[Closed] How can I make my bike more comfy?

Are your handlebars high enough?

Proper bike fit first, then look at tyres and forks etc.

Mm, did have 30mm of Spacers under the stem but put one above, you might be onto something there...

As above re bike fit, particularly bar height, plus:

More backswept /less upswept bars such as sqlab 30x 12 can help stop shoulder hunching and are more comfortable for mile munching.

Correct sized grips can help stop over gripping, if your grips are too narrow a diameter you tend to hold on too tightly which leads to tension all the way from your arms, through your shoulders and into you back.

If you are using a backpack make sure that the weight is low down and carried on your hips.

Thanks, I think my bar height with 30mm of spacers is good. My bars are rolled forwards a bit so will roll them back a bit. Did have a 3l camelback on though..oh yeah the tap in Amberley isn't working. The very nice lady at the t shop filled us up and gave us ice aswell which was a bonus when buying lollies!

Just as it is one of the handiest tools in the kit - An adjustable stem. Fit, ride, adjust, readjust ride some more, readjust and so on till you know exactly what rise is best.
You dont have to use it on the bike but as a tool it is handy to own. Saves a lot of faffing about and having different sized stems.

Bar ends can help. More options for changing position.

Did have a 3l camelback on though

Nasty business, that’ll get most people down before 50 miles is up. Maybe invest in a couple of 750 ml bottles w/cages and spread the weight?

Install a comfy chair and foot pouffe

Riser bars?

Horses for courses.....when I was younger and fitter and did a 12hr solo getting comfort right was as much as the fitness element.

I raised the bars to what looked like an obscene level - knowing the course I knew there were no supersteep front wanderey climbs that I'd pay for that on. But the biggest difference was I took the peak off my helmet. Being able to look forward without raising my head as much made a massive difference.

And yes grips - consider some of those wide / flat ones, or bar ends. Look a bit cack but if you enjoy the day out instead of enduring it, who cares.

I wouldn’t worry about it - 50 miles mountain biking is going make you ache.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to stick the spacer back under the stem , roll the bars back a bit and try some of those grips. Oh and maybe a small beer fridge on a rack at the back..

Clearly you need a new bike.

My usual answer is higher narrower bars with back and downsweep. Low wide bars with upsweep put all your arm and shoulder joints in really unnatural positions. Of course according to Jedi who clearly knows far more than I thats not so good for control so it might be a trade off between control and comfort.

OP have you done a ride this long before?

Has all the classic signs of "no".

I ache from a 50+ mile ride on Friday...my conclusion was i should do more 50+ mile rides

I’d suggest some lifting weights; it made such a difference for me in terms of reducing fatigue. Bench, shoulder press and barbell bent over rows all haloed me.

You could maybe trying moving the saddle further forward to get a more upright position. Since getting my Ripmo AF I’ve really noticed a difference in the amount of weight on my hands when riding, as in there seems to be hardly any when seated. I’m guessing this is down to the much steeper seat angle compared to the Scott Spark that I was riding before. I am sitting a bit more upright and it’s a lot better for my hands, arms and neck. It’s also much better on long steep climbs as the weight seems much better distributed between the wheels so I’m not pulling on the bars to keep myself perched on the nose of the saddle to keep the front wheel down.

High sweep bars (15 degrees or more) are great for comfort, but less good for aggressive riding. But if you aren't into that then get some. Browse On One website they have more options than anyone else (apart from SQLabs maybe) but are cheap as chips so you can afford to buy and try.

IME the Ergon grips above are excellent on high sweep bars but less so on normal ones. I use them on my adventure bike, with 150 degree Fleegle Pros.

Nasty business, that’ll get most people down before 50 miles is up. Maybe invest in a couple of 750 ml bottles w/cages and spread the weight?

Nah, it's a matter of taste. Camelbaks are fine for me, and for a long hot day out two 750ml bottles ain't gonna cut it. Also your 3l Camelbak doesn't stay 3l full through the ride.

In response to above, ive done loads of 50m rides and much longer. Done sdw in a day 5 years running. Did it the year before last with a 15 mile ride to winch then did it. Im pretty sure the forks need looking at. They feel really wooden through the mid stroke and werent using all 130mm travel on fast descents yesterday, felt like they were choking up. Took the last token out ths morning and they feel better, ive noticed they are reluctant to return through the last 15mm of travel....

Those grips with the palm rests like the ones above make a massive difference to comfort on long rides. Not sure I’d want them on my full suspension bike for gnarly stuff, but for everything else they’re great, even if they do look a bit pedestrian.

Did a rather warm 74km today in the Dales. Since we've had the thin end of naff all rain for two months and much of my ride was over limestone there was little chance of sourcing water.

Usually I'll take an MSR Trailshot water filter with me but I decided to take my Camelbak Lobo with 2-2.5L of water, the only other thing in there was my GPS. It's a long while since I've ridden with a pack but it didn't take long to get used to it. I also had a 750ml water bottle on the bike.

Five hours of riding and I used all the water in the Lobo plus about a litre from the water bottle (I refilled it towards the end).

i did 5 litres yesterday but only have 1 set of water bottle cages..

To go against the majority, lower your bars, think about pushing your saddle back a touch to give you a flatter back.
An upright position is not always the most comfortable, my most comfortable bikes stretch me out and take pressure off the back that way.

agree, the bikes newish and much longer than the last one, i like to feel stretched out a bit on longer rides

I've found a bum Bag far comfier than lugging a bit pack about. The position on the lower back is so much better on the back and upper body and less pressure on hands too.