Originally Posted by don in austin

high handlebars are for people with back problems, not much saddle time, poor core strength. 3-4 years ago i had extensions on my steerers to raise the handlebars several inches over the seat. Even then i would have to stop riding every 20-30 minutes and walk around and stretch my back. Now i have a lot more saddle time in and do core work at the gym and have given away the extenders. The bars are 2-6 inches lower than the seats now -- varies from bike to bike. I periodically lower my bars a little more, and have never felt a purpose in raising them again on any of my bikes. Go low if you are comfortable with it for better aerodynamics downhill or fighting a headwind.

All my bikes are flatbars, most with bar ends except i have one bike with "butterfly" treking bars.

Don in austin