Of course. I try all the permutations I can then follow the positive results.
That's where I started. My previous bikes had short head tubes and so I had taller bars to match so when I built up my new frames with taller head tubes I ran what I had (no point buying new stuff until I tried what I have). They didn't ride well, put me too tall, too far back and it was hard to maintain good front wheel pressure when climbing or stay in a good attack position when descending.
I tried lower bars (good), then shorter stems (better) then dropped the stem to the lowest position (better yet). Now I'm on zero spacers and the lowest bar I could find short of a flat bar and it's amazing (for me on this bike in this particular place). Obviously results may vary.
I have a 1.07 ape index. I'm not overly stretched out on my bikes at all. I'm in proper attack position all day. I'm not an on-the-heels over the back wheel rider.
I also tried rotating brake levers. I run them way flatter than I used to.
Nov. 12, 2024, 3:14 p.m. - Cr4w
Of course. I try all the permutations I can then follow the positive results. That's where I started. My previous bikes had short head tubes and so I had taller bars to match so when I built up my new frames with taller head tubes I ran what I had (no point buying new stuff until I tried what I have). They didn't ride well, put me too tall, too far back and it was hard to maintain good front wheel pressure when climbing or stay in a good attack position when descending. I tried lower bars (good), then shorter stems (better) then dropped the stem to the lowest position (better yet). Now I'm on zero spacers and the lowest bar I could find short of a flat bar and it's amazing (for me on this bike in this particular place). Obviously results may vary. I have a 1.07 ape index. I'm not overly stretched out on my bikes at all. I'm in proper attack position all day. I'm not an on-the-heels over the back wheel rider. I also tried rotating brake levers. I run them way flatter than I used to.