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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2017 13:39:16 GMT
I'm a few months into Triban ownership and so far...So goodish!I own a medium 520
Whilst I'm generally very happy with the bike and most of the set up is good, I find the handlebars not great. When riding on the hoods I feel a bit stretched out (my arms nearly locked and slightly splayed out to the side) I've tried altering the number of spacers on the stem angling the hoods closer too me etc.) but all to no avail! I also have quite small hands for a man so find the bars a bit awkward to grasp too.
Whilst I prefer my Triban in most respects, I've ridden my wife's Boardman (she's roughly the same height as me) and find the narrow handlebars and stem (40cm handlebar 90mm stem) far more comfortable.
I'm tempted to get FSA Omega compact bars in 40cm and 90mm stem to replace the 42cm/100mm standard set up on the 520.
Is this likely to prove more comfortable? Will if effect the handling drastically? Before I commit the cash, is there anything else (cheaper/free) I could try?
Thanks in advance!
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Post by r0b1et on Jan 26, 2017 14:17:29 GMT
Is this likely to prove more comfortable? Will if effect the handling drastically? Before I commit the cash, is there anything else (cheaper/free) I could try? I'd just do the stem first, even 1cm makes a surprisingly big difference to comfort, but you might want 2 if you think you are way off. Affect handling, yes. Drastically? I swapped stem aero-testing yesterday on my TT bike, and I can't say I noticed - its pretty trivialunless you go extreme.
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Post by william39 on Jan 26, 2017 16:06:42 GMT
Be careful with FSA bars, they come up about 2cm narrower than others as they are measured differently. I replaced my Triban bars with FSA vero compact, both 44cm but the FSA are narrower (which actually turned out to be a good thing comfort wise).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2017 17:41:55 GMT
Thanks folks, great advice on both counts. I'm going to hang fire on the bars until I've tried altering stem length. I've put a bid in on a used 90mm on eBay and see if that is sufficient to improve my posture. If not I will try a different bar, being careful with the discrepancies in measuring methods!
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Post by richardw on Jan 26, 2017 18:38:20 GMT
an upturned 90mm stem made a massive difference to comfort for me and to quite a few others on here to.
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Post by phred1812 on Jan 26, 2017 18:40:41 GMT
For what its worth my experience with stems and handlebars has been as follows.
I bought a T3 in January 2013. I chose the 54 frame even though I thought it was a little on the big side (I'm 5' 6") because the smaller frames came with 650mm wheels. The width of the bars was 44mm and the stem 100mm. I was new to road bikes at the time but I did feel stretched and swapped the stem for an 80mm within a couple of weeks and it's remained this length ever since.
I never gave much thought to the bars (I rarely used the drops) until I bought a carbon framed bike two years ago. This has a shorter frame than the Triban but, with the 100mm stem, the reach is similar on both bikes. The crucial difference was the bars. The bars on the carbon are 40mm and have a compact profile. I have found this far more comfortable. The numbness I used to suffer in my hands disappeared and I tended to use the drops more as they felt more accessible.
Last Autumn, as I was intending to use the Triban as a winter bike, I swapped the original bars for ones similar to the carbon bike. It's made a big difference as far as I am concerned and I have fallen in love with the bike again.
I don't know whether B'Twin fit different bar widths in proportion to frame size but, in my opnion 44mm is too wide on a 54 frame. Well it is for me at least but of course we are all different shapes and sizes and its probably OK for many people.
