So, if (not if, when really, cos I need the height)I move from a zero degree rise stem to a 10 degree rise stem...how much higher will it make my bars...?

depends on the length.

i think

Length remains the same (100mm).

Although....hmm...maybe I could experiment with that too. But I don't need more 'reach'...I just need more 'height'.

New bike is all fine, apart from that one thing. I.e. height of bars (and I can't get any more stem spacers in...so will go for stem rise).

Comments/ideas?

I just did a scale drawing and t came out as 17mm more hieght, thats about as accurate as I could do it, but it won't be far off.

Sorry he needs it to 0.001mm for optimal comfort ;-)

Back to the drawing board.

It's not much is it :(

Thanks anyway :)

Get a higher rise stem then...

or some upside-down roadie bars...

;-)

Or the right size frame or not have my seat so high or cut some length off my legs?

:)

Frame size is fine, I'm just the wrong size/shape :(

I reckon it's 11.1mm higher. Virtually unnoticeable.

That's a bit pap then :(

It might be enough if I lower seat (which arguably might be a tab high) a bit too.

Just suffering sare back/neck/shoulders currently. But maybe thats because its different to old hardtail?

The Sin(10degrees)='s 0.1736 so, 17mm's higher, and 1.5mm's shorter.

woohoo, I was right

:)

I knew there would be a way to do it with trig, but I never got the hang of it...

i come on here to get away with that stuff...

god knows why i actually take a-level maths!

In the words of Sheldon Brown, 'make the bike fit you, don't fit the bike'.

Make sure the frame fits you first. Then start mucking about with bits.

For comfort, the saddle and bars should be about the same height. In riding position your arms and torso should be at about 90 degrees.

"For comfort, the saddle and bars should be about the same height."

This is what I'm trying to move towards. It'll not be far off :)

I'm going the other way now. I found myself cramping down behind the bars to try and get a more aerodynamic position (on an MTB...Hm.), so I've just removed the spacers on my Explosif, and flipped the Ritchey WCS stem to it's lower position, and I'm find it a much more comfortable position.

The saddle is a couple of inches above the bars, so I thought I'd have to experiment a bit with heights, but it seems to be right first time. Much more comfortable...so far.

I'm sure I've seen some German made bars that loop over on themselves ( sort of a figure 8), and have an adjustable stem. It would certainly get some height in there for you. Just wish I could remember where I saw them.

of course I could get riser bars with more rise too I guess which might help a bit....

You might want to consider Syntace VRO stems. A mate's been running one for years, and it's very nice - versatile and adjustable.

It's surprising how big a difference a little adjustment can make. I finished this trip a few days ago. After the first week, the flat stem that makes it such a good day hacker was causing me a lot of hand/wrist pain - to the extent I was having trouble holding my chopsticks. I found a higher raise stem (same length), for £3, in a city called Xining - instant comfort, all tingling and numbness gone