> > @Michael: > Thanks for asking. I feel like a freak because I see all these Rivbike owners with long stem extensions and here I am on 6 and 7cm stems. Something wrong with me? Ha ha. *The short story:* Pain and comfortable reach dictated stem length. *The long story:* Even though I PBH'ed in at the 52 frame Noodle Sam size, I knew the TT was gonna be a pretty long reach for me and asked for an 8cm stem instead of the stock 9 or 10 that comes with the RBW drop build. But 8cm Tallux was still too long. Even after a short ride I would get pain in the left side of my neck and numbness down my left arm that would last for days after. I was off the bike more than on that first month I had it because of the pain. I was seriously bummed. So I got a 6cm stem to try with the drops to shorten up the reach. But first I tried Moustaches with it as I knew that was an even shorter reach bar than Noodles (it is. despite the myths). Staches were great. No neck pain. But killed my hands. With staches, no matter where you place your hands, the outside edges of your paws are in constant contact with the bars. At saddle height, after a month I couldn't take the hand pain and numbness anymore, so I figured that Albas were the next thing to try. I think I read that RBW recommends 10-12 stem for Albas (or 2cm longer than whatever you use with your drops, I think), so I automatically felt I should go 2 cm shorter than their shortest recommendation. They must have some long arms in Walnut Creek. I went back to the stock 8cm Tallux and raised the bars to max height. So far so good. Hope it works out great. Nothing seems to hurt. I like riding totally upright. Very relaxing. Reach feels great since that issue is totally nullified by the swept back bars. It is weird that I can ride in comfort on my drop bar Giant Defy bike, but have had a very hard time getting comfy on my drop Bleriot and Sam. I can't believe that my body can only tolerate such a small drop bar fit window like I have on my Giant bike (45cm reach to tops, 71cm seat height, KOPS, bars ~1.5cm below saddle height). One day if I try the Noodles again with the new 6cm stem, I might try setting the Sam up just like the Defy and see if that works. I feel like my body is rejecting the Rivbike transplant. It likes the Defy. I don't get it. I really wanted these Rivs to work. The Rivs handle waaaaaaay better, and I can use wide tires and fenders with them. All steel too, so no worries about forks snapping. So I hope they work out. Or I just spent the last year and alotta money on a failed experiment. Sigh.
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