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Adjusting Handlebar Height to Alleviate Cycling Discomfort

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by (120 points)
What is the best way to alter handlebar height if I am feeling pain in the cycling position?

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by (300 points)
If you are feeling discomfort during cycling, then the handlebar height can be adjusted gradually by lifting it. Always start with minor adjustments, such as raising the stem a few degrees or inserting a spacer under the stem and observing the symptoms. It should be ascertained whether the discomfort has improved or resolved as it could have been because the previous bar height was too low. Such adjustments should be done in stages and the comfort and performance levels should be evaluated.
by (100 points)
I'm going through all those situations. I love my mountain bike. But i need some changes done to it. I'm having Saddle, my wrist, back pain, knee pain. Thank you for all this info.
by (100 points)
Great content
I read this yesterday and made some adjustment on my bike
I felt much less lower back pain and was able to engage the glutes with wider working angle
by (100 points)
However, if you change your handlebar height, you also must change your brake cable lengths. That is... if you are looking to RAISE the handle bars.
by (100 points)
interesting i had the reverse issue. i had lower back pain i decided to LOWER the stem and presto no back pain .
by (100 points)
moved all spacers to top, dropped the angle of the handlebar to 0 degrees => left hand couldn't grab things for days. bringing it up
by (100 points)
I dropped my stem a centimeter, and my neck screamed NO WAY.  Put it right back with 15mm of spacers.  Feels perfect for me on that particular frame and headtube size.
by (100 points)
I have 2 bikes one has a 20cm saddle to bar drop my knees are skimming my chest on the pedal stroke I can hold that position on a 1 hour TT. on a longer ride I have a 14cm saddle to bar drop comfort is more important the longer your on your bike.
by (100 points)
I had to put a longer seat post on a small vintage frame that i inherited from my grandpa to fit me and i was wondering if my handlebars were too low now. I have a 11.5cm drop. It seems like a lot to me, but a lot of people ride this kind of drop or even lower. It's a 54cm frame and i usually need 57cm frames.
by (100 points)
A really helpful technical analysis, thank you! I will take your advice about trying some changes on the stationary trainer. Great idea to focus on symptoms and look backwards.
by (100 points)
Thank you for the great content, and the information is perfect as I am in the process of slamming and extending that stem.
by (100 points)
I'm very flexible and have a strong core but if my bars are too low I get ischium bone pain whatever the saddle I use. By just getting my bar 10 mm higher all that pain disappear.
by (100 points)
Mr Bike Fit.

Have a problem that I need advise with.

Been struggling with saddle sores for a few months, finally changed up handle bar and that sorted it out.

Problem I have is when I go full gas I automatically go into a very aero position, knees touching chest ... even with the raised bar..dont really have any discomfort while doing it but saddle sores have returned.
Mainly on the sides.

How do I overcome this problem?
You help would be greatly appreciated.


Tnx
by (100 points)
my case is, if i slam the stem on my bike, i am a bit more powerful within 6~70km with no discomfort at all, but once over ~70km my shoulder start to feel tight and tired, and my hands start to numb. if i raise my bar by ~5mm, i just can't quite get the power out, and my lower back will feel tired very soon, especially on climbs, but no other discomfort at all, and i can happily(kind of) keep going for ~220km. my height is ~178-179cm, inseam ~82cm, bike is ridley helium size small, stem is zipp 120mm -17 degrees(have tried a 110mm -6 degrees stem but start having lower back pain very soon), and i move fwd and aft on the saddle quite a lot, on steady climbs i usually move a bit aft on the saddle, on steep climbs or on the flat with full gas i like to move fwd on the saddle. i did sit squarely on the saddle. any suggestions?
by (100 points)
Would greatly appreciate any suggestions of how I should have my handlebars and grips set up for reliving elbow pain. I have 0 cartilage in both elbows. Very painful.
by (100 points)
How can we choose the correct stem length and rise..?  And what causes a rider to pedal bow legged..?  (is the saddle too low..?) (are the crank arms too long..?)
by (100 points)
A few years ago I dropped my stem to the lowest level , from top to bottom and not in steps , what I got was neck and back pain, and hand numbness, so I got definitely faster , but the trade was shorter rides , till I got accustomed to it
by (100 points)
Very clear, thanks!
I guess if a symptom arises you could wait and see if more training could resolve issues?
Slamming my stem definitely made a positive aero change in case of head winds.
So far no major problems except neck pain because I have to tilt my head up more as my upper body has a lower position.
I am planning for training several rides to see how it evolves before drawing conclusions.
by (100 points)
What do you recommend as a starting point between height of saddle and height of bar drop measurement
by (100 points)
That happened to me. I own a Cervelo S5 and the head tube stack or height is really low compared to other brands.  So when I got my Retul Fit they fitted me twice,  first with 2 small spacers below the stem and second all the way down. I was able to generate more power with 2 spacers.     Note: the S5 with 2 spacer is still super low,  just a comparison,  the Cervelo S3 in the lower setting is exactly what I have now with 2 spacers lol.
by (100 points)
Just read this content I think this is the problem that's been plaguing me for years where my sit bone has been slipping off the saddle to the left. I'm too low at the front, but I'm already quite upright and I actually want to go lower. So what exercises can I do to improve my hip angle and back?
by (100 points)
My bars are as high as they will go and I still get one sided sit bone pain....I’ve shortened the stem from 100mm to 90mm both have a -6 degree angle...would flipping the stem to make it +6 degrees be helpful?
by (100 points)
How does this interact with extending the reach? I've really dialed in my seat position (thanks to your content!) And what remains is adjusting my reach. My current setup feels like it is either too short and/or too high. Should I first try lowering the bars, then adjusting the length (longer stem), or vice versa?
by (100 points)
I just bought a new bike and I had to add a steerer extension to it so I could get the dropbars to the position where their top is on the same level as my saddle. (shame that the steerer was precut...). I think that with time as my flexibility increases I may be able to get it lower again, but I wonder why I even feel that should be a goal for me ;-)
by (100 points)
Feel it > fix it. Your your own "fit expert", right? If you've learned to balance... YES you are! :-) YT-vids are dandy, but, really... who knows you & your bike better than you? Now...stop watching & do what your body is telling you. Btw...your body will change over time (68 here, ughh))), so you'll have to adjust again & again. Buona fortuna!
by (100 points)
So would lowering the seat post be a good way to combat a bar that’s too low? If I’m the case you cut your steer tube already and you can’t really raise the bars?
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