Giant Anthem - frame size and....

[Rocket-Boy]

Flats should be compulsory equipment for all new riders. Seriously... But proper flats, not those supermarket plastic jobbies. 

 

Ones like these

 

http://spank-ind.com/media/k2/galleries/13/SPIKE-FLAT-PEDAL.jpg

Because new riders should appreciate the feeling of bleeding shins!

Flats have their place but they aren't for everyone.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Because new riders should appreciate the feeling of bleeding shins!

Flats have their place but they aren't for everyone.

But they should be for all beginners. Can't learn proper technique on cleats. I agree that once you've learnt how to handle a bike properly, on flats, that the change over to cleats can reward you with a better performance on XC & marathon as well as other disciplines, but while you're still a beginner, it is critical to learn how to handle your bike on flats before making the progression (if you can call it that) to cleats. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

720 mm on a 110 mm stem and I am currently riding an x large frame with 720 mm bars and 100 mm stem. 

Do you do technical singletrack, or are you a dirt roadie? Do you compete in XCO? Marathon? Top of the pile or a weekend warrior?

 

As I've said before, in those cases where you're at the sharp end of XCO / Marathon it's okay to have a slightly longer stem, but still not ideal from a bike handling perspective. 

[Rocket-Boy]

But they should be for all beginners. Can't learn proper technique on cleats. I agree that once you've learnt how to handle a bike properly, on flats, that the change over to cleats can reward you with a better performance on XC & marathon as well as other disciplines, but while you're still a beginner, it is critical to learn how to handle your bike on flats before making the progression (if you can call it that) to cleats. 

Fair enough, I spose I learnt from a youngster on those horrible plastic/alu bear trap things that cant call themselves flats.

 

Anything trail should absolutely be flats, its always more fun, but for me personally and what I ride cleats work best.

[mxjunke]

I ride technical single track and dirt road. I ride all Tygerberg trails and honkers and g spot in Stellenbosch. I agree with the wider bars but still disagree with the stem length. I have ridden short and longer stems and I ride motocross as well. So I can easily tell if something doesn't handle well and the longer stem (not excessive) is better.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

You must be one of the exceptions then...

 

Edit: because in pretty much ALL situations, a short stem and wide bar Will offer superior handling characteristics and enable better weight positioning ability than a long stem setup.

 

Maybe test it with a slightly wider bar and shorter stem. 760/70 for example. At 191cm you should have a fairly wide arm span, so the extra 2cm each side shouldn't be a problem, but the combo should offer you superior control especially out the saddle and when the going gets gnarly

[Rocket-Boy]

You must be one of the exceptions then...

 

Edit: because in pretty much ALL situations, a short stem and wide bar Will offer superior handling characteristics and enable better weight positioning ability than a long stem setup.

 

Maybe test it with a slightly wider bar and shorter stem. 760/70 for example. At 191cm you should have a fairly wide arm span, so the extra 2cm each side shouldn't be a problem, but the combo should offer you superior control especially out the saddle and when the going gets gnarly

Have to agree here, a wider bar just feels so much better.

Thing about wider bars is that they need shorter stems so it makes sense to use the wide/short combo. It made a big difference for me.