>>If you had pain and numbness in your hands/arm, it sounds a lot more like the problem was/is the saddle being too far forward. (In the photo, it appears the tip of saddle is only 2-3cm behind BB. My hands/arms would be a wreck in that position, too!)
You're right. I have put a shorter stem on and moved by saddle backward since this photo was taken. Setback is around 70mm now.
>>That's a rad MTB setup. Why not use MTB bars and shifters?
I just prefer drop bars. Having my wrists parallel to the frame is more comfortable, and the extra drop is fantastic on steep climbs, or when riding long distance at fast speed on the flats. This bike was inspired by Jackie Phelan and John Tomac who pioneered professional racing drop-bar mountain bikes.
Initially I had bar-end shifters but I kept bumping them with my knees. I've been pleased with these Microshift brifters but people with small hands tend to dislike them because they require a long distance sideways throw for shifts.
Last edited by Clem von Jones; 02-26-19 at 03:59 PM.