Handlebar upgrade?
andrewlwood
Posts: 224
Recently got back into cycling and am loving it. Looking to upgrade on my Trek 2.3, and wanted some advice.
I have replaced the saddle already, and I'm now looking at the front end. I don't use the drops enough because frankly my natural position leaves me facing the ground, and I have to strain my neck to see where I'm going; so dangerous in traffic and uncomfortable for long periods of time.
The drop on the bars is only 125mm - they're the bontrager compact bars. I can't find a bar with a smaller drop, but the 3T ergonova pro that everyone seems to love has a shorter reach and tighter curve, which I'm thinking might put me more upright and in a more natural position on the drops.
Separately, I'm looking for a project this weekend and think that swapping bars and taping them up is a good skill to practise.
Worthy upgrade, or should I be looking at e.g. stem length to make the drops more palatable instead?
I have replaced the saddle already, and I'm now looking at the front end. I don't use the drops enough because frankly my natural position leaves me facing the ground, and I have to strain my neck to see where I'm going; so dangerous in traffic and uncomfortable for long periods of time.
The drop on the bars is only 125mm - they're the bontrager compact bars. I can't find a bar with a smaller drop, but the 3T ergonova pro that everyone seems to love has a shorter reach and tighter curve, which I'm thinking might put me more upright and in a more natural position on the drops.
Separately, I'm looking for a project this weekend and think that swapping bars and taping them up is a good skill to practise.
Worthy upgrade, or should I be looking at e.g. stem length to make the drops more palatable instead?
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Comments
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Sounds like you have too great a drop from saddle to bars if the Bontrager drops have you looking at the ground! Can you flip the stem so it's angled up, and move any spacers to beneath the stem to get the bars higher?0
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You might be right - I do have my saddle quite high (i mean, where it should be, but that does put it quite high). Not sure where the spacers would be if they weren't under the stem already though?0
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Further - looks like I can flip the stem, so will give that a go this weekend, seeing as it's within my limited technical competence and free.0
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Depending on the person the spacers can be above or below the stem, all depends on the biometrics of the person, and what is comfortable for them.
As far ther bars go, if the stem being flipped up doesn't solve the problem, your money may be well invested in a new stem, with more rise.0
