Bicycle Mechanics - Cannondale R1000 feels cramped

When I am riding my Cannondale down in the drops it feels cramped. When riding up on the top of the bars it feels fine. I am thinking of purchasing a longer bar stem and a seat post that has a kickback at the seat clamp. But I havent figured out which length I will need. Does anyone know how you go about figuring the correct length?

Your feelings are right, you probably need a longer stem. I recently replaced my Trek 1440 stem with one which brought it to seat height--much, much better. Then I replaced my LeTour's stem with one that brought it to over an inch above seat height--better still, especially with bar-end shifters (which you don't have). See the Rivendell Bicycles web site for an explaination on this--but today's bicycles have a stem height which is much too short for comfort. There's also some good discussion on this on the touring threads on this site. Good luck,

John

Your frame size is probably not suitable for you in the first place. Changing stem is a cheaper method to "correct" this but it will never feel the same as before.

well unrelated as far as standover size is concerned it fits perfect. But I have short legs and a longer torso. When I say stem I am only talking about the part that Bars are attached to, it is very short. I amgoing to slide the saddle back as far as I can and see how that works. I will still change out the stock stem as it has slight degree of rise to it. I would rather have one that is just straight. So I'll try those changes and get back to you all. And thanx for the replies.

King Ajo

Sliding the saddle back is not the way to go if it fyucks with proper NOP position.Get a stem that works for you. As for the BS on the Rivendell and grant Petersens view of things, remember that raising the bar also brings it back toward you.Grants view is geared toward old farts with big guts that dont ride enough to have proper flexibility.

Thanx for the reply Pokey. And not to sound ignorant, but what is NOP? As for sliding the seat back, I did that and it is much better. I also rotated the bars up to where they were closer to level, so now when I am on the brake hoods it is much more comfortable. I didnt need to raise anything, I needed to extend ther bars forward and the seat back so that I could stretch out my torso. I am still positioned well over the pedals. But I still cant ride it yet till I get the rim I purchased on Ebay for the rear. Then I can ride and get about feel for the bike . Thanx again.

King Ajo

Knee Over Pedal. Check the fit guidelines at www.coloradocyclist.com. There is a so called KOP situation that you may prefer to tweak abit to find your ideal saddle position.Certainly, if someone had shoved the saddle all the way forward, then readjusting it back would be appropriate, but in general,monkeying with the saddle position to get bar reach is not the way to go.