Originally Posted by
BearSquirrel
I'm sorry but this is rubbish. You can use a riser bar and just lower the stem. This is what is typically done to get the same effective position.
Its not rubbish at all, infact this is generally what goes on with new bikes. Sure you CAN flip your steam and stick a riser bar on and get the same affect and keeping your stem on the right way and using a flat bar. But generally, XC bikes come with flat bars or slightly riser bars (and a lower rise stem even), and FH / DH bikes come with a higher riser bar. I'm talking about stock bikes here... sure the rider can change stuff around and do whatever they like in their own time. Not to mention there are many different levels of riser bars.
Originally Posted by
BearSquirrel
The nice thing about risers is you can rotate the bars in the clamp and change the angle at which your hands meet the bar. This is a HUGE factor in how comfortable you will be as crooked angles in your hand will lead to fatigue and numbness.
Yes...but only in small amounts. You shouldn't rotate the bar to much...if you find you have difficulties with reach then get a shorter stem. Not that you said this...but rotating bars to the extreme is going to affect steering.
Originally Posted by
BearSquirrel
Wider bars give you more leverage on the steerer. It's easier to hold the wheel in the position you like with wider bars. The handling drawback is that you have to put more actual motion in them to affect a turn. Some people say that narrow bars are "twitchy" while wider bars are "sluggish". I'd rather have the control I need and put the extra motion into the system to steer.
Yep definatley. I have uncut stock Easton bars on my HT and boy they are wide. I have been meaning to cut them back for a while but never got around to it. You can definatley hold lines longer with the wider bars.
Originally Posted by
BearSquirrel
This is counter productive. Regardless of the length of the stem, you can always pull yourself closer. If the stem is too long, it makes it difficult to get your weight back over the wheel during a standing climb. They do actually happen.
A longer stem makes it easier to stretch out over your bike obviously, while maintaining a nice bend in your arms. Sure you can pull yourself closer, which i have tried out in the past with shorter stems, and on long rides its gonna kill you in the end! However, like you said, a too long stem will be just as bad. Find a good length. Its pretty common for people interchange stems on new bikes to find the overall correct length.