You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I have been using my Cube TM Reaction Pro now for about 5 months. Being my first half decent MTB I was initially just blown away with it – I still love it however now I'm more into riding and picking up more experience along the way I am beginning to think that it needs a tweak to get it more comfortable and set up correctly for me (Body shape/size ect).
Its hard to explain but on long rides and without noticing I frequently find myself resting the base of my palms on the grips (so on the palm area nearest my wrist/ ball of my thumbs) rather than my hands on the handle bar grips “gripping” the grips with my fingers curled round. .
Of course when I am negotiating tough terrain I grip the bars but on normal/smoother riding terrain (and more when I am tired) I default to palms resting on the grips as I have tried to explain above
Now my (normally screwed up) logic would tell me that I need a longer stem as the cockpit is currently too short/tight for my body make up, would this seem a reasonable conclusion? Currently have a Raceface 35 Stem which I think is 50mm long.
I am 5ft 10” however I have short legs (29” inside leg ect) and a long torso.
Any help/guidance and/or advice would be very much appreciated
I change hand position a lot, especially when just cruising along, for the sake of variety more than anything, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Changing the stem length will also have an effect on how the bike rides, by all means try it, but you might not like it.
Horses for courses.... as above, I do the same when just cruising along.
A longer stem will obviously extend your cockpit length, it's also slow the steering a bit and move your weight out front a bit more over the wheel.
I often ride like that on easy ground. Your climbing and descending positions are more important to get right.
I ride like that 90% of the time
Yeah that's my resting position on the bike too. Seems quite common.