phughes

It looks as if the OP has simply put the fork in the frame for the purpose of a picture, and has not yet assembled the bike completely. There are no brakes installed, or any cables. As for the bar height, it is not too high from a safety perspective. I currently have the bars on my touring bike slightly higher than the seat. It is very comfortable for me on tour. It looks like it will be a nice bike once you get it built.

Build the bike without cutting the steerer tube and ride it a while to see where you want the bars, and then cut it if you feel it necessary. Contrary to what someone else said, running the stem as a -17 is not a bad idea. You have the option to flip it later if you need the bars higher. You have more options if you do not cut the steerer tube down, and can switch to different bars later that require a long steerer tube if you so desire.

jackb

I ride my touring bike, my road bike and my single-speed all with the bars higher than the saddle. I like it that way. Who's to tell me than I shouldn't do what feels good and pleases me.

terrymorse 

Moving the saddle forward should be okay, it has quite a large setback now.

But do not rotate the bars up. They are already at the maximum. The bends of the bars should be parallel to the ground or pointed slightly downwards, never pointed upwards.

ab_antiquo

Given many people's posting history, that is a big, big ask.

livedarklions

Contrary to popular belief, refuting straw men doesn't make you seem any smarter.

wolfchild

How is it even possible to do a proper bike fit over the internet ??

ab_antiquo

You mean like the straw man you just created? That's a glorious self-own there.

Kapusta

I think everything looks pretty much dead on perfect.

Slap on some bar tape and call her done.

livedarklions

/ignore

Wileyrat

If you need to ask, yes.....Slam that stem!




Says the guy that rides 25mm of spacers.

MikeyMK

What's the point in putting spacers underneath a stem, and having the stem angled down? Flip the stem, lose the spacers, the handlebar position is identical and you've shaved weight. Or just flip the stem so the bars are high enough to see where you're going.

ab_antiquo

hybridbkrdr

Uh, excuse me for the last pic. That was actually with a double kickstand (Pletscher). Anyway, I used the top portion of a Listerine bottle to make a temporary 40mm spacer. At this angle, the photo lies a little as the bars are really about the same height as the saddle, not higher. So, do you think I should slide forward the saddle even more? I adjusted the bars slighter higher to be more parallel to the ground. And I adjusted the brake levers lower (hoods). Does that seem OK now?

Gresp15C

If it's comfortable enough to ride, get a proper spacer in there and ride it. Most of us don't fit bikes that are set up like the bikes seen in marketing pictures and athletic events.

About pictures, cell phone pictures taken from close-up are always distorted, making it hard to judge exactly what's going on. To get a better look at how the bike is actually set up, you might have to take the picture from some distance, and then crop it as needed. But even without an accurate picture, the bike looks like it's at least set up well enough to try it out for a long ride, and then dial it in with a few minor adjustments. Happy riding, nice bike.

Kapusta

I think it fit better before.

Happy Feet

Why the stem up side down?

The stem is that thing that connects the bars to the fork. Flip it so it angles up and you will lose about 2" of spacers. Practically speaking adding more spacers and angling it downward as you have achieves the same effect as removing spacers and angling it upward but, as it is, it looks odd to the eye. Sort of like getting extra long crank arms and adding peddle blocks so your feet reach. You will have people continually asking why you did that.

Otherwise the height and angle of bars looks fine - it's all about how it fits you.

Phil_gretz

I'd say that, based on the stem length and handlebar reach, the number of spacers needed to get the hand position high enough for your comfort, as well as the saddle setback, that you are compensating for a frame that simply is too small for you. Which is okay, but I prefer not to do that if it can be avoided by getting the right size frame beforehand.

It looks functional enough, as long as the steerer tube can handle the unsupported load above the headset. Aesthetically...not so much.

Caliper

That's... a lot of spacers... I'd check with the fork manufacturer about how tall a spacer stack they recommend, even if it is a metal steerer tube. Honestly, you may benefit from the next size larger frame.

indyfabz

Multi-quote doesn't work with my old work browser, so I will "manually" state that post Nos. 41-43 make gogent points.

smarkinson

Flip the stem!

(my next post needs to be a damn good one to celebrate 1,000 posts)

Kedosto

As Phil said in post #42 , the frame appears to be too small and you’re trying to find comfort with a lot of spacers. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find you need to raise the seat , given how far you’re trying to raise the bars. Flipping the stem to reduce the spacer stack will also reduce the reach which given what your setup looks like now would only make things worse.

Without much more to go on than a crooked photo (the tires aren’t lined up squarely with the wall), it looks like at least one frame size or possibly two sizes larger will fix your seatpost, saddle setback, stack, and reach. While you may be able to cobble something together that seems to work, it looks to me like you’re not gonna get your best fit with this frame.

-Kedosto

hybridbkrdr

OK, I don't want to be annoying with this. I just messaged the manufacturer about using 100mm in spacers. And now, with the saddle pushed forward, I feel more comfortable but find I might be able now to use fewer spacers (I'll see). Anyway, my legs are long for my height and torso short so that may explain why I'm having a challenge getting it right. So, what do you think of the saddle position now? Is it safe to run it close to the edge of the rails?

Kapusta

If you are worried about too many spacers, Why don’t you just flip the stem? You are using way more spacers than you need to get that bar height.

FiftySix

Another vote here to remove a spacer and flip the stem.

wolfchild

Flip the stem and keep all the spacers....When I had drop bars on my mountain bike I had 80mm of spacers and a 90mm 35 degree stem, it was a perfect fit for me and very comfortable. I like my bars higher up because it gives me better control and better handling on rough terrain and on the road...