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tom9
Peloton Rider
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Post by tom9 on Jan 26, 2017 22:02:42 GMT
I had similar problems with the reach when I bought my second hand T3, but I fitted an adjustable stem which to be fair does not look that great, but it really is comfortable to ride nowπ
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Post by jondxxx on Jan 27, 2017 0:41:47 GMT
Another vote for the FSA omega compacts. The 420mm bars are fitted to both the M and L size Tribans so it's inevitable that they will be too big for some smaller riders. However a shorter stem is the easiest place to start.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 12:53:39 GMT
For what its worth my experience with stems and handlebars has been as follows. I bought a T3 in January 2013. I chose the 54 frame even though I thought it was a little on the big side (I'm 5' 6") because the smaller frames came with 650mm wheels. The width of the bars was 44mm and the stem 100mm. I was new to road bikes at the time but I did feel stretched and swapped the stem for an 80mm within a couple of weeks and it's remained this length ever since. I never gave much thought to the bars (I rarely used the drops) until I bought a carbon framed bike two years ago. This has a shorter frame than the Triban but, with the 100mm stem, the reach is similar on both bikes. The crucial difference was the bars. The bars on the carbon are 40mm and have a compact profile. I have found this far more comfortable. The numbness I used to suffer in my hands disappeared and I tended to use the drops more as they felt more accessible. Last Autumn, as I was intending to use the Triban as a winter bike, I swapped the original bars for ones similar to the carbon bike. It's made a big difference as far as I am concerned and I have fallen in love with the bike again. I don't know whether B'Twin fit different bar widths in proportion to frame size but, in my opnion 44mm is too wide on a 54 frame. Well it is for me at least but of course we are all different shapes and sizes and its probably OK for many people. I think the medium and large 520s come with 42cm bars. I'm 5'7" so towards the bottom end of the height range for the medium and like you, found the small too dinky. I've won the 90mm stem so will try fitting that should it arrive over the weekend, in both flipped and regular position. Should I need to change the bars, is it a big/difficult job? I'm a bit cack handed!
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Post by joby on Jan 27, 2017 13:36:50 GMT
For what its worth my experience with stems and handlebars has been as follows. I bought a T3 in January 2013. I chose the 54 frame even though I thought it was a little on the big side (I'm 5' 6") because the smaller frames came with 650mm wheels. The width of the bars was 44mm and the stem 100mm. I was new to road bikes at the time but I did feel stretched and swapped the stem for an 80mm within a couple of weeks and it's remained this length ever since. I never gave much thought to the bars (I rarely used the drops) until I bought a carbon framed bike two years ago. This has a shorter frame than the Triban but, with the 100mm stem, the reach is similar on both bikes. The crucial difference was the bars. The bars on the carbon are 40mm and have a compact profile. I have found this far more comfortable. The numbness I used to suffer in my hands disappeared and I tended to use the drops more as they felt more accessible. Last Autumn, as I was intending to use the Triban as a winter bike, I swapped the original bars for ones similar to the carbon bike. It's made a big difference as far as I am concerned and I have fallen in love with the bike again. I don't know whether B'Twin fit different bar widths in proportion to frame size but, in my opnion 44mm is too wide on a 54 frame. Well it is for me at least but of course we are all different shapes and sizes and its probably OK for many people. Should I need to change the bars, is it a big/difficult job? I'm a bit cack handed! Faffy rather than difficult (attaching shifters, wrapping bar tape etc.) Enjoy!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 13:42:08 GMT
Joby - faffy I can live with! It is a good chance to practice my bar wrapping too.
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Post by chas on Jan 27, 2017 18:21:10 GMT
The position of the shifters and angle of the bars can make a big difference. I recommend riding the bike before wrapping the tape (just some insulation tape to hold the cables) so you can fine tune it.
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Post by erictherat on Jan 27, 2017 19:52:19 GMT
The position of the shifters and angle of the bars can make a big difference. I recommend riding the bike before wrapping the tape (just some insulation tape to hold the cables) so you can fine tune it. am planning on moving my shifters up a bit next time i refresh my tape. Have them flat with bars at the moment, which means a slight downward angle on the wrist. Hopefully a bit of a move upwards, giving a slight upward angle on the shifters will keep my wrists straighter. Thanks for the tape tip chas. Many posters here rec a shorter stem. After a few years of backache, i got a longer stem (120mm) - and sorted. What matters is not longer or shorter, but the RIGHT stem. - check eyeline from bars to front axle when in a neutral position.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2017 17:51:50 GMT
The position of the shifters and angle of the bars can make a big difference. I recommend riding the bike before wrapping the tape (just some insulation tape to hold the cables) so you can fine tune it. Excellent tip, thank you!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 14:09:33 GMT
Just to update: the stem arrived and I've fitted it. It has made a difference to the reach, but my arms feel splayed out on the 42cm bars.
I measured the width of my shoulders: 38cm! No wonder the 42cm bars on the Triban feel uncomfortable. I knew I wasn't a broad shouldered strapping he-man type, but hadn't realised I was quite that puny!
I've gone for a 40cm FSA bar, but will check it isn't too narrow before I install it, but thanks everyone once again, the help has been invaluable.
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