Please critique my bar/stem height
 

Alright here are the pics! The new LeMond:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rb1/croix1.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rb1/croix2.jpg

My old Peugeot:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1/peugeot1.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1/peugeot2.jpg

To me the angle of the stem on the LeMond looks way too high, let me know what you think.

P.S. Since everyone rips on the "bike in front of white garage door pic" I figured I'd do mine in front of wood paneling and a green carpet.

The paneling and carpet so jar my senses that I can't see either bike at all.:rolleyes:

The real question is which bike feels better? Were you riding the old one with no shoulder, back or neck pain? If you can tolerate the drop, it puts you in a slightly more aero position, but it's only worth it if it feels good.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/dirtbox/pics/muttley.gif


As far as the bike goes, do what feels best for your back knees and arms. Nevermind what we armchair cyclist think :)

The LeMond is definitetly more comfortable, but the stem just doesn't look right angled up like an old school Mtn Bike. Should/can I flip it over?

Here is a pic from the leMond page for reference:

http://2006.lemondbikes.com/images/2...oix_de_fer.jpg

Yeah, I guess you're right. It looks flipped over. Try it and see what happens. I noticed the name "Bontrager" is mirrored on the post making me believe that it could go either way. I assume you want it lower than your seat.

On the Lemond, you can still lower it on the steerer tube and flip it over to obtain a similar position to the older Pugeot. You can't get the ride position identical between the two without getting a -17° stem.

All that being said, if you like it, it doesn't bother me one way or another as long as you ride and bring it when you ride.

Look, it's a matter of personal preferance. What that means, is that you need to ride (A LOT) and then determine what feels the best. The stem can easily be adjusted/replaced. If you want to fall into the road cycling forum trap of being "OCP" then just flip the stem, cut down the steerer and to heck with the rest.

if you like the feel of the peugeot, it looks like you'd get closer to that position if you put the spacers that are under your stem on top of the stem.

you could flip that stem if you wanted, but that would give you a HUGE drop, looks like the top of the bars would then be parallel with the top tube!

usually, bike shops offer to swap parts like stems/handlebars etc for a minimal price to dial in your fit correctly.

try swapping the stem spacers first, and see how you like it. what looks best is not always what performs/fits best.

As some other people have said, and I'll say as well...who cares? As long as you are comfortable, don't worry about how "wrong" it looks.

dude really take the bike and yourself to a shop and have them fit you

Thanks for the replies everyone. I did get the bike fitted at the LBS, we monkeyed around with a couple different stems and spacer heights & while I was comfortable with a lower bar/stem they guy working with me said my back was a lot straighter with this setup. As you can see from the Peugeot, I have been biking for more than a few years, the bars on there are lower than what I'd perfer now, but I don't want them quite as high as the LeMond. Time to head back to the LBS!

It's definitely higher, it looks to be a threadless headset though, and with the threadless, once you cut the steerer, you can't go higher, only lower. Some dealers are getting tired of replacing steerers, so they leave the steerer longer, and use spacers to set the height. They start high, if you want it lower, they can change the spacers around to lower the height. Once they get it perfect, they can cut the steerer to the proper length. A lot of people though, like the bars higher.

It's higher, but is it "wrong?" I dunno. I don't like the word "wrong."

I liken the stock photo of the bike to the stock photos in the "fat man" catalogs. The bike in the picture is set up for the perfect sized rider and is not necessarily for a clyde, a retired mailman, a body builder, etc.

I think that the "right" position is the one that makes you want to ride it more. If you are a clyde, or wide shouldered, or pregnant, etc, you shound not be on the same setup as a 145 pound bike racer.

Matty in Brooklyn

P.S. - All opinions are welcome and you can learn alot from them, but, I think the most accurate "critiques" would be from others your size, your height, your weight, and who enjoys the same riding styles as you.

Personally, I like the Lemond handlebar height high like the one in your pics, but is just my opinion.

Whatever you do, just make it comfortable for yourself and keep riding.

Matty in Brooklyn

I stopped back to the LBS this morning and they gave me (no charge) an Easton stem with a lower angle and re-fit me on the bike.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rb1/croix3.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rb1/croix4.jpg

Metallic green, mmm...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rb1/croix5.jpg