Mountain Biking - To Drop or Not to Drop...

The handlebars that is :D Wish I was doin drops but nope! I'm going riding tomorrow, and I have this big stinking heavy hybrid I've been using on trails. I just walked past it and though GEE those handlebars look like they might go up my nose! Seems to me I'd have a better 'trail' position if I lowered them (they're adjustable. Don't worry the silly girl isn't going to do anything crazy :D ). Am I making this up?

I've been forcing myself not to look at bikes because I can't afford a 'real' mountain bike right now, but this chunky thing makes me not want to go at all!

How are they adjustable. I am confused :confused: are they risers you can turn upside down or do you have roadie handle bars.

Rider position is a preference. I prefer to be more upright instead of in a race position. I don't like endoing :)

What *I* confused you?? Must be because I'm so knowledgable on this subject :D Now that you mention endoing, I've felt like I was going to flip backwards several times. Hmmm....

Oh yeah... it's an 02 Specialized Expedition if you need to see the geometry of the whole thing. Thanks n stuff :D

Thats why I was confused. You handlebars aren't adjustable. Its your stem that is. Yes dropping the stem will put you into a more common riding position :)

whoa, wtf? the stem is adjustable? that's really bizarre. seems kinda dangerous actually if you were to do a drop. if you want to lower it its all you, like maelstrom said it's personal preference. just make sure you tighten that sucker real good.

Oh hey STEM! I knew that :rolleyes: hehe Yeah, montlake, it's a 'comfort' bike :P Even has a squishy suspension seat!! See what I mean about wanting a new one :(

Originally posted by montlake_mtbkr
whoa, wtf? the stem is adjustable? that's really bizarre. seems kinda dangerous actually if you were to do a drop. if you want to lower it its all you, like maelstrom said it's personal preference. just make sure you tighten that sucker real good.

Quite a few companies do it. Funn even has one out for freeriding. REALLY beefy. But I am like you and not sure if I would trust it :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Quite a few companies do it. Funn even has one out for freeriding. REALLY beefy. But I am like you and not sure if I would trust it :)

The Funn adjustable stem seems kinda dodgy even though it's a beefy design... maybe if they splined/fluted the pivot spindle, I'd feel more comfortable.

OTOH, The adjustable stems that typically come with hybrids, cross and bikes of limited sizes should not be trusted for anything more than a drop off a street curb... and even then I'd worry. The design of those stems is really not that much different than the old el-cheapo saddle clamps used on department store bikes 10 years ago.