For years, I was comfortable with my handlebars even with, or just slightly lower than my saddle.

Then, more recently, I started gaining a bit of weight, and gradually, I raised my handlebars. By the time I hit my peak weight, my handlebars were relatively high. I had enough padding so that sitting on the saddle was comfortable, and I needed to sit upright so I could breathe and so that I didn't suffer from acid reflex.

Since mid-Feb, I have been losing weight, and a few months ago, I started having a lot of sciatic nerve pain (and back pain). The solution didn't dawn on me until just a few weeks ago ... lower my handlebars!! I don't need to be sitting upright anymore.

So a couple weeks ago, Rowan did the great Lowering of the Handlebars on all my bicycles. Sciatic nerve pain ... gone! I'm still experiencing some back pain, so we might lower them even further. I didn't want to go too crazy with it all at once. But I'd like to get all/most back down to even with or slightly lower than my saddle again.