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I have an original aluminium Tripster which I used to use for commuting. Then it was used for triathlon training and the event.
It's sat pretty much unused for the last few years so I've been considering turning it into a bit if a gravel bike. First stem is to switch the tubeless schwalbe 28mm road tyres for a pair of 35mm gravel king sk.
As for the stem, I've ridden it with a 110mm flat stem and a 90mm stem with a drop of about 8°.
For those that have made a similar switch, did you go higher with the bars (I can flip the stem) or shorter (I've a flat 70mm I could put on).
Your thoughts please.
If it was comfortable/fitted on the road then why would the bars need to be higher/nearer to ride on gravel?
I flipped the stem on my tourer when I started to take it off road more. The slightly higher position raises the dropped hand position a little, which to me feels more comfortable and controllable. I think it's a 6° or 8° rise on the stem so the difference isn't huge.
Cheers chaps.
The thinking is, last time I rode it, the focus was on low, fast and efficient.
That doesn't sound like gravel/mild off road to me hence the question.
Sounds like adjusting height has been more use than adjusting length though.
If the lower part of the dropbar is roughly where your bar ends would be if it was an mtb, you're about right.
If you're a racer, ignore.
Even with the stem flipped, the tops are still further below the saddle than my mtb bars are. At least they're compact bars so the drops aren't too far below.
Even with the stem flipped, the tops are still further below the saddle than my mtb bars are.
I wouldn't expect anything else!
I run a slightly shorter stem and a bit more layback than I do for road - gets my weight back over the rear wheel and improves grip on looser surfaces - enables you to better engage quads and glutes for seated climbing. Bum-up race position can also put too much weight on the front wheel. Ultimately it's about finding something that's comfortable for you - someone's ideal position is another's purgatory.