spend most of you time on the hoods.
If you have a photo of you on the bike this would help determine if the bike is set up for you

daviesee

Rotate your bars round so that the hoods are higher up and that should improve things.

You may then want to move a spacer or two from under the stem to over it.

Worth a try and free :P

flateric

Tried lower hieght, shorter and longer stems, rotating bars ect, hood riding is fine but cant reach controls well enough, hence considering bull bar/flat bar option.

topdude

If you want to go down the flat bar route check out this post.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12781519&highlight=flat+bars

I have done this with my road bike and i find it more comfortable with better braking and gear changing.

andrewjoseph

have you tried shims to help reach the brake levers?

or you could get shallow drop bars with a tighter radius

or shimano shifters for small hands

Done all three for my wife and she has no problems now.

Buckled_Rims

Those hoods looks far too forward and down. In fact I don't like large handlebars. I have FSA wing 42cm bars and they are real comfortable and compact.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-wing-compact-road-handlebar/

I still say dropped road handlebars are the best bars you can have, but, not all are equal :shock:

on-yer-bike

Change the bars to a compact model and line the top of the hoods up with the top of the bars. You would have to be a contortionist to ride on the hoods with these. Look at pictures of other modern bikes and you will soon realise why your current bars are a problem.

fidbod

Your STI's are in the wrong place.

compare and contrast with the handlebar set up on my langster
Specialized Langster 1 by stuartcatt, on Flickr

Its not perfect but it should give you an idea of what to aim for.

Stuart

JRooke

Compact bars sound appropriate

Slow Downcp

As others have said, the levers are in the wrong place ad bars too low - I'd suggest getting these set properly and then consider a bike fit session. It will be cheaper than changing bars and controls (although you may get away with using current levers)

vorsprung

flateric wrote:

Mainly i think because i am not finding riding on the drops very comfortable. the bike, a lemond Etape should on paper be the right size and has very similar geometry to my Hybrid which is comfortable to ride.

Hybrid bikes with an upright riding position are usually longer in the top tube than bikes with drops.

If you have a bike with drops with the same geometry as a hybrid it is probably too long

Bobbinogs

Blimey, when I looked at your piccie I thought that you had set the bike up all wrong at the front. Then I googled and found that they all seem to come like that:

As others have said, I would be tempted to change the drops (hopefully bag a bargain 2nd hand set with the levers set in a more classic location) and then getting a bike fit.

ajb72

fidbod wrote:

Your STI's are in the wrong place.

compare and contrast with the handlebar set up on my langster
Specialized Langster 1 by stuartcatt, on Flickr

Its not perfect but it should give you an idea of what to aim for.

Stuart

Hey, is that saddle angle UCI legal??

ajb72

Agree with previous comments though - really badly set up bars / levers there. Rotating bars upwards would be a great start and maybe also shifting the levers higher up the curve too. I'd certainly try that before spending any money.

Compact drop bars could also really help, 3T do nice versions (eronova I think?) and have a shorter reach and shallower drop.

Nice looking bike though, it would be a shame to go flat bar on it!

flateric

Ok, great comments thanks,

For starters, have rotated bars to a position more like the illistration kindly posted by Explosifpete. This has bought the Sti into a more upright position and similar to that described in other posts.

We will see if that works, i dont really want to do anything to major to it!!

flateric

Getting annoyin now!! rotated bars again tonight as riding in the proper position on hoods was causing hand pain. now bar is rotated so much hoods are pointing almost straight up!! (pic later)

we will see how that goes or may have to speak to bike shop