Recent bike fit has shown me I need a shorter reach and higher stack height than my current bike (I've had some minor back issues/old age 😉 Current gravel bike is an on-one pickenflick, If the Pickenflick had space for spacers I'd probably be able to tweak it to fit - but I'd need a very steep stem angle to make it work as is.
So whats available with a higher stack?
Fairlight Secan is worth a look as they do a couple of flavours of Reach Stack in each sizing bracket...
Generally things more at the 'Adventure' end of the Gravel spectrum like the Cotic Cascade have nice high stacks. In the normal vein of 'recommend what you own' I have a Brother Mehteh which I've got set up nice and upright too.
I normally look at a few bikes I like the look of and plug them into: https://geometrygeeks.bike/
to compare them.
There are a number of gravel riser drop bars, would that work? Redshift even do one with 70mm.
Might not be fashionable but how about an adjustable stem (for starters) before chucking 100s or 1000s at a new bike
Deda adjustable stem can do +40 degrees.
I had similar neck/upper back problems with my gravel bike. I now use a stem with a 35 degree rise which helps considerably but I think I might need either high rise bars or a steerer extender to get to an ideal position
Ps is it possible to use a steerer extender with a full carbon fork?
Try an adjustable stem to get the position the fit suggested. See how it rides. Then look for either different bars or a new bike. How steep an angle are we talking here? How did it feel before the bike fit?
@cookeaa I've got a Strael which I bought a couple of years ago unfortunately I bought the 56R not the 56T so I've had to swap to shorter, steeper stem with extra spacers! Will consider the Secan though, but I think I'd miss the Titanium feel/weight/shiny 😉
@jfab yes I've spent a fair amount of time looking at the Geometry geeks site! Always hard to compare without knowing what stem length bikes are designed for, a lot of the gravel bikes appear to have long reach but are built around shorter stems
I'll plug some numbers into https://www.myvelofit.com/stem-calculator/ and see what would work.
I guess I could always buy an uncut fork to get the spacer height
If you want titanium and have the budget then I think the Enigma Escape might be taller and shorter than many
Cube Nuroad Pro has very similar geo to my aero brick Cube Attain GTC Disc '16, reach 388.7 and stack 609.5 (+0.7 and -0,5 respectively to my Attain).
Redshift do a drop bar with a 50mm rise
https://redshiftsports.com/products/low-flare-top-shelf-handlebar-system
I'd not realised those Redshift bars were quite so pricey. (I may be out of touch with prices!)
I'd not realised those Redshift bars were quite so pricey. (I may be out of touch with prices!)
But theyre a cheaper solution than a new frame or bike....
Does it have to have a shorter reach...? General MTB wisdom says that Gravel Bike stems are in general, far too long, and that a shorter stem is better for control... #justsaying
Anyway... As for Gravel Bikes with higher stack heights... Well I went for a Titus Goldrush for this exact reason a few years back (not sure if still available or not), I was on the cusp of the medium and large size wise so went even longer with the large, and have a proper position with the bars where they should be height wise, and running an 80mm stem instead of the specced 100 I've got the perfect saddle to bar reach (and slightly more stable steering) too... Gravel Bikes don't need road bike super short wheelbases and long stems! In fact, road bikes don't really need them either, but that's another matter for another day...
I'd not realised those Redshift bars were quite so pricey. (I may be out of touch with prices!)
The bar only is £140, the £300+ is for all the options.
which isn’t cheap exactly, but if it solves the issue, is better than a new fork, or several stems
and certainly cheaper than a new bike.
unless you really just want a new bike. In which case do that
I had the same problems with my gravel bikes, after 35 years of flat bars and progressively higher front ends I just couldn't make a gravel bike work. Didn't help that manufacturers seem to forget XL riders and even bikes with high stack for the style of bike left my saddle miles higher than the bars and my neck sore. Seems things haven't changed much.
I had the same problems with my gravel bikes, after 35 years of flat bars and progressively higher front ends I just couldn't make a gravel bike work. Didn't help that manufacturers seem to forget XL riders and even bikes with high stack for the style of bike left my saddle miles higher than the bars and my neck sore. Seems things haven't changed much.
I ve had custom bikes made with headtubes that have 50mm extension above the top tube. 6foot 3 inch long seatpost works at the back but the fork in was always a problem on normal bikes.. The Adventure gravel bikes can be a good fit, have the new checkpoint. Bought the frame and forks as you need to cut the steerer tube as its extra long.
I'd not realised those Redshift bars were quite so pricey. (I may be out of touch with prices!)
As always China will come up with a cheaper option. You can have a 35mm rise bar for £44. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003707117885.html?
Surly grappler and stooge rambler DON'T fit the remit of shorter reach, but have appropriate stack. The grappler looks funny because it is an odd shape but gets high praise from those who have tried it. There was a good review of it on here.
I guess moving to a new position after many years and kms in the old one is going to take some time to get comfortable what ever the setup, it's taken 10 hours of riding to adjust to the saddle (2cm lower and totally flat) and the bar reach and height feel odd what ever I'm doing - I am at the 'why did I bother with a bike fit' stage currently 😉
Thanks for the suggestions though, I'm going to bodge something together and try to adjust!
6foot 3 inch long seatpost
Crikey!
