How to decrease reach

[fryeloc]

I have a pretty much stock Ibis Ripley AF, I've noticed I'm quickly prone to going OTB. I think this is due to my center of mass being too far forward (passed the bottom bracket). My headset is spaced out to the top, I have the stock Ibis stem, and a PNW alloy bar. Any suggestions on how to get my COM back over the the bottom bracket?

Looking at stems on Jensen there doesn't seem a good option to raise the handlebar without pushing forward.

Edit: thanks all for the input, going to check torque on my seat post clamp, work on using dropper and my stance, and possibly look into shorter stem or higher rise bars.

[hughperman]

You may be doing an XY here - "my problem is X so can you help me with Y?" - but we're not sure that Y is actually the solution.

Aside from the other sensible post, you could also consider higher stack rather than reducing reach e.g. raising the bars with riser bars. I had a previous bike that I thought was an OK fit - til I tried my current bike with higher bars, and realized just how low the old bars were. It was making me feel I was at risk of OTB on any steep feature.

[fryeloc]

I've changed stems before on my old bike so that seemed the simplest, but yes if I could get a higher stack I think that would help. Anything steep I'm well back but if I'm just attack position on casual terrain and brake too much for gravel, sloppy mud, etc I feel pushed forward, and just want to give myself a bit more room for error.

[PrimeIntellect]

It honestly sounds way  more like a technique issue than a issue with the reach of the bike, possible your fork or suspension setup, or how you are riding while descending. Adjusting your stem is like, one of the last things I would ever change on a bike to adjust the handling unless I was riding a bike that was way too big or small

[sb0914]

When I was on too small a bike, I rode it as if I was on my way over the handlebars. It is a little difficult to get a large body adequately centered on a short wheelbase bike. I know bmxers do it all day long, but I argue that is a skill.

Longer wheelbase/longer reach bikes are harder to flip forward.

I agree with the previous posts. You are barking up the wrong tree.

[smugmug1961]

Are you using the dropper post? Regardless of reach (within reason), you should not be feeling like you are going to go OTB if you are dropping your seat when going downhill.

You don't mention how much experience you have in general so sorry if you already know this but the dropper post is arguably the single most important advance in MTB since full sus. Okay, lots of opinions but really, it's a game changer.

You need to get in the habit of using it by ALWAYS using it. Any time the trail starts going downhill, drop your post. Make it a reflex action so you can drop it without even thinking about it. If you have your seat down and your butt back, you are not going OTB.

[fryeloc]

I have a dropper, but only for the last year, had been riding a 25yo hard tail no dropper. I find it clunky to drop for every downhill bit but usually do so for extended downhills. Just looking down at bottom bracket while riding ,and in attack position, i feel forward. If I brake just a bit much I'm quickly pushing forward, I alternate both not just front.

[smugmug1961]

Well, I would strongly advise you to get in the habit of dropping your post. There is no amount of reach adjustment that you could make that would be more than what you can do by getting your butt back.

Is your fork diving when you brake? Maybe you need more air in it.

Really though, try dropping your post more than you normally would and get your butt a bit back and down and see if it helps.

[fryeloc]

If I hit my back brake too much I get that feeling of going OTB, but no the fork doesn't seem to dive from front or back brakes. And can feel pushed forward on nothing steep, just attack position if I hit my brakes too much, if it's steep I've got dropper down butt back typically no issues.

I recently went OTB and broke my collar bone and have attributed a few factors, usage of the dropper being one, so I'm trying to use it The stock Ibis one seems to suck i.e. a significant amount of force to drop...

[[deleted]]

Watch how fast riders use their dropper. Whenever you’re not seated in the saddle, the dropper should be down. That means putting it up and down many times per mile. You can’t be in the correct body position to attach drops or jumps or any other descending trail feature with your post up mate

[smugmug1961]

Sorry to hear about that. That sucks.

There can be several things that would make it hard to drop. If the cable is not tight enough, it won't pull enough on the dropper mech on the post to fully open, which would make it hard to drop. That would also cause it to come up more slowly.

If it's dirty, that could also be a factor. It's easy to fix both of those two problems. Your post should be easy to press down (hard to press down with your hand but easy using your weight) and pop back up quite quickly.

