Fit changes for each person based on the level of fitness, physical problems (temporary or permanent), goals, etc.

Thoughts on fitting:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...ive-thing.html

Fitting nowadays, sort of:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...y-and-age.html

And a little ditty on fit and how massive changes aren't necessarily bad if they're needed:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...ive-thing.html

If I were the OP, I'd happily experiment with stem changes (flips, length) etc. I'd note the effect of the changes in a training diary, do some regular routes and note perceived effort, measured metrics (speed, HR, etc), and build a catalog of experience.

I played violin a long time ago. With violin makers, the elusive goal is to create a violin that has a Stradivarius's tone. It's a combination of a nasal type thing and a rich broad tone. If you think about it you rarely (never?) meet a person that has both a nasal and broad/rich voice. Violins are like that too. Someone experimented with the bridge, the piece of wood that supports the strings. It has all these cuts in it. They could easily make the violin more nasal by filing one part. Then, in a few seconds, by filing another, the violin would be more broad.

Unfortunately he couldn't make it do both at one time, but he illustrated the concept of compromises. You compromise one aspect of, in this case, violin tone, to get another. He could get a really nasally tone (typically related to cheap violins) or a really broad rich tone (typically mid-level violins). But he couldn't do both.

As a cyclist you'll find yourself in a similar predicament. Some terrain or styles favor one particular fit. Others, other types of fit. That's why there are TT bikes that are radically different from road bikes (as far as geometry goes). An ideal TT fit is very, very different from a more all-round "road" fit. The frame geometry reflects this.

If your ultimate goal is to do tris (for example), your ultimate fit will be different than if you want to be a track racer or a climbing specialist. You can have bikes for each, and you'd have to train different muscles and such, but for one bike you really have to choose your focal point and work towards it.

Phew. What all that means is that you should go experiment with fit, maybe do a professional fit to make sure you're not too far out of bounds, and see what works for you, your body, and your style/approach of/to riding.

One caution - extreme adjustments can frequently lead to injuries, from too much reach or whatever. Be aware of injuries from bad fit (typically sharp pains). Training soreness is usually not a result of a bad fit (typically an ache or soreness).

Good luck and enjoy the process,
cdr