The devil's advocate in me wants to know if you have tried one. Obviously fit is important and your size makes that a big challenge, but maybe your riding could still benefit? Maybe it's not just about arm and torso length? There are so many counterintuitive elements of riding modern bikes that I think it is worth questioning almost everything. I used to resist change but I've had so many revelations by trying something I was sure I wouldn't like that I'm over it completely. I used to have my brake levers angled down aggressively because I thought it put me in more of an attack position. Rotating them back up had an almost immediate benefit and I haven't looked back.
Many of us used to descend with out-stretched arms and our asses way out back behind the saddle FFS. Sure it had something to do with geometry but that technique didn't actually help. It seemed to make sense but it really just made an endo less likely and it felt safer.
I finally figured out how to ride a 29er when I rode a Trek Remedy with uncut 820mm bars. It forced me up front and suddenly everything clicked. I cut them after that and began learning to get my weight up front but that mistake was a great shortcut.
Nov. 12, 2024, 12:34 p.m. - Cam McRae
The devil's advocate in me wants to know if you have tried one. Obviously fit is important and your size makes that a big challenge, but maybe your riding could still benefit? Maybe it's not just about arm and torso length? There are so many counterintuitive elements of riding modern bikes that I think it is worth questioning almost everything. I used to resist change but I've had so many revelations by trying something I was sure I wouldn't like that I'm over it completely. I used to have my brake levers angled down aggressively because I thought it put me in more of an attack position. Rotating them back up had an almost immediate benefit and I haven't looked back. Many of us used to descend with out-stretched arms and our asses way out back behind the saddle FFS. Sure it had something to do with geometry but that technique didn't actually help. It seemed to make sense but it really just made an endo less likely and it felt safer. I finally figured out how to ride a 29er when I rode a Trek Remedy with uncut 820mm bars. It forced me up front and suddenly everything clicked. I cut them after that and began learning to get my weight up front but that mistake was a great shortcut.