A few things to keep in mind: -Riding in an upright position will recruit different muscles in your legs and butt, you may feel it to be a bit harder to ride fast in this position. You will also catch more wind which can slow you down a bit. -You should keep in mind the steering axis. If your stem is too short, you can create overly "whippy" steering. Making sure your stem is long enough will resolve that issue. -You'll also likely want a wider saddle.
I have a "drop bar" Surly Midnight Special. It's a great bike but I'm not currently in love with the position even though my handlebars are mounted higher than my seat. I find that my "golfers elbow" is aggravated by the hand position and I rarely use the drops. I'm also not a racer, I don't enjoy super aggressive position in which is why I have my bars mounted higher than my saddle. I acquired a Long Haul Trucker that is a small for me if I built it with drop bars (albatross bars,) but it's absolutely perfect as a swept back build. I'm in a fully upright position on it and I use it as my sometimes work-commuter, bop around town bike. I feel I have the best viewing angle for checking my surroundings on this bike. I recently completed a build of a Velo Orange Polyvalent with their Wave bars. I'd say it's right in the middle of a fully upright and neutral drop bar position (not dissimilar to my angle on the Midnight Special.) It's currently my absolute favorite ride. If you have a bike you don't mind spending money to convert, I highly recommend it. As Igor from Velo Orange says "change your bars, change your life." He highly advocates for switching things up. If you have the dough to spend on a new bike built this way, I think the Platypus or the Clem-L are calling your name somewhere in the distance... Midnight Special photo is a little outdated. I no longer have racks on it, just a saddle bag support. Considering putting flat bars on it. Long haul Polyvalent On Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 12:04:10 PM UTC-4 DavidP wrote: > If you don't have a cruiser-y / townie type bike for more laid back or > utilitarian rides, and you have the space and ability to have another bike > then I'd definitely recommend an additional bike for this. Though if you > have a couple of aggressive drop bar bikes it's certainly possible to > convert one for this use. > > Albatross and Billie bars are versatile because they can be setup to offer > a range of back angle positions depending on where you place your hands. > I've found that using a stem 30-40mm longer than my drop bar stem puts the > grips of the Albatross bar in a more upright position than the tops of the > drop bar, and moving my hands up to the bends feels like riding on the > hoods. You can get even lower by moving into the hooks of the Albatross bar > and bending your elbows. > > Tosco bars (which I have on my Platypus) can do similar things but are > just a bit less roadish. > > On most sweptback bars my primary cruising position is usually between the > grips and the bends with the heel of the my hand resting on the grips, the > palm of my hand over the brake lever clamp (a low profile clamp is good > here), and a couple of fingers resting on/forward of the brake lever body. > > You asked if sweptback bars might be good for riding 1-2 hours. They > certainly are, but with the range of positions they offer they are also > good for rides even longer than that! > > -Dave > > > > > > On Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 9:58:54 AM UTC-4 Jay wrote: > >> Thanks for the responses! Keep’em coming >> >> Tim had some good questions, I’ve tried to answer these below: >> >> “…off the bike?” >> - I have a desk job but I use a sit / stand desk. Years ago when I got >> this, it was a revelation, and really helped a much worse than now, neck; >> however, I notice my legs get tired when I’m standing, and again, if I go >> for a ride after work, and I’ve been sitting/standing 50-50, my tired legs, >> I believe contribute to feeling sluggish on the bike, and perhaps a poor >> posture as I have limited power >> - I walk a lot, stretch, and practice good posture off the bike >> >> >> I thought I would add that I visit my chiropractor for an adjustment >> every three weeks. The days shortly after, I am more comfortable on the >> bike. For example, two days after my last adjustment I did a road ride >> with my friend, 85km with wind and even snow, I felt great. A few days ago >> I did a 60km ride with my friend on a perfect day with very little wind, >> and was really sore. I have a chiro appointment tonight. As I get close >> to the end of that three weeks, I can feel more pain and thus attribute >> what’s happening to the spine in the three weeks in between adjustments. >> This is the closest I have to a good diagnosis! >> >> Jason >> >> On May 9, 2024, at 7:50 AM, Tim Bantham <tba...