Bicycle Mechanics - adjusting for reach

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gt course

04-09-04, 08:42 PM

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I have a gt course road bike that I really enjoy. The only problem is that the handlebars feel just a bit too far forward, this is not too bad but when I use aero bars I feel too 'stretched out'. Any good ideas? Are there adjstable headsets out there?
Thanks,
John

supcom

04-09-04, 08:49 PM

What you are asking about is an adjustable stem, not headset. The headset are the bearings for the fork, the stem is that which the handlebars are attached.

But to answer your question, yes there are adjustable stems, at least for threadless stems. The problem with these is that they pivot so that reducing the reach requires raising the bars. If that's not what you want to do, then an adjustable stem is not the way to go.

Most likely you will want to get a new stem with a shorter reach. There are lots of stems available with various angles and reaches. The trick is getting one that's right without buying a bunch of them! You might want to take your bike to your LBS and talk with them about fitting a new stem for you.