Pedal Blocks
 

Right now, my Bacchetta Giro 20 is almost adjusted right. But I want to move the seat up a little I think.

Problem is that the best way to carry the bike up the stairs to my apartment is to pick it up by the center of the frame and just lift. If I move the seat forward much more, I won't be able to grab it at the center of gravity and carrying it upstairs will be a major task.

So I need to make my legs longer. ;) I thought of pedal blocks like I had on my first bike before I grew into it.

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/Gordons1stBikeSm.jpg

Or maybe some thick boots. Making the crank shorter seems counter productive. Any ideas?

You want to pick your bike up at its center-of-balance. (where it will balance in one hand) You might try moving the hand position (the hand that will pick up the bike all by itself) so that it is at the balance point. First, put the seat where it fits you for pedaling.

Then figure out where the balance point is.

Then put a supporting strap at the balance point that you can pick up the bike with. Might be a short piece of rope tied to your bike at two points, or a couple layers of duct tape, .....something like that.


Or, if the balance point is not where you want on your bike, you can move the balance point by attaching a counterweight to your bike. Using a piece of rope or an old shoelace, just attach a weight to the end of your bike that rises upward when you hold it with one hand at the balance point. Move the weight back & forth until the bike balances at the balance point. Figure out a way to secure the weight to your bike so it doesn't fall off while you climb the stairs. (The weight should be something worthless so you can just leave it in the common area while you pedal.)

Do you have a flip stem? Flipping the bars forward would move the center of gravity forward... Of course they'd want to flop, but maybe you could bungee them?

Maybe some platform boots????

As you move your seat forward, won't your center of gravity drift forward a bit too?

Adjust your seat and see how it works out, you can always put it back to where it is now. (Nah, this is too easy...you must have already tried.)

Yeah, that's the problem I'm coming to. As it is, my hand fits snuggly at the center of gravity which is just between the idler wheel and the seat. I don't need to move it up much; 1/2" to an inch, but that puts the seat right over the CoG. :(

This is gonna sound stupid but here goes.....can you carry the bike upside down without getting all greased up from the chain? The entire boom appears to be readily accessable as long as the seat and bars don't whack your legs on the stairs.

Or like LWB Guy said, make up a shoulder strap and slip the bottom of the loop under your seat at the CoG and up you go...easy peasy.