Handlebar height adjustment

Marco Morales <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the
first time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I
feel like I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and
neck after about 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good
size for me so I wonder if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few
inches? Do anyone have any suggestions?

You probably need a new stem, either shorter length or taller angle. Take
your bike to a local shop and ask them for fit recommendations.

"Marco Morales" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the

first

Quoted message said:

time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I feel

like

Quoted message said:

I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and neck after

about

Quoted message said:

15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good size for me so I

wonder

Quoted message said:

if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few inches? Do anyone

have any

Quoted message said:

suggestions?

A bike shop can set you up. But if you're new to cycling expect some
initial discomfort while your body acclimates.

Quoted message said:

I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the first
time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I feel

like

Quoted message said:

I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and neck after

about

Quoted message said:

15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good size for me so I

wonder

Quoted message said:

if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few inches? Do anyone have

any

Quoted message said:

suggestions?

Thanks in advance...
Marco

Marco: Make sure your saddle is level. If the saddle is nose-down (lower
at the front), you're spending the entire ride pushing back from the bars
(to maintain your position). That causes a lot of stress in the neck &
shoulders.

Best bet is to head back to the shop it originally came from and see if they
can check out your position and recommend some changes that might make
things better.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Quoted message said:

Thanks Mike. I've checked the saddle and it appears to be level.

Well darn! :>😉

You mention that it feels like you're leaning too far forward, but the 820
stock has a pretty short top tube, as well as a pretty short stem. You
mentioned it was an 18" frame, and you think it's the right size, but I
should ask how tall you are?

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Marco Morales" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks Mike. I've checked the saddle and it appears to be level.

On 5/23/04 1:19 AM, in article
[email hidden], "Mike Jacoubowsky"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I feel

like

Quoted message said:

I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and neck after

about

Quoted message said:

15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good size for me so I

wonder

Quoted message said:

if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few inches? Do anyone have

any

Quoted message said:

suggestions?

Thanks in advance...
Marco

Marco: Make sure your saddle is level. If the saddle is nose-down

(lower

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at the front), you're spending the entire ride pushing back from the

bars

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(to maintain your position). That causes a lot of stress in the neck &
shoulders.

Best bet is to head back to the shop it originally came from and see if

they

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can check out your position and recommend some changes that might make
things better.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hello all
I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the first
time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I feel like
I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and neck after about
15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good size for me so I wonder
if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few inches? Do anyone have any
suggestions?

Unfortunately the way to do this is to get a new stem and hope the cables
are not too short.
--------------
Alex

Marco Morales said:

I won a Trek 820 over the winter and have just taken it out for the first
time. I've adjusted the saddle to a nice height for my legs but I feel like
I'm leaning to far forward. I get pains in my shoulders and neck after about
15 minutes. I'm pretty sure the 18" frame is a good size for me so I wonder
if there is a way to raise the handle bars a few inches? Do anyone have any
suggestions?

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup

However, it's possible that your problem is not one of adjustment, but
of not yet being acclimated to cycling.

For someone who hasn't been on a bike for a while, 15 minutes is a good
deal of time to spend on a bike.

I advise working up through gradually longer rides, no death marches.

See also: http://sheldonbrown.com/pain

Sheldon "One Step At A Time" Brown
+-------------------------------------------+
| Good judgment comes from experience, |
| and experience comes from bad judgment. |
| --Fred Brook |
+-------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com