Lowerd my stem

[RS VR6]

I took out one of the small spacers out from under my stem. I rode it around on the street. I felt a bit more pressure on my hands. I lowered it because I wanted to be in a better position for climbing. My saddle and bars are about the same height. Alot people have their bars lower than the saddle...is that comfortable?

Will the extra bit of pressure make my hands hurt?

Thanks

[davidB]

did you go ahead and put that spacer back on, on top of your stem?

[CalEpic]

It depends on your bike. An XC rig typically will have the bars lower than the stem. If you're riding a frame that is too big that may be part of the problem also.

A couple questions:

What bike are you riding?
What size frame?
How tall are you?

[onegymrat]

For more cross-country, flat land riding, you'll find having the saddle higher gives more efficient pedaling. For a lot of downhill riding, having the bars higher will give you better control. For general trail riding, where you'll come across a variety of terrain, having the same height will probably be the best bet...which is how I try to position my bar and saddle. It also balances the weight distribution between your hands and your rear end. Will the extra pressure make your hands hurt? Only you can answer that question...but I'm guessing that it will not.

[RS VR6]

Originally Posted by davidB

did you go ahead and put that spacer back on, on top of your stem?

Yes...yes I did.

Originally Posted by CalEpic

It depends on your bike. An XC rig typically will have the bars lower than the stem. If you're riding a frame that is too big that may be part of the problem also.

A couple questions:

What bike are you riding?
What size frame?
How tall are you?

Schwinn Homegrown
Small
about 5' 8" 30 inseam

I did the whole inseam x .883 for the saddle height and bump below the knee cap for the fore/aft adjustment.

Originally Posted by onegymrat

For more cross-country, flat land riding, you'll find having the saddle higher gives more efficient pedaling. For a lot of downhill riding, having the bars higher will give you better control. For general trail riding, where you'll come across a variety of terrain, having the same height will probably be the best bet...which is how I try to position my bar and saddle. It also balances the weight distribution between your hands and your rear end. Will the extra pressure make your hands hurt? Only you can answer that question...but I'm guessing that it will not.

Most of my riding is done XC style. Fire roads and single track. I'll ride some sketchy terrain here and there...but nothing too extreme.

I went from a 80mm SID to a 100mm Reba. Took my 2 inch rise Azonic bar and replaced it with a low rise Monkey Lite bar. Using a 100mm/0 deg rise stem.

[jakethecake]

Originally Posted by onegymrat

For more cross-country, flat land riding, you'll find having the saddle higher gives more efficient pedaling. For a lot of downhill riding, having the bars higher will give you better control. For general trail riding, where you'll come across a variety of terrain, having the same height will probably be the best bet...which is how I try to position my bar and saddle. It also balances the weight distribution between your hands and your rear end. Will the extra pressure make your hands hurt? Only you can answer that question...but I'm guessing that it will not.

Yeah i usually match the seat with the handlebars for an all around ride also.

[onegymrat]

Hey RS, make sure you ride a very familiar course and then you will quickly realize if the changes are comfortable. The good news is that changing how you stack your spacers is so easy, even if it doesn't work out the first time. To answer the other question you had, no, having the bar 1-2 inches lower than my saddle is NOT comfortable for me at all.

Send a pix of your fit when you're on the bike. Perhaps some of the veterans can help give some tips on the sizing. Your height and inseam seems a bit big for a small-sized frame...or maybe right in between sm/med?

[Uncle Rico]

Lowering the bar will automatically shift weight forward, putting more of your weight on your hands.

Is the nose of your saddle pointed slightly down? If it is, try raising it just a tad- might help take some pressure off.

[RS VR6]

Heres how the saddle is to the bar.


I removed one shim and moved it to the top.