Hi all,
I have a 08 stumpy FSR that I use for trail riding and enduros. Not XC racing and equally nothing too extreme DH.
Would like to know what the optimum bar height is for this style of riding in relation to the saddle. I have nothing medical or flexibility wise to worry about (I am 5'7" and 64kgs) so I can try many different things, my fitness is pretty good too. I am from a road background but am getting more and more into the MTB. I have no comfort issues, I do ride the MTB for fun and dont want to race, I do like to get round pretty fast and test my fitness on Enduros etc
I am geeting much advice I am not convinced of is right for me. A mate of mine who rides with me and I respect as a better Downhill rider than me advised me to raise the bars to above the saddle to lighten the front end up so I am not too much front baised in my position, but I am not sure if this is good advice. Because I dont like the feeling when climbing and I find myself wanting to bend forward a lot on the climbs.
SO I am after your advice on what is considered a normal and correctly balanced set up for general trail riding os a 5" bike (i.e decent climbing position whilst not sacrificing bike handling on the way down technical descents)
Thanks
I don't like my bars higher than the saddle...I think mine are 1-2 inches lower than the saddle.
I tend to ride most stuff with the saddle a bit lower than the bars and put the saddle higher at the start of a longish climb. It means getting on and off a few times but I guess that's what the seat quick release is for. I'd just say experiment with your saddle height and see what feels best for you. I don't think there's any right and wrong as we're all different.
I have the bars about 2" below the saddle when the seat's up and the fork's in the middle of its travel.
On my DH bikes, I've always kept the bars as low as I can - forces me to keep more weight over the front end making it corner better.
Its purely a matter of taste - I like high bars - level with the saddle or a bit higher. Counteract the lack of weight over the front by sliding forward on the seat when climbing or using a longer stem.
Its a trial and error thing mixed with personal preference
bars level or slightly lower for general trail riding, drop your saddle for gnarly downs. IMO generally you need some weight over the front of your bike to help with turn in bite etc