shorter stem length - currently 90mm but reach too long.
- Thread starter 400bhp
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
I just loosened the stem to bar bolts and rotated the whole lot towards me, not just the shifters
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Flip the stem and/or rotate the bars back a bit, if this makes it better and she wants to use the drops, then you will want to revert the bars back to a "proper" position and move the hoods up to replicate the fit.
She may also find that the brake levers are hard to reach (my girlfriend did), if so, there should be some shims in with the manual etc.
She may also find that the brake levers are hard to reach (my girlfriend did), if so, there should be some shims in with the manual etc.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
What's her height. I take a 54 at 5.9 with a 12 cm stem.
The top tube is the important measurement.
My race bikes are old Skool with 56 top tubes and 13cm stems, very stretched out.
As folk have said, try flipping the stem.
The top tube is the important measurement.
My race bikes are old Skool with 56 top tubes and 13cm stems, very stretched out.
As folk have said, try flipping the stem.
OP
OP
400bhp
Guru
5" 7""
The Triban's are an odd fit.
I take 54/56 and I'm 5"11"" but it's too small for me. Broadly speaking, from experience, the wife's bike size is one down from me.
OP
OP
400bhp
Guru
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Sounds about right. Try flipping the stem for now. Don't forget road bikes are totally different. My wife wouldn't like riding one, prefers to be more upright, hence getting a hybrid.
She will get used to it. 90cm is short on a road bike.
She will get used to it. 90cm is short on a road bike.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Hmmm
Never received one.
Manual is on a CD/DVD, did you not get one of those?
Try flipping the stem but you could also take the bike and wife back to Decathlon (I know) and get them to fit 80 and/or 70mm stems and see how she fits. Avoid the busy times and I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige. A lot of women's bikes come with short stems so it would not be unusual or cause handing problems.
Broadside
Guru
- Location
- Fleet, Hants
70mm is short but not ridiculously so. My sisters bike came with a 100mm stem and she could not get comfortable, so we swapped it out for a 60mm stem and it transformed the ride. Yes the steering is a bit more direct but you get used to that in the first couple of miles.
mr messy
Veteran
- Location
- Sunny? Glasgow, the friendly city...
I went from 90mm flipped to standard 80mm and found a better position. Don't find the 80mm twitchy in the slightest.
Thought twitchy meant responsive and sporty...
Thought twitchy meant responsive and sporty...
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Perhaps she should be on a smaller bike.
Just sayin.
Just sayin.
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
FWIW, I felt my old T3 never really fitted me properly despite fitting a shorter stem, flipping it and various other tweaks. Maybe it's just not 'right' for her.
Tony.
Tony.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I don't think that a short stem will make handling a problem. You probably have to be going a bit quickly to notice a difference.
This guy might...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA[/media]
This guy might...
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA[/media]
OP
OP
400bhp
Guru
Valid point.
I think it's a known issue with so called "unisex" bikes. They are male bikes really. My understanding is the tube is relatively long compared to a women's specific bike. The height broadly correct (the seatpost is out a fairly long way) though.
Us lot are probably overly fussy about bike setup and I'm probably carrying this over to the wife's bike. But we do a lot of miles and so it's important. She's likely to be doing 30-50 miles a week I guess over the summer. If I can get it "about right" then that should be OK.
I'm building her bike experience up in layers, to see how she gets on. Started off with a Decathlon Rockrider 5.1, then Carrera Subway, now a Triban 5A. If she gets more into it I'll buy her a women's specific bike. I suspect I won't lose much from the Triban if or when I sell it on.
