I'm probably of no help here. The stem for each stemmed cockpit is the same... it's the Dirt Drop 100 (26.0 diameter clamp) from RBW (obviously N/A for the Bullmoose/ Tallmoose cockpit).
I deliberately kept the stem the same because I wanted to get the full effect of the difference in handlebars. I sought the variety, not the notion of optimization. I've found myself comfortable with each of the bars, for my 10+ mile-each-way commute and for my 30-50 mile weekend ride. I'm least comfortable (yet still quite content) with the Noodles. I do love the feel of the VO elkhide. And it's fun knowing I stitched it up. I do vary Dirt Drop's insertion depth to taste. So the difference isn't entirely in the bar. Though, actually, I max out the height on the Dirt Drop 100 for the Moustache and Noodle and drop it probably 3cm from max for the Albatross. Since I started out so extreme, it's not entirely surprising that as I spent more time with more bars, I've actually *lowered* my Albatross bars from where I originally had them, which was also maxed out on the Dirt Drop 100. Them bars was high! Currently, by anybody else's definition, my Albatross bars are still high (maybe 5-8cm above the saddle... I should do the measuring and the math and figure it out someday). But man are they comfy! I expect that, eventually, I'll also get a 200mm extension Bullmoose bar (which I think would be a slight improvement for the Tallmoose arrangement) and then allocate the 150mm extension Bullmoose for use without the extender. Talk about variety! And I expect that, even sooner, I'll create a more stretched-out Alba arrangement with bar-end Silver shifters. I think that the use of a Dirt Drop with the Albatross and bar-ends would pose issues due to the closeness of the bar-ends. While I very much enjoy where the grips land with the Dirt Drop / Alba combination I have now, they could also be further forward and still be fine. And with bar-ends, I think a Technomic 11cm or 12cm stem might limit the likelihood of getting Silver-stabbed. Seems like that should kill vampires or werewolves or something. One thing my cockpit variety has taught me is that, within a pretty broad range, I may have a preference here or there... BUT (for *me*, for *my* riding habits, and for *my* riding environment) comfort is primarily about saddle position (and perhaps about the saddle itself). Having gotten that right, I can comfortably ride as far as I'm ever likely to ride on any of my cockpits. The variety is just icing on the cake. Yours, Thomas Lynn Skean On May 19, 8:01 am, Ginz <[email protected]> wrote: > Thomas, > > Your page is great -- lots of useful information there. Also, I like > the Kevin's bag on the front of the bike. I might try that. > > Do you know off hand which stems (model and length) you are using with > each handlebar? It would be interesting to compare the exact change > in effective cockpit length and bar height with your change in comfort > level. > > Ginz -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
