How high can I go?
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
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How high can I go?
I have raised my bars on a new fork for a more comfortable ride. It seems I will need about 6-7 inches of spacers. Is this possible? I have never seen a spacer larger than 30mm. Can I stack them? Does someone make a large spacer that I can cut down to my size?
Help is appreciated
Thanks
Help is appreciated

Thanks
#2
Queen of France
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,799
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From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: Look 565, Trek 2120
Opinions differ on how many spacers you can use, but 6-7 inches is too high by any standard. If you need that much height I would have to wonder whether your bike fit you in the first place. What kind of bike are we talking about? How much higher than your seat are you trying to raise your bars? Depending on your application, there are hi-rise stems meant for hybrids and city bikes that might get your bars where you want them without taking chances on a mountain of spacers and an overstressed steerer tube.
#3
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Originally Posted by Indolent58
Opinions differ on how many spacers you can use, but 6-7 inches is too high by any standard. If you need that much height I would have to wonder whether your bike fit you in the first place. What kind of bike are we talking about? How much higher than your seat are you trying to raise your bars? Depending on your application, there are hi-rise stems meant for hybrids and city bikes that might get your bars where you want them without taking chances on a mountain of spacers and an overstressed steerer tube.
I am 5'9" and using a 56 frame the bars are just over the height of the seat. I may have to rethink the front end on this build. I am using a merlin RSR frame that is 5 years old. I have been riding my hybrid for the last 12 years and thought I could ride just as high as that bike. I have seen some hi-rise stems and will look into it thanks
Gary
#4
Originally Posted by GaryB
I am 5'9" and using a 56 frame the bars are just over the height of the seat. I may have to rethink the front end on this build. I am using a merlin RSR frame that is 5 years old. I have been riding my hybrid for the last 12 years and thought I could ride just as high as that bike. I have seen some hi-rise stems and will look into it thanks
Gary
Gary
#5
Queen of France
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,799
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From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: Look 565, Trek 2120
If you are already somewhat above the level of the seat you probably don't want to go more than 1-2 inches above that - which might achievable with a stem with a more moderate rise than the hybrid stems. Road bikes are not hybrids. Of course, you can place the bars anywhere you wish but if they are too high you begin to lose some of the advantages of the drop bar configuration - e.g. better aerodynamics & better front/rear weight distribution for long term comfort.
#6
don't listen to these bike snobs, follow your dream! Its my dream to put time-trial bars on a mountain bike w/ disc brakes + skinny rims, weld a 10 speed casette onto a rohloff, get three chainrings, and ride off into the sunset on my 420 speed monstrosity!
#8
Queen of France
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,799
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From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: Look 565, Trek 2120
Originally Posted by mynameisnotdrew
don't listen to these bike snobs, follow your dream! Its my dream to put time-trial bars on a mountain bike w/ disc brakes + skinny rims, weld a 10 speed casette onto a rohloff, get three chainrings, and ride off into the sunset on my 420 speed monstrosity!
Please send pictures when you do.
#11
. . . rosebud . . .

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 875
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From: Arlington, VA
Bikes: Diamondback Outlook
Won't the bike very very awkward to steer if you raise the handle bars up that much?
Hey Drew! Were you being facetious about putting aero bars on your MTB? I've been thinking about that myself. On long rides I think it would be nice to have a place to stretch out on.
Hey Drew! Were you being facetious about putting aero bars on your MTB? I've been thinking about that myself. On long rides I think it would be nice to have a place to stretch out on.
#12
dangerous with tools
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,502
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From: minneapolis
Bikes: fat, long, single & fast
Originally Posted by mynameisnotdrew
don't listen to these bike snobs, follow your dream! Its my dream to put time-trial bars on a mountain bike w/ disc brakes + skinny rims, weld a 10 speed casette onto a rohloff, get three chainrings, and ride off into the sunset on my 420 speed monstrosity!
#14
Originally Posted by Diggy18
Won't the bike very very awkward to steer if you raise the handle bars up that much?
Hey Drew! Were you being facetious about putting aero bars on your MTB? I've been thinking about that myself. On long rides I think it would be nice to have a place to stretch out on.
Hey Drew! Were you being facetious about putting aero bars on your MTB? I've been thinking about that myself. On long rides I think it would be nice to have a place to stretch out on.
Right now I'm thinking of rigging TWO sets of interuptors onto my bullhorns, one up on the horns, and one on the straights, with bar-end shifters in the holes.
Somebody needs to come up with some interuptor friction shifters!
#15
Originally Posted by halfbiked
Fun idea. Doesn't Sheldon Brown have a 63 speed?
#16
cityboy
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Bikes: a Cannondale Mountain bike and a vintage raliegh folder
Originally Posted by mynameisnotdrew
don't listen to these bike snobs, follow your dream! Its my dream to put time-trial bars on a mountain bike w/ disc brakes + skinny rims, weld a 10 speed casette onto a rohloff, get three chainrings, and ride off into the sunset on my 420 speed monstrosity!





