Raising handlebar position

[Mac1]

I have just acquired a specialised crosstrail which I like very much but there is a lot of pressure on my aging wrists. Does anyone know if it possible to raise the handlebars on these bikes please

[Jdsk]

I suggest that you add a photo of the bars and front end and another side-on with you on the bike.

Jonathan

[531colin]

You will be able to raise the bars by fitting a riser stem.
However, to take weight off your hands, move the saddle back ....Google "Steve Hogg seat setback for road bikes".

[Mac1]

It’s not a road bike it’s a hybrid. I will look into stem risers. Thanks

[Witterings]

It’s not a road bike it’s a hybrid. I will look into stem risers. Thanks

I think he was just quoting the name of it but your "balance point" and principles around it will be the same irrespective of whether it's drop handlebars or not and may well help with the issue you're having.

[531colin]

It’s not a road bike it’s a hybrid. I will look into stem risers. Thanks

Oddly enough, I know what sort of bike it is. If you want to take the weight off your hands, move the saddle back.
If you also want to raise the handlebars, fit a riser stem. Stem raisers are the work of the devil.
For the new stem you need to match the handlebar and steerer diameter; after fitting the new stem you need to set the headset bearing pre-load.

[Jdsk]

If you also want to raise the handlebars, fit a riser stem. Stem raisers are the work of the devil.

What's the difference, please?

Thanks

Jonathan

[9494arnold]

Also you need to check if your cables are long enough to be raised with the bars.

[Paulatic]

The difference

[Jdsk]

Thanks... the one on the R is a riser stem?

Jonathan

[531colin]

Thanks... the one on the R is a riser stem?

Jonathan

Yes. A riser stem simply substitutes for the existing stem.
Stem raisers are a different kettle of fish.
You can't use them on carbon steerers, at all.
The type Paulatic illustrated clamp round the steerer where the old stem was and use the existing star-fangled nut. There can be problems with the headset if the extender won't sit exactly square; if you only need a bit of a raise for the bars you get a bit of extender sticking up, which you can trim off if the bolt thread is long enough, or you bash the star-fangled nut down a bit.
There is another type https://spacycles.co.uk/m9b0s88p2989/BBB-Steering-Tube-Adapter that fit with a wedge inside the steerer column...as far as I recall only suitable for steel steerers. .you have to remove the star-fangled nut (or bash it down out of the way) and you need additional headset spacers which you use in the normal way. They are un-detectable in use, and can give small increases in bar height. (with a small number of the thin shims you can see in the picture, and the extender pushed well down into the fork steerer.)

You always need to re-set the headset bearing preload.

[Jdsk]

Thanks, Colin.

Jonathan

[gxaustin]

You can also get riser handlebars which can look neater, and could be used in conjunction with a flipped stem and/or riser