bikes with super short stems & a Jones bar

[fatbikerbill]

if you were (uncool) to put a Jones bar on a bike with one of these modern short stems that would put the bars way back & be daft.

If you then changed the stem for the appropiate length that moved the bars forward would that give the same/similar riding position as the short stem & a 'normal' set of bars ?

To my simple bear sized brain it would.

[Bearbonesnorm]

[ScotRoutes]

As I've said previously, I don't change the stem length when fitting Jones Loops. My hands are in pretty much the same place as normal bars and just at a different angle.

[Bearlegged]

Having just spent my first appreciable period of time on a set of loop bars, I'm interested in this too.
35mm stem feels too short for my riding position anyway (I feel like I need a bit more stretch), but I'm also trying to figure out what the handling should "feel" like. Front end felt very light, and less planted than my usual MTB with wide, not very swept risers. But then isn't the point of loop bars to put the weight back a bit? So less weight on the front end would make sense?

[restlessshawn]

Funny enough that was exactly my view on Jones bars...still thinking I might try again

[Jurassic]

I'd be interested to hear folks opinions on this subject as well. I've just fitted some fake (On One) loops on my Ramin and my first impression was that I need a shorter stem. The main hand position felt fine (I'm sort of used to that as I previously ran Mary bars which have a similar back sweep) but the forward "aero" position felt too stretched out for sustained use. I don't plan on riding anything super technical on this bike (I have better tools for that job) but my shake down ride involved a section of fast rocky descent on an old drove road which required precise steering to avoid disaster and the bars felt fine on that. I did stop and push the saddle forward on it's rails and that felt like an improvement overall but I don't want my seat position to be too extreme so I think trying a shorter stem will be my next step.
FWIW I've been going shorter on stem length on my gravel/cx/road bike recently as well and am struggling to find any negatives, the less stretched out position is easily countered by bending your elbows more and a decent aero road position is still attainable and the reduced reach to the drops makes them more usable as well.

[Jurassic]

35mm stem feels too short for my riding position anyway (I feel like I need a bit more stretch)

That's really short though isn't it? I'm currently running 70mm and was thinking of trying 60 or 50. Maybe the sweet spot is in the middle somewhere?

[Bearlegged]

I've got a 90mm stem in the spares box, and a friend who reckons they may have a 60 somewhere. It's experimenting time!

[Jurassic]

I've got a 90mm stem in the spares box, and a friend who reckons they may have a 60 somewhere. It's experimenting time!

Nice! I'll do likewise and report back with my findings.

[Mart]

Ive got my loops on a 70mm stem. Only changed the bars when it was fitted, stem stayed the same
It does make you sit a little back, more upright

[Jurassic]

It does make you sit a little back, more upright

Upright on more challenging terrain would probably be a good thing though eh? Plus you can still stretch out to the loop section for road and easy tracks.
To be fair there are a lot of variables which probably mean there's no single correct answer to stem length (frame size, saddle position, top tube length, personal anatomy and personal preference).

[sean_iow]

I'd try it with the stem the bike has. It's fitted with a short stem to compensate because the top tube is longer?

The Jones should sit you more upright. I try to change one thing at a time when experimenting otherwise you can get lost working out what had what effect.

Don't expect the Jones to feel right straight away, it took me maybe 10 hours of riding to forget the 20 years of muscle-memory of riding straight bars. Now I wouldn't change back, straight bars just feel wrong now.

[Specialist Hoprocker]

I chucked a slight riser stem on but kept the length the same (60mm).

[mtbmarkymark]

When i fitted my Jones loops ( 660mm wide ) i think i went up from 70 to 90mm on my Salsa.
I have just fitted some Jones copies ( On one Jeff's ), cut them to 660mm and gone up 10mm on a different bike.

[thenorthwind]

A timely thread for me too. I've actually taken my Jones bars off my Longitude and put Surly Molokos on to try - slightly less sweep but similar principle. These have given me pretty bad hand pain with even moderate use, but I wasn't entirely happy with the Jones Loops either.

