done lurking, time to post

[mimi]

After lurking off an on for weeks, I've decided it's time to post. I'm so sorry Mimitabby that I've chosen a username so similar to yours. I couldn't figure out how to change mine to something else, so I hope we can work this out.

Here goes...and I know you've heard this all before. But you all seem so friendly here and I have so much to get off my chest.

I've been riding since early spring. It all started when I hopped on my GT mountain bike with my 8 year old son back on an unusually warm day in March. We took a ride around our very hilly neighborhood. Poor little guy had never ridden on the street before or a sizeable hill, and didn't have any gears to adjust. He really worked it. I did much better on the mountain bike, but I still struggled.

Anyway, I returned home and told my very wonderful DH how much I enjoyed myself...how I felt my body had really done something. Then I went on to say something crazy like, "I should do the Hilly Hundred or something..." The Hilly is a two-day 100 mile ride in southwest Indiana near Bloomington where I went to college.

Well, once I said it and mentioned it to a few people, it's suddenly a go. All of a sudden I'm gearing up as are a couple friends. I look forward to this "century" in October, though I will admit the hills make me very nervous.

We found locally a 53 cm used Bianchi Veloce...it's a great bike. I can't believe how I move on the thing. We're getting to be good pals...rather intimate really.

I'm doing the best I can to get out and ride, though it's not without a few snags....quite a few really. First off, I've not committed to doing anything for myself in a long time. It seems I've pretty much been pregnant for the last ten years, or just recovering from getting pregnant, or trying to get pregnant...now it's tough finding the time to get on the bike and go. My kids are 8, 5 and 1...no built-in babysitters yet.

My family is really helping to make my bike hobby happen, but I do find myself struggling to get just an hour in between everybody else's activities. I'm sure we all have this problem to some extent.

My other serious issue is comfort. I'm very concerned about a few things Yes, it's my "hoo-haa" giving me trouble. I have read a lot here about saddles and I have a few ideas. (It's a process I realize.)

Just this week I put my mountain bike seat onto the Bianchi and did noticeably better. Still it's not good enough. I will look into saddle types I've seen mentioned here and may go so far as to shoot a little KY into my shorts as well. Gee, once I'm done riding I'll be ready for...well, ya know.

Anyway, onto my biggest concern...the fit of the bike. I truly hate to be thinking this way after spending all this money on equipment, but I'm worried I will never get comfortable on the bike. While I'm riding I generally feel pretty good on it. We've moved the handle bars forward and made several other adjustments. Aside for the saddle issue, I generally feel "right" on the bike.

In the end, however, I experience pain. I'm having pain in my neck and middle back after my ride. This pain really bothers be in the sense that I feel I'm damaging myself and that I should be "listening" to it and making changes. But darnit, there's little else I can do to this bike. I'm 5'5 on a 53 cm bike. Does that sound wrong?

I'm really feeling frustrated with this. My husband actually said today that maybe I should be looking into another bike. I really don't want to do that. This bike performs well and I've already invested in it.

Any and all comments are welcome. I could really get addicted to riding and have so many ideas and places I'd like to go on my bike...not to mention the century this fall. I sure hope I can get this figured out!

Well if you've read my post this far down I thank you. I'm so glad to have found this forum.

M

[KnottedYet]

You say you moved the handlebars "forward". Farther away from the saddle, more toward the front wheel?

Can I ask why?

Because with neck pain and mid-back pain, I'd think the bars were either too low or too far forward.

I would think a 53cm should be pretty close to a good fit, depending on your proportions you can tweak things to make it suit your individual preferences and measurements. If you feel good on the bike, perhaps it just needs some tweaking to feel great!

Edit: there is a really good book that lots of TE'ers seem to use. Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. (or something like that, it's by Andy Pruitt.) He goes into some great detail on fit and fitting the bike to YOU and YOUR riding style, rather than to some ideal. He also has lists of ailments, and what might be causing them and what to try to fix them.

[mimitabby]

Well, Howdy, Mimi, I'm MimiTabby and I ride a used Bianchi Veloce too :D

The Veloce is a really good bike, with good componentry and before you dump
it and go and buy yet another bike, take your Veloce somewhere and get fit to it! It's a lot cheaper than buying another bike. (Unless you have lots of money that is and cost isn't an issue)
It's taken me almost a year to feel comfortable on a road bike after riding the hybrid type before, so give yourself more time. But PAIN, get that checked out!

Go to a shop that does fit, be prepared to spend about $100 (or even a little more) for the fit plus parts if they have to change anything.

and welcome to TE!

[mimi]

Knotted:

I was wrong in stating I'd moved the handlebars forward...I moved them back. I had bought a piece that would bring them closer to the seat. The man at the bike shop mentioned that the reach looked to be too far for me. I felt comfortable with the handlebar move, but ultimately I still experience the same pain.

Mimitabby:

Nice to meet you. I just noticed your illustration done in Bianchi "aqua". We're practically sisters!

[mimitabby]

Mimitabby:

Nice to meet you. I just noticed your illustration done in Bianchi "aqua". We're practically sisters!


Click on the link (the turquoise letters)

[mimi]

Wow! Are these all Team Estrogen gals?

[mimitabby]

Yes! all of them.

[mimi]

Well I may just have to submit a digital of myself once I take the time to pose. Seeing the various Bianchis was like seeing an old friend in those photos. It really is a great bike.