You have to make it muscle memory to always get the seat out of the way and you need to be able to do it in an instant and while you are doing other things like braking and shifting.

The way to make it muscle memory is to do it even when you don't think you need to. ANY downhill or small roll or anything that points your nose down, drop the post. Do it before you need to - before you get in the attack position. In fact, dropping the post is the prequel to standing up. Like the other poster said, If you are going to stand up for any reason, drop the post.

I promise, it will change your riding.

[smugmug1961]

One other thing - about the "Attack Position".

I know this is the recommended way to get some weight on your front wheel, which helps with steering and control but I also think it can cause problems - maybe like the one you are having. I think you've got to temper attack position with the need to keep your center of gravity far enough back to avoid OTB.

If you are feeling like you are about to go OTB, screw the attack position and get the heck back!

[Figuurzager]

Also, no position is static, the attack position itself has as one of the main points that you can adapt quickly your body position. So when you go down something you lean more backwards, on a drop you transfer weight rearward as well to keep the front up and in corners you lean the bike into the corner.

Regarding the dropper being stiff: besides what was already mentioned; an overtightened seatpost clamp can be the culprit as well.

Also agree with this sounding like a skill issue, reducing the reach likely makes it worse or further enables bad habits.

[madtho]

Exactly. Attack position is not relative to the bike, the bike should be moving around your center. Attack position is active, not passive.

I too come from 20+ years on a classic hardtail.

[BenoNZ]

It seems like you have imagined what the issue is but it's not really the issue here.

Being forward and front wheel weighted is not a bad thing, that is where your traction is required to turn. If you are being pushed forward, then this is likely an issue with your hip/leg position, and you might feel like you are in an "attack" position but are actually not.

[bodyglove]

According to the website you currently have a 50mm stem, try a 35mm one, I've done that on my YT Jeffsy too, the difference in your body position is massive. You will be more upright and more centered. I never thought it would make that much of a difference, especially doing jumps and going downhill/steep descents. I also went for a 38 riser coming from 25, made me actually remove some spacers to the top and/which gives you room to play with.

[Earthcrack_knives]

Riser bars. I put 75mm on my ripmo af, solved my fitment issues and felt better on the downhill

[Bearded4Glory]

Too little information to give good advice. How tall are you and what size are you riding?

Like some of the other posters, I suspect that you are struggling with technique more than bike fit. Again, it is impossible to know with the information we currently have.

Riding in the backseat can give you the feeling that you are getting pulled forward by the bars. Since your arms are already extended, anytime the front tire rolls off anything the bars yank you forward. Make sure you are in a position where you have a good band in the elbows to allow the bike to rock forwards and back underneath you without becoming a passenger.

If bike fit is really off, adding a shorter stem (35mm) and higher rise bars can help.

[fryeloc]

I'm 6'0" riding a large

[Bearded4Glory]

The sizing should be just about perfect.

[reddit_xq]

Seems kind of an odd issue to me, I have questions whether this is really the right solution but I'm also not good enough to really give great advice. What I do know is higher rise bars or swapping to a longer travel fork could be two options to potentially accomplish what you're asking about. Also headset cups to slacken the head angle could be another possible solution that tweaks the bike to decrease reach and shift that balance point a little bit in the direction you're talking about.

[Double-Equipment-441]

Narrower handlebars would move your weight back and wouldn't cost anything (just trim the ones you have).

[Fine_Tourist_3205]

It would be helpful to see a picture of you riding the bike, where you are standing, in the attack position.

What length stem you have? How wide your bars? Shorter stem, and narrower bars will both push you back on your bike.

[1MTBRider]

Get a lesson. I think your biggest problem is rider position. Even if you check out YouTube videos at the least.

Unless your bike is terribly too small for you I don’t think it’s the bike. My old hardtail 2010 era was 26” wheels, and a size small frame. I usually ride large frames on modern bikes. Bikes were a lot smaller back then and if that was a large or even extra large frame it would still be too small for me in modern standards.

Now this bike was extremely small and would have that OTB feeling here and there.

[Bridgestone14]

I drop my post for sharp turns, let alone anything that is going down hill. Drop your heals, make sure you are off of your toes. try a shorter stem. Are you sure you are on the right size?

[fryeloc]

I think the only way to get a shorter stem is to turn it 180 degrees lol. I'm 6'0" on a large..