Hoods/Lever position?

PLuKE
PLuKE Posts: 181
edited September 2014 in Road general
Evening folks, I am after some of the wisdom on the forum!

Can you mount the hoods/levers as high or as low as you like on the bars. As long as it feels good?

Reason I ask, most pictures I have seen the hoods as pretty lever the the "tops" where as mine aren't.

I have compact FSA bars, and Tiagra STI.

Thank you
Luke
2013 Merida Ride 93 Carbon

Comments

  • sigorman85
    sigorman85 Posts: 2,536
    Pic might help
    When i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!


    De rosa superking 888 di2
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    If by that do you mean, is there a structural reason not to then in general I'd say you can put them wherever you want.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • PLuKE
    PLuKE Posts: 181
    I meant, is it the correct way to mount them lever with the tops, so there isn't a drop down? As looking at the "pro" bikes, that's how they seem to be setup.

    Luke
    2013 Merida Ride 93 Carbon
  • k-dog
    k-dog Posts: 1,652
    Depends a bit on the brand of shifters and the shape of bars. Certain types go better together. You want a fairly flat transition from bars to hoods an then the levers in a decent place for braking on the drops. Too high and they're too far away to reach.
    I'm left handed, if that matters.
  • JayKosta
    JayKosta Posts: 635
    The pro's have them adjusted to what feels and works best for them - on an individual basis.

    Most riding is done with hands on the hoods, or nearer to the stem. So the hoods should be comfortable and levers reachable.
    When riding in the drops, you should also be able to reach the brakes without needing to move your hands too much.

    Jay Kosta
    Endwell NY USA
  • PLuKE
    PLuKE Posts: 181
    I ride on the hoods 95% of the time! as I don't like the drops to much! I feel to squashed.

    I have had the hoods setup fairly low, but there as be a drop down from the tops to the hoods.

    With it setup this way, I was fairly low and felt more aero positioned IMO, as I could have my arm bent and resting the forearm in the tops and then my hands over the top of the hood/lever. I could work the controls fine from any position also.

    They are Tiagra shifter and FSA Omega compact bars.

    33D02AFA-98F2-4DC2-827C-89546AE9573D.jpg
    2013 Merida Ride 93 Carbon
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Looks like your frame is too big. Which explains the odd-looking setup..
  • PLuKE
    PLuKE Posts: 181
    Frame is fine for me. It's a 54, so Meduim I think. Tried one down and that was to small, felt like I was way over the front of the bike.

    I have had the hoods in the normal position which I see on all bikes, and that works fine. I just want a more of an aero position.

    My aim for this thread was to see if there is a rule you have to stick to when setting up bars and controls for the best performance for the body to work.

    Luke
    2013 Merida Ride 93 Carbon
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    It's your bike set it up as you like but you can get just as aero with the shifters in the 'correct' position IME.
  • mxp27824
    mxp27824 Posts: 35
    If you feel 'squashed' on the drops, then perhaps you need a slightly longer stem. It's hard to tell on a forum. Have you been for a bike fit? It's usually the answer to these sort of questions.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    PLuKE wrote:
    Frame is fine for me. It's a 54, so Meduim I think. Tried one down and that was to small, felt like I was way over the front of the bike.

    I have had the hoods in the normal position which I see on all bikes, and that works fine. I just want a more of an aero position.

    My aim for this thread was to see if there is a rule you have to stick to when setting up bars and controls for the best performance for the body to work.

    Luke

    The head tube is too tall, which is preventing you from getting the levers down as low as you appear to want them. A shorter head tube would enable you to do that - so like I say, the frame is not right for you, if that's the case.
  • themogulman
    themogulman Posts: 167
    If it looks wrong, which to me it does then it's probably wrong. How to make it right could depend on a multitude of things which, as others have said a good bike fit should sort.
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    diamonddog wrote:
    It's your bike set it up as you like but you can get just as aero with the shifters in the 'correct' position IME.

    But shifter position is about hand comfort surely, not aeroness?
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • PLuKE
    PLuKE Posts: 181
    Thanks.

    I have now moved the shifter up the bar so there is less of a drop from the tops to the hoods.

    I think I will put some money aside and get a bike fit.

    I will be changing to Ultegra in the New Year so I shall await that.

    The shifter seem to have a different profile from Tiagra to Ultegra too

    Luke
    2013 Merida Ride 93 Carbon
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    jibberjim wrote:
    diamonddog wrote:
    It's your bike set it up as you like but you can get just as aero with the shifters in the 'correct' position IME.


    But shifter position is about hand comfort surely, not aeroness?
    ''I have had the hoods in the normal position which I see on all bikes, and that works fine. I just want a more of an aero position. '' as written in one of the OP's posts

    He says he feels more aero with the shifters in the position he has them so his comfort is not in question as I read it.

    If he is happy and comfortable with them in the position he has them then they are in the right place for him but as I posted IME he could get just as aero with them in the so called 'normal' position he has had them at before.

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