[KnottedYet]

Seeing the various Bianchis was like seeing an old friend in those photos. It really is a great bike.

Bike love is a beautiful thing!

[Zen]

Wow! Are these all Team Estrogen gals?
Why are you girls and not women?

Is there a TE TREK team?

[SouthernBelle]

Why are you girls and not women?

Is there a TE TREK team?


They're neither. They're gals.

[LBTC]

Mimi, welcome!

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it - have you checked your bar width? The handlebar should be roughly the same width as your shoulders are.

My small Giant came with a 44cm bar! I should have a 36cm bar....I was a chicken about how skinny that would be and went for a 38cm ergo bar and really love it. It did eliminate some neck/shoulder pain for me right away.

And the saddle I use is the Saddleco Flow. Very unusual design, but I find it means no pressure on the precious bits!

Enjoy riding!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Zen]

They're neither. They're gals.


According to this (http://www.sersale.org/bianchi/), they're girls.

[mimitabby]

Zencentury,
in the truest Italian tradition, females are girls and males are boys.
If you ever are in with a group of women ANY age in Italy, you will notice
that they do NOT refer to themselves as women "Donne" or "Femmine" but
as girls "ragazze" and I was just carrying over that Italian tradition.
Men are the same way; they call each other "ragazzi"

If it is really disturbing you, I will change "girls" to "gals"

MimiTabby

[Zen]

It just seems diminutive to me. When I hear that I'm reminded of the old west and "saloon gals"
Now where's my Trek women's team?

[HillSlugger]

Now where's my Trek women's team?

Start it up! ;)

[mimi]

I don't mind being called a girl. I am one. I don't allow anyone or anything to make me "diminutive".

LBTC: great idea about the handlebar width. I'll look into that. It'll be worth the money to make these changes if I can find comfort.

[Jiffer]

Hi mimi. I'm a newbie, too. Hubs got me into riding tandem with him last Fall and now I'm awaiting my new Cannondale single to come in. Woo Hoo! Looking forward to doing my first century. Maybe I'll end up doing one around the same time as you. At first I thought I'd better wait until next season to think about a century and just focus on half centuries for now. But hubs and I have done 50 or just under 50 miles a few times now on the tandem, so I can see the reality of doing 100 (though I'm not fooling myself into thinking it will be easy!). Maybe I'll do it on the tandem first with him, then on my own. We'll see. I just can't wait to start riding single ... any day now I hope! (There's some hold up with my frame coming in and it's driving me crazy!)

I highly recommend you have your bike fitted professionally. My husband had a bike for a couple of years, rode it a lot, finally had it professionally fitted and was amazed at the difference. We get every new bike fitted now. (The tandem, his newest bike and pretty soon my new bike.) It's just not worth it to not pay the extra hundred bucks or so.

As for your pain, it's normal to have "some" pain issues when getting used to riding. So, make sure your bike is the right size and fit and then give it a little time to see if your pain issues go away. In my opinion, if you realize your bike isn't the right size for you, don't let your investment in it keep you from getting the right bike. If you have added nice components to it, take them off and sell the frame. Buy the right frame and put your components on that. Just a thought. I'm getting a new frame and putting my husband's components on it from his last really great bike, before he bought his current really greater bike! :)

[kabewyou]

Hi Mimi: I learned that assumptions were made based upon my height as to what size frame I needed by many bike shops. I am 5'6" with longish legs and I am most comfortable and fit best on many brand's 51cm. frame. I kept getting steered towards 53cm and 54 cm. Once I actually sat on the bikes and they could see the complete fit, then the sizing changed. I also like having the option of not riding as if I am stretched to the point of no return. I agree, get yourself professionally fitted, riding is supposed to be fun, not painful.

[madscot13]

Why are you girls and not women?

Is there a TE TREK team?

perhaps we should start one?


Madeline proud Trek 520 rider.

[mimi]

Kabewyou,

I think yours is good advice...it's what I was afraid of hearing. Even though I've not felt totally comfortable, I LOVE my bike. I just really feel like it performs. Its previous owner also loved it and got a lot of use out of it.

I know this connection I have with it might sound strange, but I'm greatly disappointed that I may need to give it up.

Still, if I have to get a different one I will. My neck is still hurting from riding two days in a row...as is my back. I'm also certain my saddle pain is more than just rubbing...it's poor positioning. It all really points to the reach.:(

M

[rachelroo]

I think I'm going to try to ride the hilly this year too. I'm still shopping for a road bike while riding my hybrid, I'm thinking maybe the trek 1600wsd or 2100wsd. Anyway there should be some sign to let us know who lurks on this site.

[mimitabby]

Rachelroo, there are signs of who is lurking. if you don't register, you're considered a guest. and it's easy to see how many guests there are at any time
if you go to "quick links" and "who's on line"

welcome to TE

[rachelroo]

Sorry mimitabby, I ment at the ride- figuring out who other TE members are. For example, at scrapbooking events all of the people who are on the scrapbooking message board I hang out on way too often wear green ribbons so we can identify each other. Good times, I decided to go with the Trek 5000wsd, way more than I wanted to spend but the 2100's were unavailable.

[mimitabby]

oooooooh! we're more subtle than that. We plan beforehand and look for each other.