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> There is a lot to unpack here but I think I get the basic gist of what >> you are asking. For reference I ride a drop bar AHH, a drop bar Sam and a >> Billie bar'd Platy. I'm an older rider and I too suffer some aches and >> pains while riding. Nothing debilitating but it is noticeable. Sometimes >> more than others. Like you I experience some aches in my C spine between >> the shoulder blades. This is from holding my head in a position to see the >> road in front of me. I am also seated at a computer most of the day while >> working which can be harmful to your posture if you aren't vigilant. >> >> I am not so certain your pain is related to not maintaining a good >> posture on the bike while riding. I'm not a medical professional and I >> don't think you would come here for medical advice. At least I hope not >> LOL! >> >> I would want to know what you are doing off the bike. You didn't say what >> you did for work but if are spending your days sitting at a desk and then >> you hop on your bike to go ride. Your body is in a hunched position all day >> long and then you are in the same position while you pedal. If that were >> the case I could see how some aches and pains could crop up. >> >> Riding an upright style bike on days where you aren't feeling it may help >> but I'd be more inclined to shorten your ride or not ride at all. Also pay >> attention to your posture off the bike. Having awareness of your posture >> during your day to day life will be more beneficial then only making those >> adjustments while riding. >> On Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 12:56:14 AM UTC-4 krhe...@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> @Jay, >>> >>> I have been a roadie for 53 years. I retired my road bike sixteen years >>> ago. I was growing old. I became tired of riding in the drops. I wanted to >>> ride upright. My posture in my neck and shoulders were hunched over. >>> >>> Over the many years, it became a struggle with me trying to find a >>> bicycle that I could fall in love with again. I went through about four >>> different bicycles. >>> >>> In the fall of 2022, I purchased my first Rivendell Clem Smith Jr. "L" >>> bicycle. It was a 59cm. Over the course of a little over a year, I >>> concluded that the 59cm size was not working for me. It was too large. I >>> sold it. I found and bought a 52cm Clem as a "Demo" at RBW headquarters >>> last November. >>> >>> Since then, I have adapted very well in riding the 52cm Clem. It fits me >>> a lot better than the 59cm. I am very happy with it. I have the Nitto Bosco >>> 58cm handlebars. These bars I really love for an upright riding position. I >>> have zero weight bearing down on them. All my weight is on the seat and >>> back tire. When I come home from my rides, I feel my posture is a lot >>> straighter, than before. >>> >>> I ride mostly pavement on the nearby trails near where I live. >>> Occasionally, I will go off road, when the feeling for adventure strikes me. >>> >>> The only problem I have is a personal issue in discomfort with the loss >>> of subcutaneous fat on my bum riding my saddle at 69 years old. I am >>> nearing a resolution with optimism. >>> >>> Kim Hetzel. >>> >>> As one grows older, the handlebars get higher and the gears get lower. >>> >>> On Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 8:15:45 PM UTC-7 Richard Rose wrote: >>> >>>> What Doug said, almost exactly x2. >>>> Long time Roadie here but transitioned to MTB about 15 years ago - now >>>> 69. Never had serious issues with properly fit road bike. But after a lot >>>> of MTB riding it never felt right again. However, I started having pretty >>>> serious hand/wrist issues with straight MTB bars. Bought my Clem to have >>>> something comfortable to ride when not mountain biking. Instantly >>>> comfortable for all rides/surfaces and for up to six+ hours. So I got a >>>> Gus >>>> to have a swept back MTB. Both are superbly comfortable. Now I am back >>>> riding road/gravel when I do not want to drive to the trail. But when I do >>>> drive to the trail it’s more fun than ever. >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On May 8, 2024, at 9:45 PM, Doug H. <dhansf...