How do you have your bars set up?

[Stoeger]

With the bottom of the bar parallel to the ground or the top of the bar parallel to the ground? My Fisher is still set w/ the bottoms parallel, man that is quite the reach for my old back, might be time to tilt them up a bit.

Brian

[Fiori]

i have my bar ends aimed at my rear axel, if that bakes any sense...

[nitropowered]

do whats comfortable

[i_r_beej]

+1 do what's comfortable. All the "rules" about how a bike "should" be set up are at most starting points for getting you bike set-up to fit YOU.

Sounds like you actually need a shorter stem that has more rise-- to bring the bar closer to you and higher up so you aren't bent over quite so much.

While you're getting a shorter stem, make it a "high-rise" model (40-degrees) and buy yourself a Midge handlebar. Best drop-bar in the world, ergonomically. Plus you can throw out all the bogus "wisdom" regarding handlebar position. Directions for the Midge? "Set them up so you're comfortable." That's the proper set-up!

Good luck.

P.S. Remember-- your bike should fit YOU. Not the other way around.