Bike Fitting - Handlebar Position: Getting the fit right for comfort, enjoyment and performance.

Road racers will invariably have the handlebars lower than the saddle. This is partly dictated by aerodynamics, but it also distributes the rider’s weight between saddle and bars. A more upright position may feel more immediately comfortable, but of course means that most of the weight of the upper body rests on one small contact area, which can lead to posterior soreness on longer rides.

Most people find flat handlebars easiest when new to cycling. They offer greater steering control and so are invariably used on mountain bikes. However, dropped handlebars, as seen on road racing bikes, offer a greater variety of riding position, and are also favoured by many experienced touring cyclists.

For general riding the choice of handlebars can be left to personal preference, and there’s a good deal of scope for personal choice in riding position too. However any discomfort that develops during a ride, or aches and pains afterward, may suggest that some adjustment is needed. For instance, lower back pain may suggests that the riding position is too stretched. This can often be rectified quickly and inexpensively by fitting a shorter handlebar stem.

Riding position is a complicated subject and there’s no substitute for observing - and talking to - experienced riders. Real bike shops will also offer advice. This also suggests that buying a new bike by mail-order or online is a risky business unless you already have the experience to know exactly what you want.

The copyright of the article Bike Fitting - Handlebar Position in Cycling & Mountain Biking is owned by Jon Sparks. Permission to republish Bike Fitting - Handlebar Position in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Dec 7, 2006 4:29 AM

Hugh Taylor :

Thanks for this information Jon.
I'm looking at buying a new mountain bike and this will help me make a decision.
I just do a little off road cycling and am not into serious down hill stuff. Also I don't want to spend a lot of money. Are there any cheap bikes you would recommend?

Dec 12, 2006 3:21 AM

Jon Sparks :

Good question and suggests a subject for an article or two on the site soon.
It's also a tough question because there are hundreds of mountain bikes out there, and hundreds more that look like mountain bikes but aren't really.
In the end it depends what you want to do - most bikes except for pure road racers wiill cope with easy forest tracks and that sort of thing, but on anything tougher a lot of the cheapo bikes will give up the ghost pretty quickly.
The best advice is probably either to go to a reputable bike shop and spell out your requirements or to go to one of the big online bike merchants and look at entry-level mountain bikes. In the UK where you are these would be sites like wiggle.co.uk, edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk or evanscycles.com
As the 2007 bikes are now arriving, there are often bargains to be had in 2006 ranges. You'll be looking at hardtails (front suspension only) and you shouldn't expect disc brakes either.

Dec 13, 2006 2:17 AM

Hugh Taylor :

Thanks Jon. I'll try edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk I've bought gear from them in the past when I lived in Edinburgh and found that everyone in the shop was a bike expert. It's a cooperative and everyone who works there has a share in the business.