Handlebar height/angle ?

Question

Im curious, is there a certain height/angle that my bike handlebars should be at, for example, should they be level with my seat and far enough forward so I have to lean forward more? Thanks!

Answer 1

go to your local bike shop and "get fitted"
they will help you with all angles and set up for a comfortable ride
there are no easy formulas for this, so take the extra time and effort - it will be well worth it!

not only does it depend on your body, it also depends on the type of bike you ride and the type of riding you do...

Answer 2

As a general rule, when you are sitting on the saddle and have your hands on the grips you should have an 80º to 95º angle between your arm and torso when your elbow is locked. This is checked easiest by another person.

For a "comfort bike" type of ride the angle should be closer to 80º which will put you in an upright position while for fast road riding and offroad it should approach 95º which places an even distribution of weight between saddle and handlebars.

As far as handlebar and saddle height, first adjust your saddle so that when a foot is on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke and level with the ground you have a very slight bend in the knee. You can then adjust handlebar height to your preference, watching the arm/torso angle.

Answer 3

Depends upon the type of riding you do. If you do a lot of hill climbing, you might benefit from having your bars lower, so that your weight is over the front wheel. If you require stability, then higher bars are desirable. Some riders state that, once you have set up your saddle, on a mountain bike, your back should create about 45 degrees. (Pull seatpost until, when sitting on the saddle, your leg is nearly extended with the crank on its lowest rotation.

As for the blatant spam that hijacked your question, while possibly nice, all of the stuff mentioned is unsuitable for cycling and you should only use clothing designed for the sport.

Luck