Handlebar reach
 

I hate having to start a new thread for this silly little question, I wish there was some mega thread with constant questions, answers, and maybe a huge chart with (less FAQs).

Anyways, I'm trying to extend my handlebar reach. I'm using drops, and considered a longer stem, but I'm already using a 130mm or something like that. I'm considering the alternative of a setback seatpost - I want to stretch out a bit more.

I've heard about the negative implications to a setback seatpost for reasons other than changing your leg rotation position - are these warranted or is it "not a big deal".

tl;dr: Is getting a setback seatpost ok to extend reach, if not - alternatives?



Pics for the visually hungry (not mine)
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/images/l...n_seatpost.jpg
http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.future...sc5899_600.jpg

It sounds like your frame is too small for you.

FYI - a Thomson "setback" seatpost actually has less setback than a your average non-Thomson post.

Ahh I don't wanna hear that
I think I just have a long torso, my seatpost height is average/little below average, standover height is perfect

Is it your Raleigh of Fuji we're talking about here?

Fuji.

Look around the web, there are stems longer than 130mm available, often cheaper than a setback seatpost. Do you feel cramped in your current set up?

Also, it is not advised to use a setback seatpost to address handlebar reach issues because the purpose saddle setbacks are to put your body behind the hub of your bike, which means distributing more weight to the rear of the bike.

If you can, take a picture of yourself on the bike from the side with your cycling apparel on. You could post it here or compare position with other pictures of track riders or road riders you can find.

If you're looking for a setup with reach and drop, you could look into pursuit bars. I just put Nitto RB-021's on my bike and they really let me stretch out.
For the visually hungry:
http://i.imgur.com/DBykSl.jpg
Or angle them down for street cred
http://www.boutiquecycles.com/media/...nic2_thumb.jpg

I'm not too cramped, when in the drops, my arms are pretty much extended all the day with a slight bend.
I keep getting the urge to stretch out though, even in the very back of my saddle

I'm not too well informed about body geometry. (knee over toe at horizontal crank position, bent arms, saddle/bar drop, etc)
Is the only solution a longer stem then? I was thinking it might be aesthetically kinda funky.

Judging only by the height of your saddle, it doesn't look as though your Fuji is too small (unless of course you've got your saddle too low). As I said before, a Thomson setback won't give you any more room than you've already got. A 130mm stem is already pretty gargantuan. Maybe try deeper/more forward drops?

Hm, didn't think about bars before. I think I'm limited to drops because this will primarily be used in the drome.
My bars are Sakae Road Champions though (older drop so they kinda look like track bars)
Would something like the Deda Pista be farther out?

edit: HIVEMIND w/ scrod
how would the setback not give me any more room?

What kind of leg extension are you getting on the downstroke? Your saddle height may need a bit of adjustment as well.

While sitting on your bike, you should be able to touch your heel to your pedal (in the 6:00 position) without having a bend in your knee or having to rock to one side.

Funny you should say that, I adjusted the saddle height a bit higher because I noticed the extension problem.
I can comfortably touch my heel straight legged (was a bit bent before).

Are you feeling any sort of discomfort after a long period of time on the bike? If not, I wouldn't change the length just because you feel like you need to stretch more.

Deda Elementi have a longer reach and deeper drop.

Saddle height is an important factor for comfort on the bike.

I have been running my saddle too high for a long time, and now lowered, I've got much more power when I'm on the flat.

I use a combination of formulas and rules to calculate my saddle height.

My average inseam length is about 87.5cm, my saddle hight is about 78cm from centre of crank to top of saddle.

This is the number I came up with the Lemond formula (inseam x .833) and the 109% rule. (109% x inseam - crank length).

You could be running it at the wrong height.

Lowering your bars will help you get some more reach, not saddle position, but it doesn't look like you have much room to lower your bars. Plus, there are bars with more reach and drop as the others have said.

One thing that is consistantly ignored, especially within the SSFG community, is saddle setback. Most of us riding track bikes on the street don't know that the steep seat tube angles on track frames place your hips closer to the BB than would be ideal (unless you're on a track). Standard road bikes usually have 71-74° seat tubes, while track bikes have ~76°. If you really want to be comfortable riding a bike for a while on the road, try imitating road geometry/positioning. For track bikes, this usually means a very set back seatpost (like more than 20mm), to get more of your weight distributed towards your butt. You'll probably also have to drop your saddle a bit too to compensate, which is usually a good thing. With a more weight balanced riding position, you should be able to ride lower and in the drops more often.

It helps to read up on bike fit. Educate yourself, a good fit is probably one of the best "upgrades" you can do to your bike. Check out the Roadie forum, they usually have good fit info there.

I notice that you have some spacers under the stem. Remove them. That will get the bars a little further away.

qft.

wut? link?

I know setback Thomson have a mere 16mm set back but I haven't heard that one before.

Level stem, no spacers ?

What he meant is that most setback seatposts are 20mm while Thomson setback is 16mm.

In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words. A photo of you one the bike will help this thread a lot.

Shoot it from the side. Preferably with the leg on the camera-side extended as far as it will go on the pedals to verify your leg extension. Lean over and put your hands in the drops. Your other leg will be on a chair or stool so you don't fall over.

Block out your face if you want to remain anonymous.

Here's an example in the Road Racing forum.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...is-my-position

Because of my short legs and my need for standover, I ride a frame one size smaller than normal for a person my size.

To get the fore and aft room I needed without putting all my weight on my front wheel, I ride with a 35mm setback FSA seatpost.

Because of the steep seat tube of short wheel base frames, the setback actually puts me in the right place in relation to the bottom bracket.

Ah I see.

I misread...

Yeah man, setback Thomson posts definitely have less setback than straight ones. :lol: