this is how most fitters and riders prefer a road bike to fit. it's possible to get a more upright fit for someone who is touring—riding day after day for very long distances— or for someone with mobility issues like a fused spine.

the setup you have there is bolt-upright. you're almost standing up like you're walking. that's fine for an upright city bike, and if that's what you're going for, please understand that and present your ideas in that context.

for a mountain bike, setup usually results in something between what you have and a conventional road fit.


Here's a pic I shared of how my "gravel" bike is set up. I have a different frame now, but this is what I use for paved and unpaved roads and quite a bit of punishing singletrack. I can ride this bike easily for 50+ miles. it's quite upright and compact compared to how most people set up a bike like this.