my bike is a little big - options

pianoman1980

Hi all,

My bike is a little on the large side for me I think. I just wondered what adjustment options I have available.

I tried a medium frame bike recently (only in the shop) and it felt better. I have the large from the same shop (Decathlon).

I feel that I'm having to stretch too far to reach the bars when riding, I want to be a bit more upright i feel when riding and currently feel I'm bending over too much to reach and getting some lower back ache. I have the saddle forwards, would a shorter stem help this by bringing the bars towards me?

Thanks

nicklouse

yes.

dhobiwallah

But it will affect the handling characteristics, (Not necessarily for the worse though).

In the interim if you have spacers above the stem you could move it up a bit to give you a more upright position....

Greer_

A shorter stem would help, as well as rotating the riser bars towards you. You could maybe try a layback seatpost but run it back to front. Not entirely sure if the clamp will still work properly though.

Twelly

Greer_ wrote:

A shorter stem would help, as well as rotating the riser bars towards you. You could maybe try a layback seatpost but run it back to front. Not entirely sure if the clamp will still work properly though.

Nope. Your saddle would pointing at the sky and acting more like a dildo then a seat.

Greer_

TwellySmat wrote:

Greer_ wrote:

A shorter stem would help, as well as rotating the riser bars towards you. You could maybe try a layback seatpost but run it back to front. Not entirely sure if the clamp will still work properly though.

Nope. Your saddle would pointing at the sky and acting more like a dildo then a seat.

Was worth a shout!

dhobiwallah wrote:

But it will affect the handling characteristics, (Not necessarily for the worse though).

In the interim if you have spacers above the stem you could move it up a bit to give you a more upright position....

I can't see that helping much, and it will only work if he has excess steerer tube above the stem, which I doubt.

Twelly

Greer_ wrote:

dhobiwallah wrote:

In the interim if you have spacers above the stem you could move it up a bit to give you a more upright position....

I can't see that helping much, and it will only work if he has excess steerer tube above the stem, which I doubt.

It surprising how much raising/lowering the stem with spacer movement makes a difference.

I lowered the stem 15 mm on my road bike and it felt like a completely different riding position.

craigw99

have you considered arm lenghtening bit extreme but best answer long term ;-)

Greer_

craigw99 wrote:

have you considered arm lenghtening bit extreme but best answer long term ;-)

rockmonkeysc

Shorter stem, higher rise bars & slide the saddle forwards. Shorter stem also improves the steering.

Greer_

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Shorter stem, higher rise bars & slide the saddle forwards. Shorter stem also improves the steering.

It won't improve the steering for everyone, depending on preferences. It will make the steering more responsive though.

bennett_346

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Shorter stem, higher rise bars & slide the saddle forwards. Shorter stem also improves the steering.

Sick of hearing this rubbish all the time. Complete generalisation. I used to ride a 50mm stem and it washed out on corners a lot, got a 90mm on the current bike and feels much better. Weight further forward without having to lean over the bars as much so the back is weighted appropriately too, and it feels 100 fold better in corners and straights.

dhobiwallah

Greer_ wrote:

dhobiwallah wrote:

In the interim if you have spacers above the stem you could move it up a bit to give you a more upright position....

I can't see that helping much, and it will only work if he has excess steerer tube above the stem, which I doubt.

Don't know where the spacers would be if there isn't excess steerer tube!