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> When I bought my Clem Smith Jr it was a revelation in riding. I had >>>> ridden mostly drop bars for many years and like you I would have shoulder >>>> and neck pain after long rides. The Clem with Tosco bars and an upright >>>> riding position solved my aches and pains immediately. I also discovered I >>>> could ride for 3 hours without pain and my mileage wasn't much less than >>>> with a "road bike". I recently bought a Roadini with drop bars. The bars >>>> were up nice and high so I don't think I would have experienced neck or >>>> shoulder pain. But, I decided to swap the drop bars for Albatross bars. >>>> Swept back bars are my preferred and only bars now. This is what works >>>> for >>>> me but I don't recommend it to people necessarily. I just share my >>>> experience and preferences if asked. Another thing about an upright >>>> posture >>>> is being able to take in the scenery better as I ride. Like I said, it was >>>> a revelation for me and has transformed my riding experience. >>>> >>>> Doug >>>> >>>> On Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:28:41 PM UTC-4 Jay wrote: >>>> >>>>> I was always aware of bikes with a very relaxed geometry / setup, and >>>>> it wasn't until I started seeing Rivendell bikes and watching youtube >>>>> videos of people riding them that I really thought about it - is it more >>>>> comfortable than drop bars, even if I have a more neutral (not >>>>> aggressive) >>>>> position on the bike (i.e., bars close to level with saddle)? Would this >>>>> be a good option for just cruising around, but for 1-2 hours? If I >>>>> didn't >>>>> get along well with flat bars on mountain bike, would swept back bars be >>>>> better? >>>>> >>>>> I'm going to ramble a bit here, my apologies in advance. I haven't >>>>> thought long enough about this to formulate my question succinctly. >>>>> Hopefully you get where I'm coming from. >>>>> >>>>> *Quick background* >>>>> - been riding a little over 20 years (closing in on 50!) >>>>> - started with mountain biking (hardtail, singletrack); moved to road; >>>>> tried mountain biking two more times (I love being in nature) but didn't >>>>> like the thrill/danger, and hated the idea of driving to the trail head; >>>>> have been mainly on the road for last 15 years, though with 10 years of >>>>> 'gravel' bikes/riding >>>>> - I've had ongoing issues with my cervical spine (nothing serious) and >>>>> this leads to some problems when riding in any sort of aggressive >>>>> position >>>>> on the bike; I see a chiro regularly; stretch a lot; workout / strength >>>>> training; have had numerous bike fits >>>>> - I have a Roadini, Salsa Fargo and a road bike (25mm tires, but >>>>> custom made and really does fit like a glove, for road) >>>>> - I don't care about performance at all, I just love riding bikes, in >>>>> particular when roads are not busy, or on trails, gravel roads, etc. >>>>> >>>>> On a good day (75% of the time), I can ride any of these bikes and >>>>> during the ride I feel pretty good (little to no pain), maybe a bit of >>>>> pain >>>>> after (could be neck/shoulders, but anywhere else really), and after >>>>> stretching I feel great in a 1/2 to full day. I ride 4-5x a week, >>>>> workout >>>>> 1-2 times spring-fall and more in the winter. >>>>> >>>>> But at least once a week, and maybe twice, I'll be riding, sometimes >>>>> tired as it's after work, and within an hour I'm running low on energy >>>>> and >>>>> probably start to develop a bad posture on the bike, over-using my arms >>>>> which causes problems in my neck and shoulders, leading to upper body >>>>> aches/pains (while riding, and after). Takes a lot of stretching and >>>>> awareness to reset. *This is what I'm trying to resolve (move from >>>>> 75% to 99%)* >>>>> >>>>> My guess is that even with a bike like the Roadini or Salsa, with bars >>>>> about level with the saddle, and even with a professional fitting on >>>>> each, >>>>> when I want to ride but I'm lacking energy, it goes poorly. But is that >>>>> because these bikes are "kind of" aggressive (when compared to say a >>>>> spine >>>>> angle closer to 70% and swept back bars)? Or is it simply a combination >>>>> of >>>>> age, history of some 'issues', low on energy and thus bad posture kicks >>>>> in, >>>>> and would any bike be a joy to ride, or should I just go for a walk on >>>>> those days!? >>>>> >>>>> I would love to hear from those who ride both drop bars and also swept >>>>> back (or similar) in a way more relaxed geometry, or those who >>>>> transitioned >>>>> to mainly this style, because it almost fully resolved your issues, if >>>>> they're anyway similar to mine. *On a day when you're not feeling >>>>> it, but you have to commute or just love to ride, do you leave the drop >>>>> bar >>>>> bike in the garage and hop on your more relaxed bike, and thus avoid most >>>>> of the issues you would have had on the other (slightly more aggressive) >>>>> bike?* >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f5b5e22-f9ba-4882-8a5e-14f51aead408n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f5b5e22-f9ba-4882-8a5e-14f51aead408n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> -- >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/X90ugbkjmrE/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/100121ca-1dde-4824-8916-139cf0ac487fn%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/100121ca-1dde-4824-8916-139cf0ac487fn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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