Great Lakes - Everything feels right, but no elbow bend

Still trying to get my new bike to feel perfect. Been spending most of my time lately working on finding the proper saddle, tuning up the wedges and cleat adjustment to get my knees tracking properly. I feel I have all that worked out now, but I have no "normal" bend in my elbows. On my old bike, I had a natural, comfortable elbow bend and shame on me for not recording some general measurements on a bike I was very comfortable on. I feel comfortable (not having too much weight) on the bars and OK in the drops. Is a shorter stem the answer? (I know, this is very tough for anyone to give advice without pics). I am thinking a stem change is necessary, but not sure if shorter or more angle is the answer? Or would that just put me more upright, and not affect the elbows? Any thoughts?

Shorter stem or maybe twisting the bars up a touch will usually help get some elbow bend. If your shoulders feel ok I would probably not suspect bar height at this point. If you are buddies with your LBS.....see if they have an adjust a stem you can borrow for the night.

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That, and maybe it's just you. Sometimes its just a matter of relaxing--though if you can't really do this that might indicate a fit problem.

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That, and maybe it's just you. .

except he had normal bend on his old bike....

Shorter stem or maybe twisting the bars up a touch will usually help get some elbow bend. If your shoulders feel ok I would probably not suspect bar height at this point. If you are buddies with your LBS.....see if they have an adjust a stem you can borrow for the night.

Do you mean just rotating them? I don't think that will change anything except the position of the drops, unless I'm not understanding you completely?

I do believe my bars were higher in relation to the seat on my old bike, but my stem is as high as it can go right now. A quick search on the specs shows the top tube length and seat tube angle to be the same on my new bike as it was on my old, if that helps. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow...

Do you mean just rotating them? I don't think that will change anything except the position of the drops,

As you rotate the bars up the the hoods will come up and closer to you at the same time. It may or may not help but it is worth a try. It's quick and free. If this helps but you do not like where the drops are then simply rotate them back down so the drops feel good and raise where your levers are mounted on the bars.

The adjust a stem I mentioned earlier would help you play with different stem lengths as well as degrees of rise. If you were closer I would lend you mine.

No camera or buddy to look at 'ya? Do it old school - put the wrench in your pocket and ride. Only time in the saddle will tell 'ya if it's right or not anyway.

Without before and after photos, everyone is probably wrong.

I'll throw some wrongness in too: adjust your quill stem.

Without before and after photos, everyone is probably wrong.

I'll throw some wrongness in too: adjust your quill stem.

Are message boards suppose to be anything but hearsay? You never seem to want to play along.