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
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

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 said:

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
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

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
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"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 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
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

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: sheldonbrown.comhandsupOpen ↗

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: sheldonbrown.compainOpen ↗

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 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts
shipped Worldwide captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