Next new question - shortening a bike

[LewisLondon]

After brilliant replies to my last thread (where I ended up buying some new cheap wheels - so nice!) I thought I would ask for your help again with regards to my "winter bike", which is swiftly becoming the gf's bike to join me on a ride.

We went out this weekend and she noted a lot of pressure on her hands, making me think the bike is a bit too big. It's a 54cm frame, i'm 5'6.5, and she is probably 5'6/5'5.5. So while it was maybe a little too big for me, it's becoming accentuated that bit more for her.

My plan was either a) look for a btwin 51cm frame second hand (this seems like it will be very tough/expensive), or b) decrease the 100mm stem, to 70 or 80mm.

I would love feedback on if anyone has done this. Does it make the steering twitchier? At the moment her steering wasn't ideal but i think was a bit because she was so stretched, putting so much weight on the wheel? (pure guessing).

This is a kind of temporary measure, as I will probably invest in a bike for her one day, but I want to check she actually enjoys it first!

Any help, massively appreciated!

 

[Citius]

Shorter stem may help with reach and shouldn't make much - if any - noticeable difference to the handling. The unavoidable conclusion is that a 54 is probably too big for either of you at that height.

 

[LewisLondon]

Yep, same conclusion I came to! Annoyingly that the decathlon chap recommended it (i only wonder if the b'twin fits smaller?)

It's fine-ish for me for a commuter during winter, I will cope. but I do think if the gf likes, I'll be looking for a 51cm bike later in the year (likely second hand). My new bike is a Giant "small", which feels so much lighter!

Is a stem a stem? (ie much of a muchness?)

 

[LewisLondon]

How long and far are you riding together? You can shorten the stem and readily adapt to any change in the feel of the handling. You can move the saddle forward but, if that puts her way too far over the bottom bracket, could be uncomfortable and then potentially damaging over longer distances.

Well she originally signed up for the Ride100 but that may be too much too soon, who knows. Just 15 miles yesterday (broken up by a crash and a 2 mile walk to a shop),.

I think we'll be looking to get out to around the 50mile distance together

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

You don't mention it but I assume you've slid the saddle forward as far as it will safely go. And if the bike has a set back seatpost, a straight one will help. Of course, these will slightly alter the angle between seat and pedals so may not be ideal in the long run but if it helps for now....

 

[Citius]

Is a stem a stem? (ie much of a muchness?)

Yes, providing the clamp size is compatible (most are 31.8 these days) and the angle is similar.

 

[Milkfloat]

If you want an immediate free thing to try - flip the stem, this should have the effect of raising the bars and bringing them in slightly.

 

[LewisLondon]

You don't mention it but I assume you've slid the saddle forward as far as it will safely go. And if the bike has a set back seatpost, a straight one will help. Of course, these will slightly alter the angle between seat and pedals so may not be ideal in the long run but if it helps for now....

I haven't yet, i didn't think about this till last night and going over what I could have done differently! The bike is below, does your seatpost comment still apply?

Thanks for all this amazing advice! Sounds like a new stem can be ordered and fit soon. *(easy job??)

 

[Citius]

*(easy job??)

Two minutes with a 4mm or 5mm allen key..

 

[LewisLondon]

Two minutes with a 4mm or 5mm allen key..

Thought so! Brilliant

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I haven't yet, i didn't think about this till last night and going over what I could have done differently! The bike is below, does your seatpost comment still apply?

Thanks for all this amazing advice! Sounds like a new stem can be ordered and fit soon. *(easy job??)

Something like this (though check the diameter and two bolt saddles can be easier to adjust) - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/crank-brothers-cobalt-2-straight-seatpost/rp-prod53280 (single bolt)
- will put the rider a little bit further forward. Search under ''inline seat posts'', though the linked one uses the simpler ''straight'' name. The only fiddly bit from my experience, is fitting the saddle back on.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Often easier to do with the saddle upside down on a table, before fitting the seatpin to the bike.

Typical, that had never occurred to me!

 

[Globalti]

In the short term you can reduce the apparent reach by rotating the bars a little backwards, which means you won't be reaching so far for the hoods.

 

[MichaelW2]

Putting an 80mm stem on a med frame has no ill effects. You may want to consider an adjustable stem.

Do not adjust the saddle to fit the bars. Saddle position is used to set seat relative to pedals. Once set, you adjust stem to fit the bars. You may need to tweak saddle position if you make a big change to bar position.

Fine tuning the bars can include, narrower bar width, shallower drop, repositioning brake levers in rise and rotation.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Putting an 80mm stem on a med frame has no ill effects. You may want to consider an adjustable stem.

Do not adjust the saddle to fit the bars. Saddle position is used to set seat relative to pedals. Once set, you adjust stem to fit the bars. You may need to tweak saddle position if you make a big change to bar position.

Fine tuning the bars can include, narrower bar width, shallower drop, repositioning brake levers in rise and rotation.

Adjusting the saddle position is fine for a short while. I read the OP as looking for a temporary solution.