Adjusting drop bars, brake hood placement?

Discussion in 'The Roadie Hangout' started by fongster, Nov 18, 2013.

  1. fongster

    fongster Active Member

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    I put a new shallow drop/short reach bar on my bike. I left the stem where it was as I had a good fitting done which is super comfy. It was suggested I get the new bar so I didn't have to reach down to the drops so far.

    Anyway, I pulled the brake levers off and I want to get them into a good position on the new bar. The old and new bars are so diff, I couldn't just take measurements and transfer. So to start adjusting with the new bar, I angled the drops ends to tilt to the seatstay's brake boss--I guess this is a classic thing to do? I sat on the bike and that position felt good in the drops--my wrists are straight, no weird bends. As for the brake hoods' height, is that the same rule--no weird wrist bends, just straight wrists but elbows slightly bent? I think the generic old school way was to make the levers even with the bottom part of the drop using a straightedge--is this applicable anymore? Thanks.
     
  2. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Everyone is different and no fit will be the same from one person to another. Whatever "feels" comfortable to YOU is what I'd go with.
     
  3. RS VR6

    RS VR6 Member

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    A place to start is to set the ends of the handlebar are perpendicular to the ground and the hoods level to the ground. Some people like the ends of the bar slightly tilted towards the rear axle. I would set them up in a neutral position, ride around the block...and adjust from there.

    Here is how my bars are set up. I have my hoods tilting up a bit.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. fongster

    fongster Active Member

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    Thanks guys, I think I got it solved. If it's any help to others, here's what I did based on some info I found plus forum responses:


    The bar I installed is a shallow drop Soma Highway One. First, I set the bar's ends (short, flat sections) tilted down a few degrees to point to the rear brake boss on the seatstays. This is a good starting point and is kind of a classic setting so that the rider can put his or her hands onto the tilted flat ends of the drops for an additional riding position without wrist strain (in addition to using the hooks of the drops themselves). I tilted mine down a bit more as it felt better on my wrists.


    Once that was set and stem bolts torqued, I placed the brake levers on the drops so that their ends were level with bottoms of the flat ends of the drops. This too, is a classic placement. My hands felt great on the hoods just like that. Others may want to move them up or down a bit.


    Lastly, I tipped the levers/hoods inward a couple degrees as I'd read somewhere that fits hands better when on the hoods vs running them straight--I agree. That's it for the bar set up.


    To try it out, I rode my bike in a trainer for 45 minutes and felt really comfortable, just like with my old handlebar and its position from my pro bike fit--actually better in the drops with the new bar's shallower drop measurement.
     
  5. dhindo

    dhindo New Member

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    heres how i set up mine as well...a bit aggressive side but not too much...

    [​IMG]
     
  6. HBkites

    HBkites Member

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    Do you use Q rings on your MTB?
     
  7. digitaldouble

    digitaldouble Member

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    No offense, but what is with this Cervelo crazy proportional downtube ?
    To allow enough space for the logo ?
     
  8. RS VR6

    RS VR6 Member

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    I don't. I'm not sure I trust the shifting on a mountain bike.

    Yes...its to fit the gi-normous Cervelo logo.
     

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