Can I reverse my stem to raise the handlebars?

Triathlon Forum
1

Perhaps this is glaringly obvious, and the point to the deliberate angling in this stem, but knowing that caster in a car is there for a purpose I wonder if the same occurs here.

My problem is my handlebars are WAY too low, like ridiculously aggressive. I have a fairly small frame and the seat is far too above my elbow height here and it’s murdering my lower back if I ride for more than about 45 min. I can go on my mountain bike without back pain, though.

I have the spacer rings already here as high as possible, but if I reverse the stem so that instead of it pointing less than 90 (in reference to the fork) it points up I’ll gain at least an inch of height. Will it mess my handling up in any appreciable way?

Thanks!

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/Skoorb100/stem.jpg

2

yes.

3

Should be OK as long as there is enough slack in the cables. Give it a go.

4

Yes, it will also bring your bars back slightly.

5

Thanks all. I have no idea why I’ve wrestled with this for three years and not raised it up. I thought it was a weakness in my body I had to purge but truly my seat is much higher than the line on these bars so it’s time to fix it up!