Crash_N_Carry

Thanks guys. Just got back a few minutes ago from doing a quick 16.8 miles. During the ride I ended up raising the seat about 1 1/2" and rotating the handlebars down just slightly so it's more level now. My knee now is just slightly bent but I can still straighten it fully if I bend my ankle downwards. I tried angling the handlebars down more but it's very uncomfortable to hold (I hold the top of the brake hoods when I ride). Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I can't ride holding the inside of the drops unless I really lower the angle of the handlebars significantly.

milspecs

GoLoaf

Mostly black:



btw, this thing is faster than me, and I love it.

rjc100

I did not think I would like a Black Bike, but my new Domane 5.9 looks great

X-LinkedRider

No, I don't work for the company. They are just a client and subsequently a sponsor of mine. I work for myself, but I do need to cut the steerer. The reason i haven't is because I am still considering changing out the Stem/Bars to carbon S-Lite's. Pretty sure the height of the stem is slightly larger, so I didn't want to screw anything up. Plus, there is no spare forks (Like this) as it was a custom frame and all the rest of the forks are painted.

SuperiorLite Bikes is doing quite well however and building wheels for some pro riders down in South Carolina as well as getting their name out there a bit selling bikes/builds/wheels and doing some youth sponsoring and such. I will let them focus on their real business, not trying to correct something I did a bit prematurely. (Even though 6 months is probably long enough to do something about it )

sbxx1985 

Can you post a photo of the bike now and explain the last two sentences? Is the reach too long now that the saddle is higher?

Internet bike fit is usually pretty useless, but maybe we can help a little.

Crash_N_Carry

Sure thing. I'll post a photo of it in a minute.

The reach is not necessarily longer when I lower the handlebars; it just feels uncomfortable. Right now as I have it set, they feel great to ride. If you look at the photo on this site here (the first picture under "5. Brake Hood Height"), that's pretty much how I hold the handlebar. https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/...r-positioning/

Looking at that pic though I think I figured out why I can't lower the handlebar and keep a comfortable grip on the brakes. I think my brakes may be mounted too low on the handlebar itself. When I replace the brifters earlier this month I did it one at a time; taking care to put them in the same position that the originals were in when I bought the bike. Maybe I need to redo it and move them up higher?

Pic of the seat to follow in a few minutes...

Loopistuning

Sick S-Works!

rmr1923

that's more or less how i have my hands on the hoods, here's a pic of my setup from the side (camera was held about 2 ft above ground level). i've got a slight upward angle to the hoods but they're fairly close to level and pretty comfortable to ride. if yours aren't comfortable, make small adjustments while out on a ride until you find your sweet spot. i didn't have bar tape on my bike for the first couple rides because i was adjusting the bar and brifters a couple times on each ride.

EDIT: wow, just realized i REALLY need to cut my steerer tube. until recently i had more spacers under the stem.

sbxx1985 

I'd suggest rotating the bars down, and then moving the hoods up. When you rotated the bars, are the hoods now pointing down? I can see how that would be uncomfortable, putting a lot of pressure on your hands. Like the link in your post, maybe you'd benefit from a flat transition from bar to hood.

NCRoadie

My black Six13

Crash_N_Carry

That's exactly what's happening when I rotate the handlebars down. It's literally been that way for the past seven years (remember, I bought the bike in late 2005). The shop I bought the bike from did do a fitting, but it wasn't a very extensive one.

Here's what the seat (and handlebars) look like after my ride yesterday. BTW, the saddle looks like it's sightly angled upwards in these pics. It's really not.






The handlebars how they sit now:

scott.743

2009 Kestrel RT 900 sans logos (RIP 7/2012)

kahoon

54cm S5 Team.

Crash_N_Carry

Thanks for the info! You know, everything is starting to make some sense here...

When I first bought the bike, I used to ride exclusively with my hands in the drops. When I first took the bike out to ride this year, I brought it into my LBS to have it tuned up and the mechanic told me that I was riding dangerously since the brake hoods were angled too low. I thought he was crazy until the people at the shop explained to me that you're supposed to be able to ride with your hands on the brake hoods too. Keep in mind that before I bought this bike I was riding a 1986 Schwinn Caliente; which is very different mechanically from this bike.

I always thought it was odd that I couldn't ride from the drops after "properly" adjusting the handlebar. I just finished adjusting one of the brifters and already it feels A LOT more comfortable!

I owe you guys a beer.

SeanGee

Here's a pick after a ride. Stopped at a convenient store and snapped a not-so-good pic. Just bought the bike a few days ago.

Raleigh Capri Carbon 2.0 52cm

Bradleykd

Snapped a quick pick on my ride today...

Bradleykd

I need to tilt my bars down a bit but that was my first ride since lowering the stem this morning so I still have some tweaking to do.

Dalzhel

chiefDave

my new venge. Waiting on 175 crank, Q rings and quarq.


my 11 R3. Bar tape is dirty and I did like the lizard skin, I am going with the zipp SC like my venge. Almost as comy but not as sticky. Thanks!
Dave

fez_

my 2013 Giant TCR Composite 2.

MegaTom

Resubmitting my updated SL3 for BF approval





I had the stock compact Ultegra crank replaced with a standard in the new black finish. Also check the chain... pretty sweet, right? It's a KMC X10SL DLC. Got a good deal on it on eBay.



Also, props to Rob Psimet Curtis. I had my wheels trued up today for the first time in over a year since I purchased them. It's no easy feat to cart my heavy ass over the gnarliest brick & cobbled roads I can find in this town.... on a Powertap hub, no less... and even at that the rear was only ever so slightly out of true in one area.

ravenmore

Giant just sent me this as a warranty replacement frame.

X-LinkedRider

That is a beautiful setup. Aren't those shifter housings super tight? How does that bike turn with housing that short? Lean only or what?

manutd

I'll take one of each please. Beautiful