I figured with the longer top tube than the sort of frame these bars are really designed for, that I'm having to lean forward too much and put too much weight on my hands, which rather defeats the purpose. The current stem is 60mm though, so it doesn't seem like there's much room for adjustment. 50mm doesn't seem like it would make much difference, so I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap 35mm stem to try, but thus far haven't turned up anything.

I discussed this with whitestone on a thread on STW, and he suggested trying to raise the bars up, which also makes sense. Unfortunately I've already got quite a few spacers under the stem, and no spare steerer to add more. A short stem doesn't allow much room for significant rise either.

[Jurassic]

A timely thread for me too. I've actually taken my Jones bars off my Longitude and put Surly Molokos on to try - slightly less sweep but similar principle. These have given me pretty bad hand pain with even moderate use, but I wasn't entirely happy with the Jones Loops either.

I figured with the longer top tube than the sort of frame these bars are really designed for, that I'm having to lean forward too much and put too much weight on my hands, which rather defeats the purpose. The current stem is 60mm though, so it doesn't seem like there's much room for adjustment. 50mm doesn't seem like it would make much difference, so I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap 35mm stem to try, but thus far haven't turned up anything.

I discussed this with whitestone on a thread on STW, and he suggested trying to raise the bars up, which also makes sense. Unfortunately I've already got quite a few spacers under the stem, and no spare steerer to add more. A short stem doesn't allow much room for significant rise either.

These are available down to 40mm for not too much money (although they won't help with adding height).
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bra ... prod139235

[thenorthwind]

The thread on "the other place" I mentioned for reference: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topi ... ar-set-up/

Thanks Jurassic - might be worth a pop.

[Jurassic]

The thread on "the other place" I mentioned for reference: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topi ... ar-set-up/

Man, STW has to be the most obnoxious forum I've seen across all the many activities I've participated in. I used to go on there years ago and it was fairly heavily populated with closed minded, opinionated, self appointed experts even back then but every thread you read these days has (at least) one of these buffoons attempting to foist their unhelpful drivel on others who are just looking for a little friendly advice or discussion. Sorry, rant over.

[Bearlegged]

...I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap 35mm stem to try, but thus far haven't turned up anything.

Not sure it'll help with the rise issue, but this seemed to be the best length/cost option I could find.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/oversize-bi ... 02831.html

[GregMay]

I've made no changes while using my older Jones bars over the past few years. With the "newer" wider ones I think I went for a 5mm extra stem. Can't recall.

Aside: STW is somewhere I am happy I left a few years ago. Pre-hack days it was actually quite nice. It happens to forums. They change. As has this place in many ways. But we fester in different ways. Mainly our smell.

[Bearlegged]

Man, STW has to be the most obnoxious forum I've seen across all the many activities I've participated in.

Have you not tried LFGSS?

[Jurassic]

Man, STW has to be the most obnoxious forum I've seen across all the many activities I've participated in.

Have you not tried LFGSS?

No I haven't. Just Googled LFGSS and was thinking I was being set up! I was genuinely relieved to see what it actually is.

[Jurassic]

Aside: STW is somewhere I am happy I left a few years ago. Pre-hack days it was actually quite nice. It happens to forums. They change. As has this place in many ways. But we fester in different ways. Mainly our smell.

I'm not trying to blow smoke up any one's a*#e but everybody seems genuinely helpful and friendly on here and even the inevitable newb questions are patiently and respectfully answered. It's the only bike forum I use (used to go on the old fat bike forum which was nice as well but unfortunately the new one doesn't seem to have taken off). I'm all for a little gentle sarcasm and teasing but STW is well out of order imho. Group hug anyone?

[BreninBeener]

Mrs B has some Jones bars in a Specialized Chisel. We experimented with drop bars and road shifters but madame decided she wanted Jones bars.
The problem for us is the steerer on her bike has been cut short, so we need a short riser stem to get the bars in what seems like the correct position.
If anyone can recommend a short stem with a significant rise that would be great. Otherwise i fear we have to use a steerer extender.
Ian

[ScotRoutes]

Mibbe one of these?

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/componen ... tem-p19902