New cockpit. What to get?

a_megs
a_megs Posts: 6
edited April 2014 in Road buying advice
Hi all, this is the first time I've posted on the forum so far. Found it to be really useful for tech and training info, but Ive got a specific question to ask myself.

Just been on a short ride for the first time in 4 months and I find myself getting a bit of pain in the elbows and I also felt a bit stretched on the climbs, even when using just the middle part of the bars. I have considered that the frame may be a bit long for me, as I bought it of a friend who was about 6 foot 6, but I'm not really in the financial position to purchase another frame at the moment. Just wondering whether I would benefit from a wider set of bars and a slightly shorter stem, given my current bars are 42cm wide and my stem is 120mm long.

This seems to me like a sensible option, considering I've got quite wide shoulders and I'm about four inches shorter than the original owner of the bike. If I was to do this it'd be within a pretty strict budget, around £100 for both the stem and the bars.

Just wondering what your opinions are on this issue and what stem/bars would be the best option for me?

Cheers, Alex

Comments

  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Re bars: middle of shoulder to middle of shoulder is the measurement for bar width.

    Re stem length - as the frame you have is probably too big (I presume your friend is bigger than you all over) then get a couple of the cheapest ones you can find (beg, borrow, sales, dump, etc) then try them to see which one works best.

    Once you've found it then buy something decent.

    You may as well go full carbon (something like the Ness stems at Planet X down from millions to nothing) and some nice carbon bars will do the job nicely.

    HTH
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • murphyti
    murphyti Posts: 34
    I would recommend getting a proper bike fit. Although not cheap, I think they are definitely worth it. I recently had a frame replaced under warranty and although they were the same size the geometry was completely different. On the old frame I had my position dialed but similar to you on my new on I felt awkward and stretched out. I went to Cadence in Crystal Palace with a discount through my club. Now I feel rock solid, comfortable all day and much more efficient.

    In terms of components I am a big fan of 3T gear. For £100 you can get the ergonova bars alu version and arx stem. I like the ergonovas because of the flat tops and the shallow drops. A lot of it is personal preference though.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Try the Deda zero 1 stem and bars. Absolute peanuts to buy, really great quality and if you get it wrong sell it on at not much of a loss...

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbss190

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbas730
    Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • DKay
    DKay Posts: 1,652
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Try the Deda zero 1 stem and bars. Absolute peanuts to buy, really great quality and if you get it wrong sell it on at not much of a loss...

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbss190

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbas730

    +1. Unbeatable quality at the price.
    N
    N+1
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Nice kit. Bugger all point in putting carbon bars and stem on a bike that sounds like it doesn't fit you properly.
  • oldbazza
    oldbazza Posts: 646
    DKay wrote:
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Try the Deda zero 1 stem and bars. Absolute peanuts to buy, really great quality and if you get it wrong sell it on at not much of a loss...

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbss190

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edahbas730

    +1. Unbeatable quality at the price.

    Another+1 here although I just have the stem matched with Newton bars.
    Ridley Helium SL (Dura-Ace/Wheelsmith Aero-dimpled 45 wheels)

    Light Blue Robinson(105 +lots of Hope)

    Planet X XLS 1X10(105/XTR/Miche/TRP Spyre SLC brakes

    Graham Weigh 105/Ultegra
  • mroli
    mroli Posts: 3,622
    I use Deda stuff on all my bikes. Cheap, looks good and does what it says on the tin.

    Oh - bars are measured (with Deda) Outside to Outside - so be careful of that when buying - lots of others measure middle to middle so Deda bars are 2cm narrower....
    http://www.georgesfoundation.org
    http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
    http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    +1 on Deda, for decent kit on a budget, the Zero 1 stuff is equal to stuff at more than twice the price. Looks nice too.

    What bars do you have at the moment? It may also be that the reach it quite long (from tops to the extent of the bends). Most modern compact bars are a good 20mm shorter than older ergo and compact bars - so the hoods would be 20mm nearer too. The Deda Zero 1 bars have a short reach.

    Check ebay for stems - get a few and try them out. Lots of deda on there amongst others, for peanuts.

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