hows my handlebar angle?
 

posted in the "show us your cannondale" thread, and realized my bars look a lil funky....

critique the angle, which way do ineed to move it?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5261.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5263.jpg

TIA!

Are they comfortable?

This. None of us here can actually "critique" your handlebar angle.

Well, it would be good if it's comfortable to use your brakes from both the drops and the hoods. The OP's position seems to favor the hoods position vs the drops. I'd find it hard to reach the brakes from the drops in the pictured position.

Since the drops give you, usually, the most stable position with the most control, it would be good to be able to use the brakes from the drops.

The bar angle looks fine. If I were a good friend of the OP, I'd suggest dropping the levers down a bit.

The frame looks a little big but if it works it works.

respectfully,
cdr

Two choices:
1) Ride with what is actually comfortable for the type of riding you do, or
2) Try to look "pro" and suffer for it.

cool, so far so good, i do plan on swapping those brake levers with something larger, i do find them to be uncomfortable when im "riding the hoods" but other than that im happy with everything else!

Brake Levers...

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...ke+Levers.aspx

I promise that you won't be disappointed. The silver ones (not pictured) will look more appropriate on most bikes. Honestly, these are the cheapest option for brake-only levers and don't require that you make even a single sacrifice. They are comfortable, cheap, operate beautifully and well...you get the idea. I believe they also make a "short reach" option if you have smaller hands. Trust me, these are the best option. Oh, and just in case someone suggests the Cane Creek levers, they are exactly the same (re-branded) product, and are a bit more expensive, so it's up to you.

*edit* You may also want to consider wrapping your computer pick-up wire around the left brake cable housing instead of the right, and then tape it along the underside of the DT instead of wrapping. It's more likely to get damaged wrapping around the whole tube like that. If you end up with too long of a wire, just wrap it more densely around that section of cable housing. In many cases you can use the cable guide screw under the BB to attach some kind of a wire tie to keep it from deflecting to either side.

*second edit* Oh, and nice bike! I love those old Cannondale DT shifter bikes. It's what I started on, also on a frame that was probably too large for me. =)

-Jeremy

You have a new style bar with old style brake levers on it. They will look funny no matter how you set them up. As mentioned above, comfort is the key. Who cares what it looks like?

A good answer. OP, your comfort is most important, but it's good to be comfortable on the hoods and in the drops and to be able to use the brakes either way. Do what you need to do to make that happen, otherwise, don't worry about it. I will admit to an aesthetic bias against high hood and rotated bars, but that's not "wrong," just an opinion. If you like it that way, rock on.

You have "old-school" bars with a huge rampdown angle. There's no fix for that. You've rotated your bars up to get rid of some of the rampdown, but that creates a large angle near the ends. The brake levers are also too high up on the bars and or course the frame is way too big (vertically).

true, the frames a 56, whereas i need something smaller.... however being a student with 0 income, paying 5800 a year for tuition has crapped on me buying a newer, smaller bike. I bought this one for cheap, so it is what i have to use now. The TT is surprisingly short, and i guess i sould've raised my seat when i took this pic, its not at normal height.

No disrespect of anybody intended here--the key is that if it works, it works. but just as a sort of guide to how much faith you can place in forums like this, my first thoughts when i looked at the top picture were that the bars needed to be rotated UP a little and the levers maybe moved BACK a bit. Then I looked at the second shot and thought the bars should rotate DOWN a few degrees, and maybe those levers needed to slide forward...
Actually nobody can answer these questions but the rider. Can you reach everything and work the levers from where your hands usually rest? I rarely use the drops, so I place my levers so I can work them from the flats; your needs may be different. Don't worry much about the way the pros set up their bikes--set yours up so it works for you.
I do agree that the frame looks a little big, but personally I prefer a little large to a little small. Anyway, if it works...

Is that a 12 speed?
AND BioPace?

a flick of my wand, and a spell "bippity boppity brakelevers!"

and....

tadah!


much comfier than the old ones, i can work the brakes from the hoods up top, and the drops (although im almost Never in the drops).

Yes, the frame is too tall for my, my jewels touch the top bar when standing overtop, but my back doesnt hurt or any discomfort from longer rides, the toptube is ~54cm. I really cant get another smaller bike for a good price until i make some cash.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5349.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5348.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5347.jpg








yes, and yes :)

looks as if dual position is a lot more feasible now... good stuff.

I just use zip-ties. Use the white colored ones on your bike.

depends on how they feel to you. I adjust mine to where I want them and where my hands fall naturally. as far as where I mount the brake levers - that depends on my hands and fingers as well.

What is your bike doing in front of my garage?

thanks, will redo the wiring when i get some white zipties! im actually trying to find a wireless comp, as that is my cadence sensor, the other one was ripped off :(

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29...h/IMG_5356.jpg
BAM! re wire-ing later

Looks nice. I find my old school bars VERY comfortable....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...anorama1-2.jpg

Looks good!

I typically run two positions:

This is for a lot of riding on the hoods.
http://www.garberdesign.com/bike/bianchi/9.jpg

And this I find is better for riding more in the drops.
http://www.veescafe.com/openshift/images/part4.jpg

The only wrong position, is the one that's not comfortable :thumb: