[Closed] Still struggling with bike setup

most bikes with 150mm forks should probably be ridden with your weight 'forward' - is it your first bike of this type (from your forum name I guess it might be)?

maybe compare to a bike you do like and see where the differences are, although you may struggle to shift your weight back further other than by shortening the stem.

Shorter stem will move your weight from your arms to your saddle/pedals.

TBH, you might benefit from going to a LBS and asking their opinions about setup - they can see you in the flesh, and advise minor adjustments.

its not the first bike of this type no.

would make it easier to compare with a previously 'liked' setup, then?

those bikes have been and gone tho

I am using the rule of thumb of weighted string from the front of my knee intersecting the pedal axle. This feels too far forwards though.

With the pedals in what position?

A thought...if it's a new bike then you should give yourself a few weeks to get used to the different position. Secondly when you make adjustments you should be moving each component no more than 5mm per week.

It sounds as though what you're doing is constantly moving contact points around and thus your body never gets the chance to adapt to your new riding position.

Like I said tho, just a thought. As I've never seen you on said bike all I can do is take a few random shots in the dark.

I feel like all the weight is on the bars

Shorter stem takes weight off the hands, as above. I'd say you're on the short side for a large bike, so you might like a shorter stem. Or rotate the bars back a bit.

Or move the saddle forwards.

Or raise the bars with stem spacers or a higher rise stem.

This kind of bike needs a more upright stance than an XC race bike (I'm assuming you're an XC racer?) which will feel weird at first. It's worth it though - presumably you bought the bike for big riding, so sit on it like it's meant to be sat on 🙂

Post pica of u on the bike. Easier to see what might be wrong.

I am nowhere near an xc racer - the user name was a piss take

Initially it was set up with the 50mm stem off my ragley which was too short so swapped for an 80mm that i had. I am sure that a 70mm stem is what i really need in reality

At 6ft 1”, a large Heckler doesn’t sound like it would be too large for you. Anyone can only ever make a recommendation based on their own experience, so here’s mine.

I’m 5’ 11”, ride a large frame with a TT length of 23.5” but I run a 50mm stem and a 730mm bar. This moves my weight back so that it’s centred between the wheels but still gives me the option of moving it forwards to weight the front as needed.

An 80mm stem would be way too long for me. It would put my weight forwards on the bars without it being ‘my choice’. Yes I want to weight the front, but I want to do that when it’s right. Otherwise I want to be centred on the bike.

The wider bars create more room to move in the cockpit and when combined with the short stem, makes for a very comfortable and very controllable set up. I know the set up works as far as pure DH and single track speed goes, but it’s not a cross country set up by any means.

You should definitely try a 50mm stem and perhaps a wider bar as I personally think this will cure the problem.

i had a 50mm stem and it was too short hence the 80mm stem, i felt too high for the bars if that makes sense, if i put the stem up the steerer then the front end wandered, hence trying a longer stem - higher up

bars are >710mm

Yeah sorry Ralph, I only saw your previous comment re. the 50mm stem after I posted.

When you say you 'felt too high for the bars'? with the 50mm stem, do you mean that you felt 'tipped forward', i.e. the problem is the relative position between where your hips are while seated and where your hands are?

yes exactly that

Bump