Hugh and Steve: I think -- not sure, but I *think* -- that the key to higher-bar comfort and efficiency, at least in my own case, is to maintain the bend at the hips and sufficient weight forward of the bike centerline by extending the bar forward as it comes up. I've described this before, but once again: beside the higher/further B135 Randos on the Fargo, last year or so I removed the short 42 cm 185s (90/140) circa 2" below saddle and replaced them with Grand Bois Maes Parallels on the two custom Rivs, at 115/125 and 1" below saddle. The overall effect is a higher position to accomodate my aging neck, but the significantly longer reach seems to give me just as much power as shorter and lower, while being more comfortable (same 8 cm stems as with the 185s).
On the Ram, the bar a wee bit higher yet -- perhaps 2 cm below saddle instead of 3 cm -- but with a 9 instead of an 8 cm stem. Of course, the Noodles sweep back, too. At any rate, on all four bikes, higher but further forward gives me a very nice combination of comfort and power -- I use the hooks as much for the power contributed by the muscles brought into play as you bend further forward, as for aerodynamics. Patrick Moore, who 22 years ago had his bars 6" below saddle. On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 11:54 AM, Steven Frederick <stl...@gmail.com> wrote: > I did run the drops higher than my saddle for a while right after I > recovered enough to get back on my drop-barred bikes but it feels > unbalanced to me and puts too much pressure on my hands. Same (hand > pressure) problem, plus lack of varied hand-position and back angle options > keeps me from using Albas on anything I'm going to ride more than a couple > of miiles. I need my bars at or just below saddle height it seems, but I > think I might now need the hoods closer than Noodles will allow. I'm going > to spend a bit more time on these short and shallow bars before I change > over any other bikes, though-no sense rushing into anything! > > Steve > > > > On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 1:42 PM, Hugh Smitham <hughsmit...@gmail.com>wrote: > >> Patrick, >> >> Yes, that essentially describes my set up and why my drops feel so good. >> When I sit up hands on top of the bar I sit fairly upright so I get the >> best of both. When riding a carbon race bike I could only stand being in >> the drops for a really brief period. >> >> What Steven described would probably have me going to an albatross bar. >> Even as I like my current position it's still not completely upright so if >> I had neck pain I would have to concede and discard the noodles. >> >> ~Hugh >> >> >> >> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 10:11 AM, Patrick Moore <bertin...@gmail.com>wrote: >> >>> Would raising them significantly make them work? Don't suppose this >>> hasn't occurred to you, but it does allow me to mention that after >>> replacing the Midge bar on the Fargo with a much narrower but much deeper >>> drop 44 cm B 135, I found that placing the bar about 1" above the saddle -- >>> 2" higher than on my road bikes -- but further forward made it wonderfully >>> comfortable. I can get a low, aero tuck in the hooks but sit up practically >>> straight on the flats. >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 8:45 AM, Steven Frederick <stl...@gmail.com>wrote: >>> >>>> Yeah, I've run noodles for years and, since an unfortunate episode with >>>> a herniated disc in my neck last summer, find myself wanting to shorten the >>>> reach beyond what is possible to accomplish by using a shorter stem. I put >>>> a set of short/shallow bars from Soma (HWY 1) on my latest bike and they're >>>> pretty good. Steve >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 at 9:27 PM, Evan Spacht <evan.spa...@gmail.com>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hugh, >>>>> >>>>> Your post made me feel a bit of nostalgia for my 41cm Noodles! I envy >>>>> your comfort on the Noodles because for me I could never quite find them >>>>> relaxed. >>>>> If only I had a longer arms, and didn't have as much of a reach (with >>>>> even the shortest stem) I'd probably have kept them. >>>>> I dig the the Noodles, but I guess the Albas provided a more >>>>> comfortable fit with the drawback of being a bit less aerodynamic. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>> 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com >>>>> . >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *RESUMES THAT GET YOU NOTICED!* >>> Certified Resume Writer >>> http://resumespecialties.com/index.html >>> patrickmo...@resumespecialties.com >>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ >>> >>> Albuquerque, NM >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/b80jn7O5C9w/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>> >> >> -- >> 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> > > -- > 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- *RESUMES THAT GET YOU NOTICED!* Certified Resume Writer http://resumespecialties.com/index.html patrickmo...@resumespecialties.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ Albuquerque, NM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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