new handlebars or new bike?
05-10-05, 09:50 PM
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new handlebars or new bike?
Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this forum and just getting back into riding. Ten+ years I go I purchased a mongoose alta and it just doesn't seem to fit right. I had been riding with the seat fairly low which was OK on flat land - now I live in the mountains of Colorado and have a dirt road (steep too) then a 4 mile hard uphill to town. I discovered that my seat was too low & wasn't getting any power. The issue is, to get the leg length right, my seat ends up being 4 inches above my handlebars and now I can't reach the bars without my lower back hurting and I can barely get my head up to see ahead. (in fact my back was hurting with the seat low too). One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc. so maybe I should buy a new bike. And now there's all of these options - one person says comfort bikes should be fine on dirt roads but will it be good for climbing a steep dirt road that nobody in our neighborhood can do sitting down (these are gnarly guys too.)? I'm worried about getting another mountain bike that doesn't fit. Suggestions?
-Tbop
I'm new to this forum and just getting back into riding. Ten+ years I go I purchased a mongoose alta and it just doesn't seem to fit right. I had been riding with the seat fairly low which was OK on flat land - now I live in the mountains of Colorado and have a dirt road (steep too) then a 4 mile hard uphill to town. I discovered that my seat was too low & wasn't getting any power. The issue is, to get the leg length right, my seat ends up being 4 inches above my handlebars and now I can't reach the bars without my lower back hurting and I can barely get my head up to see ahead. (in fact my back was hurting with the seat low too). One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc. so maybe I should buy a new bike. And now there's all of these options - one person says comfort bikes should be fine on dirt roads but will it be good for climbing a steep dirt road that nobody in our neighborhood can do sitting down (these are gnarly guys too.)? I'm worried about getting another mountain bike that doesn't fit. Suggestions?
-Tbop
05-10-05, 10:12 PM
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Pic the bike, describe how tall etc.
A higher STEM and\or riser bars, common for mtb -maybe post more on the bike\size\your size.
"One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc." B.S!
Wish I was there to laugh in buddies face.
You need to find a better lbs, the bike does not fit you -or they are WAY over selling you.
Ride to the next lbs.
A higher STEM and\or riser bars, common for mtb -maybe post more on the bike\size\your size.
"One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc." B.S!
Wish I was there to laugh in buddies face.
You need to find a better lbs, the bike does not fit you -or they are WAY over selling you.
Ride to the next lbs.
05-10-05, 10:27 PM
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<quote> Pic the bike, describe how tall etc.
A higher STEM and\or riser bars, common for mtb -maybe post more on the bike\size\your size.
"One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc." B.S!
Wish I was there to laugh in buddies face. </quote>
- yea, that was my reaction, why not just get a longer stem, there's some slack in the cables.
ok more details. I'm about 5'5", its probably a 19 inch frame mountain bike - did you want a picture of it? Maybe I should go by another shop in Boulder and get their opinion on the fit - I've always felt stretched out on it and why spend money modifying this bike if it really doesn't fit. BTW, what's lbs?
Thanks for your input.
A higher STEM and\or riser bars, common for mtb -maybe post more on the bike\size\your size.
"One bike salesguy suggested getting new handlebars, then the service guys said it would end up costing $150 - 200 to swap all the cables, etc." B.S!
Wish I was there to laugh in buddies face. </quote>
- yea, that was my reaction, why not just get a longer stem, there's some slack in the cables.
ok more details. I'm about 5'5", its probably a 19 inch frame mountain bike - did you want a picture of it? Maybe I should go by another shop in Boulder and get their opinion on the fit - I've always felt stretched out on it and why spend money modifying this bike if it really doesn't fit. BTW, what's lbs?
Thanks for your input.
05-10-05, 10:56 PM
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I couldn't car less.
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lbs=local bike store. Smaller in some wise better, mech, not sales.
19 inch mtb standover the toptube? = big..way big?
I'm 5-9,10? 16 inch standover, 21 inch toptube =wayy long stem.
Also, the seat needs to be less than correct 'road' geometry, the seat can be very important to putting the leg muscle\knee into the cranks, but mtb are for bumps etc, and a bit of clearance is needed. Ow.
Putting the seat foreward on the rails (the seat bars that attach to the seat post) can bring you foreward and onto the pedal.
Fitting is important -a cheap bike ..well no, and no $200 bar upgrades.
Get pics.
For $400 you could ride a nice bike out the door of a shop.
tell more...yes I ride uphill sitting down when I can -the weight keeps the tire from displacing the pepples if loose pack.
You don't need a longer stem if as you say -feel stretched over, short stem\ riser bars pulled back a little?
19 inch mtb standover the toptube? = big..way big?
I'm 5-9,10? 16 inch standover, 21 inch toptube =wayy long stem.
Also, the seat needs to be less than correct 'road' geometry, the seat can be very important to putting the leg muscle\knee into the cranks, but mtb are for bumps etc, and a bit of clearance is needed. Ow.
Putting the seat foreward on the rails (the seat bars that attach to the seat post) can bring you foreward and onto the pedal.
Fitting is important -a cheap bike ..well no, and no $200 bar upgrades.
Get pics.
For $400 you could ride a nice bike out the door of a shop.
tell more...yes I ride uphill sitting down when I can -the weight keeps the tire from displacing the pepples if loose pack.
You don't need a longer stem if as you say -feel stretched over, short stem\ riser bars pulled back a little?
Last edited by jeff williams; 05-10-05 at 11:01 PM.
