IT is but it has a 100mm stem on it now and I only really need to pull it back by about 20mm to be comfortable.
In regards to borrowing something, I don't really know that many people in this two horse town.
Thinking of giving a gravel bike a crack
- Thread starter johnny
- Start date
In regards to borrowing something, I don't really know that many people in this two horse town.
ashes_mtb
Has preferences
I’ve had BBB, Pro and Deda before and they were all fine. Can’t recall ever having an issue with any stem, including the Aliexpress cheapies tbh.
What about a Ritchey? https://www.bikebug.com/ritchey-trail-stem.html
I should have something around 70 or so. I will look. Aust post still services Canberra?
Nope I should check before saying stuff. Shortest is 90mm and too much angle, others are 100+ unless you want a Cannondale which wont fit anything and is just under a metre long.
Nope I should check before saying stuff. Shortest is 90mm and too much angle, others are 100+ unless you want a Cannondale which wont fit anything and is just under a metre long.
Last edited:
Thanks all; good suggestions and very generous.
This is bang on what I was looking for (forgotten about BikeBug, it's so long since I've shopped around for parts), purchase completed. Thanks.
Rorschach
Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
I have an 80mm Zipp Service Course stem on my roadie, great stem
Zipp Service Course Stem Silver ±6° 70mm | Bikebug
Link says 70mm, but theres an 80mm option in there
Zipp Service Course Stem Silver ±6° 70mm | Bikebug
Link says 70mm, but theres an 80mm option in there
leitch
Feelin' a bit rrranty
@johnny post a pic of your cockpit setup from side on. There are other things with drop bars that can be done to make it more comfortable on the hands etc too. You might find in addition to the shorter stem that rolling your bars back even just the tiniest amount can change your hand/wrist position and make things more comfortable.
Rorschach
Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
Best thing I ever did for my roadie was dropping $200 on getting it fitted properly.
Yes, I've been planning on playing around with that when I get the new stem. Will post some pics.
Thanks, mate, genuinely appreciated. I've actually already bought a zero degree 80mm ritchey stem, which will hopefully arrive by the end of the week.
Should have listened to @Dales Cannon 80mm was nowhere near short enough. I tried moving the seat forward on the rails a bit instead of getting a shorter stem, but it messed my pedaling position up - the further back I sit the more I can pull upwards with my heals when clipped in. The further forward I sit the more I pull up with my toes, which my knees don't like.
So, I picked up a 45mm stem, which has allowed me to move the seat back (almost) far enough. Took the bike onto dirt today for the first time. Felt pretty good, but they were only groomed trails (arboretum). I can see the benefits of the dropper, but the 50mm travel it has seems pretty insignificant; could do with a full 100mm to be properly useful.
So, I picked up a 45mm stem, which has allowed me to move the seat back (almost) far enough. Took the bike onto dirt today for the first time. Felt pretty good, but they were only groomed trails (arboretum). I can see the benefits of the dropper, but the 50mm travel it has seems pretty insignificant; could do with a full 100mm to be properly useful.
Haakon
has an accommodating arse
@johnny how's gravel life going? I'm having thoughts that are dangerous to my bank account about one of these... https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/revolt-advanced-2-2024
Haakon
has an accommodating arse
Thats a mighty fine looking machine indeed. Hard to argue with the brushed aloooominum look.
I'm really enjoying it, although I have only taken it onto dirt once so far (due to a fucking horrendous virus that I've only just got over, and time constrains), but will likely be getting a little bit of dirt in tomorrow morning on the commute to work. I've done a lot of bike path riding and I'm really happy with it, in general. I'd like the reach to be about 20mm less than it is, but that's more about my fit than the bike itself.
I'm constantly surprised at how light it is even though its steel (still got tubes in it as well) and love the acceleration I get out of it when I take off from a standing start. When I took it onto dirt at the Arboretum a few weeks back, I wasn't a fan of riding with my hands on the drops of the bars. The back of my neck had to strain to look up down the trail in that riding position. I also think that a 50mm dropper is a bit of a waste of time - it's definitely better than nothing, but why not just go 100mm and be done with it?
I'm looking forward to the commutes where I have a bit of time and can string O'Connor Ridge, Bruce Ridge and Black Mountain into my commute to work (which then takes me along the lake). It gets me to my desk in a much better frame of mind than sitting in traffic.
Lastly, the original RRP for the Norco Search XR S1 was $4k, I got mine for $2750 given the current market pressures. Worth seeing if you can do the same with that or another 2023 model.
Haakon
has an accommodating arse
That sounds like a cracking commute! He says totally not getting nostalgic for Canberra trails…
It is. It's about 20km each way and only 500m of it is on the road, the rest is bike paths, single track or dirt roads. I look forward to my fitness being back to the level where I can do that 2-3 times a week.
It's the only way to ride them on dirt unfortunately, especially descents. I get the same thing with shoulders and back of neck, I have no idea how people ride them in the brindies etc.
I found not wearing my bulky heavy mtb lid helped with the strain a little (probably more psychological than anything).
Still a way cooler option than a pure roady though.