Help me save this wrong build 🙏 (new rider trying to set up for bikepacking)

Hey everyone!
My first Reddit post about bicycle 😁

Yesterday I bought this beautiful second-hand bike – steel frame and fork, handmade in Leipzig/Dresden by Rotor/Retrovelo

The problem is… the geometry.
It’s a 56 cm frame, but with a 61 cm top tube 😅
It came with a 90 mm stem + VNT Elements drop bar (85 mm reach)

I’m around 180 cm tall, and with that long top tube + long stem + long-reach bar, the cockpit just feels way too stretched — it’s honestly unrideable for me right now.

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My goal:

I’m trying to get into bikepacking – long, comfortable, fun rides with bags, dirt roads, and the occasional wild camp.
This bike has potential… if I can just rebuild the cockpit to fit me better.

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Since I’m super new to bike setup, I asked ChatGPT for advice – and now I’d love to hear your thoughts too.

Here’s the suggestion I got:

Switch to an alt bar (I’m looking at the Velo Orange Crazy Bar)
Use a shorter stem (35–50 mm)
Maybe adjust the saddle slightly forward if the new setup feels cramped

I’d love to know:
1) Does that make sense for bikepacking use?
2) Would you recommend another alt bar instead of the Crazy Bar?
3) Would you try this at home, or go to a shop? I don’t have any tools yet, and I’m a little nervous about messing something up — especially since it’s got a Pinion gearbox 😬

Thanks a lot in advance! I’ll post a photo of the bike too — it really is a beauty, and I’d love to get it dialed in for adventure.