Dialing in swept bars is incredibly difficult and there are very few resources to help out relative to flat bars or drop bars. If you require an upright position, you can either raise the bars or bring the bars back closer to the body or a combo of both. I’ve yet to be able to figure out the exact calculus, but I have learned that it’s very different for bikes that are ridden casually for commuting etc versus a bike that will be ridden offroad on more technical features. Bar width is also more important when riding technical stuff because you need more room in the cockpit to move around and accommodate sharper turns. The only way I’m able to ride single track and similar is to have bars that are quite a bit higher than I’d want them to be otherwise, and to also have bars that are wider (c.700m plus). My bikes look somewhat ridiculous set up thus, but it works for me.
On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM George Schick <[email protected]> wrote: > @ Steve, ditto. Having been involved in "serious" cycling for over 50 > years, many wrong size frame, bars, stems, saddles, even pedals have come > and gone. Finally got it dialed in just about perfectly in the late 90's > thanks largely to Grant and some of the articles published in his readers > and then bought a Ram in '04. Things couldn't fit better now though I'd > spend a lot of dineros over those decades trying to find the right sweet > spot. Can't say that I completely understand the big move toward this > high-stem swept-back bar movement in the Grant-o-sphere in recent years, > though, but it seems to be working for most folks. > > > On Friday, November 21, 2025 at 9:36:56 AM UTC-6 [email protected] wrote: > >> Jay, interesting perspective - and I think you're spot on. I find, at >> age 73 - with a lifetime accumulation of niggling aches and pains, my >> comfort on a bike is the primary determinate of both my enjoyment of the >> ride and my performance. The "Big 3" - bars, saddle, and pedals, and the >> interplay between them, is critical. I'll echo your thought that dialing >> in fit takes time -- a degree of angle up or down here, a few more >> millimeters of stack or reach there. I'm embarrassed (mildly) by the number >> of stems and bars languishing in my parts bin. >> >> Some will suggest that I could have saved some cash by paying for a >> professional fitting - but I'm not entirely convinced that would have >> worked for me. Besides, the parameters of a comfortable fit are not a >> static thing - they change over time in step with the vagaries of aging. >> >> Steve in AVL >> On Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 10:19:09 PM UTC-5 Jay wrote: >> >>> Whether drop bars, flat, or swept-back, I believe I've figured out the >>> two factors that must be present. First is the bar has to work for the >>> rider (size/style/position of the bar, given the particular bike, >>> complementing the saddle position, etc.). Second is you have to adapt to >>> the bar based on your body/fit needs, and taking into account any trouble >>> areas you have (e.g., pre-existing aches/pains or worse). >>> >>> If you can't adapt to the bar, somewhat easily and repeatably, the bar >>> can't work for the rider. For example, I once bought a new mountain bike >>> and the stock bars were like 800mm wide. I couldn't adapt to them. I >>> don't think I ever could. My road bars at the time were 380mm at the hoods. >>> >>> What's more difficult is when you have a bar that could work, but it may >>> take a long time to dial in the height, reach, tilt, grip selection, >>> placement of controls, minor saddle position changes given how upright or >>> tilted forward you are, etc. >>> >>> I've had VO Granola bars on by Fargo for the last 8 months. They're >>> still not perfect, but getting there. Last two rides I focused on how I >>> contact the bars in terms of my hands/arms/shoulders. It didn't spoil the >>> ride, dwelling on this, but I would check in frequently and ensure >>> everything felt good and would make corrections, say if my wrist angle was >>> awkward and would later lead to post-ride pain if unchecked (as has >>> happened many times before). Both rides, zero pain. And they were fun, >>> off-road rides. My hope is that I can go on a ride and barely have to >>> check in on fit, but for now, maybe it's necessary (for me). >>> >>> I think age is a factor. When I started riding serious, in my late >>> 20's, and probably through my 30's, I don't recall ever having any fit >>> issues. Or, perhaps, I had major fit issues but they didn't bother >>> me...until mid 40's and up to now. >>> >> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/f3cfe4dd-e680-44de-8a9c-dd7211c64793n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/f3cfe4dd-e680-44de-8a9c-dd7211c64793n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CADA0aDd0wJRmKdjoNm2eCEFfC731xq5H%2BZ4cEvZd4CwPB5RhBQ%40mail.gmail.com.
