With securing my new Rapid comes the always time consuming bike fit issues. I have the seat where I want it and just so happens its maxed forward. I have good extension and line up with the pedals and am delivering max power. However I feel just a bit stretched out and forward. If I make the letter "C" with index and thumb, reach down placing the back of the C on the grip I am at the perfect height and distance from the bars. Cannot sustain that style of riding for obvious reasons. I need the new bars to come up 1/2". Current running 31.8 mm stem with OEM Giant Flat bar.
My search only brings up mountain biking bars but just in case I missed what bars have you upgraded to?
currently looking at these..
Race Face LTD... 725mm width, 9 ° rearward, 6 ° upward
•Rise: 1/2”

How long is your stem? Maybe get a shorter stem along with a set of riser bars like you are thinking.

Had a similar issue with my Salsa El Mariachi recently. Felt stretched a tad too far forward. Threw on a 50mm stem (or is it 40mm?) and rearranged the spacers around the stem to gain a centimeter in height, and that brought everything closer and higher just enough that I'm pretty happy now.

Long, 115mm, might be a combination of smaller stem and 1/2" rise handlebars. Shorter stem would allow me to move the seat back off the rear max setting.

Yikes! Yeah. Shorten that stem. Then you can put the seat back in a more normal position.

Attached are a couple shots of my own bike.

my bad 100mm stem, realized measurement was taken in total as part of seat to stem instead of in the correct manner. Still long though

I have a 45 .. its on my bike friday.. , but there are short threadless stems.. just saying..

Stock stems with threadless steerers typically can't be raised high enough for a comfortable ride.

A stem raiser usually solves the problem.