Is this a normal experience?

[Lori]

I am a definite novice a cycling. Up until about a month ago I have not ridden a bike in years. However, as I said, about month ago I pulled out the "Next" Brand bicycle that I bought from Walmart a couple of years ago and never road. It has been sitting in my garage since the day I bought it.

Anyway, the bike is too big for me, but the only problem that I had was that the saddle was horrific, so I visited a local LBS and bought a new one. Of course, the shiney new bicycles did not go unnoticed. Neither did the look on the faces of the people who worked in the bike shop when I told them that I had a Walmart bike.

So I have been reading and looking around a trying to decide what bike I could ride that would be better that I could afford.I am a petite female (5 feet, 27 inch in seam) and fit more on a child's bike than a women's.

Anyway, today I made the purchase. I bought a Giant XTS 225. My measurements were taken, the test drive was driven, the things that needed to be tweaked were tweaked. From the test drive, I was excited and could not wait to ride. So, I did.

And now, my legs ache, my lower back aches and my body in general is very sore.

I rode less today than I normally ride and did not ride anywhere or on any path that I do not normally ride on. Why is this happening?


Is this a normal event when one purchases a new bike? Does your body have to get used to a new bike? It just seems odd that my cheap Walmart bike did not cause these problems, but my new bike does.

Any insight from you ladies that have more experience than I do would be much appreciated.

[RolliePollie]

My guess would be that this is pretty normal. Even if your new bike fits you, it seems to me that your body might take a little time to get used to the new position. Even though you've already got a bike and you're used to riding, the new bike is putting your body in new positions and probably using muscles in a different way. When I first got my bike, everything hurt while I was riding and after I was riding (and I was only riding 3-5 miles on a flat bike trail). But pretty soon, things stopped hurting so much. Hopefully this will be the case with you as well. Good luck and don't get discouraged! :)

[Zen]

I can't find that bike in a search:confused:
Did you go from upright to drop bars?

[pinkychique]

I bet the biggest thing is that you're just not used to riding. Riding made me really sore the first long rides I went on ( and riding a bunch of little ones has the same effect). I vividly remember lying on the couch wanting to die after my first 70 miler...so it's all about getting used to it.

The BIGGEST thing about your back: take the bike to a professional bike fitter to make sure it's the right measurements for you. I was lectured by my BF's dad (a doc) about how someone he knows rode a bike that didn't fit him and then ended up with a permanently messed up back.

Then make sure you do your core workouts! The core strength helps the back to do less work to hold you up in the saddle, so at the end of a ride you feel better. It makes a huge difference to have a strong core.

Keep on riding!! :D

Congrats on getting the bike not from Walmart!!

[blueskies]

I couldn't find the "XTS 225" on the Giant web page, so I don't know what kind of bike you have... but to me, it sounds like you've got problems with your fit. When I rode my new bike the first time, it killed my lower back. I went in & had a professional fitting & I've been happy ever since. If a professional fitting isn't in your budget, there's a book that I've heard people recommend... Andy Pruitt, maybe?

If you could post a picture of your bike, and even better, a picture of you riding your bike, I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable women here would give you tips for what to adjust. Typically, the LBS will try to get you set up on a bike that is roughly the right size. Then, you often have to make adjustments to the saddle position & to the handlebars.

One other question, is your new bike a different style of bike from the old one? And are the handlebars different?

Don't worry. You'll definitely be able to get it sorted out, and be riding pain free & with your smile on.

Congrats on the new bike!

[cricketk]

Is this a normal event when one purchases a new bike? Does your body have to get used to a new bike? It just seems odd that my cheap Walmart bike did not cause these problems, but my new bike does.


I found when I changed from riding a hybrid bike to riding a road bike, I was ache-y for quite a while - the different position (and the enjoyment of speed) killed me for the first couple of weeks.

As I've gotten more comfy on the bike and more conditioned to riding in a road position, I've found bike fit to be an ongoing project. After a few months, I decided to lower the seat a little more than I originally set up, and a few months later, I've decided that I need a slightly shorter stem.

I think that maybe by the time I've ridden this bike continuously for a year, I'll have it set up completely how I want.

[OakLeaf]

Ha, sounds like our answer is "maybe yes, maybe no."

It's been a long time since I transitioned directly from one bike to another, and I really don't remember having an experience like yours. But I can tell you that when I was commuting long distance in the car, I was always sore for a couple of weeks when I got a new car. My body just had to adjust to a slightly different position.

It sounds like you're only having muscle pain? That's much better than having joint or nerve pain, anyway. Is your riding position radically different from your old bike? Have you been doing core strengthening exercises?

As long as you're not having joint or nerve pain, if it were me, I'd give it a week or so of consistent riding, do a lot of stretching, keep up your core workouts, and see if the pain starts to resolve. If not, then it's probably time for some fit tweaks.

[mimitabby]

if you didn't ride any more than before, and you ARE doing your core exercises, take the bike back and tell them where it hurts!
You shouldn't hurt that bad from a bike that fits. When i went from hybrid to a road bike, I had a lot of issues because the bike didn't fit me right.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think there's a difference between pain while you are riding and soreness after you ride.
To me this sounds like muscle soreness from being in a new position.

Before I got into biking, I used to do 3-4 mile brisk fitness walks almost every day. Then I started biking, and got so into it that I totally stopped doing my walks for about 8 months.
Then last month my knee started getting sore and I figured I'd alternate walking with biking to see if it helped.
OH MY GOD after my first two walks I could hardly hobble around the house! My entire body was in pain and I felt ancient. :eek: :eek: :eek: And here I was biking between 75-100 miles a week, yet I could barely hobble around just from a couple of brisk 4 mile walks!! It was becuase the two activities used slightly different muscles in different ways.
Happily, after my 3rd walk I felt ok and now I walk twice a week along with my biking to make sure this doesn't happen again. :rolleyes: (Besides, I need the weight-bearing exercise to prevent bone loss.)

It's amazing how painful sore muscles can be after a new kind of workout.

[flash]

Hi Lori,

Definitely talk to your LBS about what wasn't comfortable during your maiden voyage on your new bike!

It's possible that some or all of the discomfort is related to the "new position" (compared to your old bike) -- even a subtle change (such as saddle height up or down by half a centimeter) can cause some discomfort (legs, back, pressure on arms/hands) at first, and that is why making gradual changes in bike fit is critical.

It's also possible that describing the pain/discomfort to the shop where you bought your bike will set off some 'red flags' regarding fit isues, and the shop may be able to swap out components (to change things like stem length/angle, handlebar width and height, seat position (fore/aft, angle, height)) or tweak your fit a little more to make you more comfy.

Don't be shy ... the LBS is there to help you. They want you to be happy with your bike and passionate about cycling for a long time. Plus, you'll save a lot of your own time by asking them for help!

Monica

[Lori]

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/kids/1290/29388 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/kids/1290/29388/)

Here is the link to my bike. Also the seat that I have is a Selle Royal 3Demension, which seems to be okay. My butt is not huritng.

I was measured and fit for the bike when I bought it and tested it at the store.

I am thinking that maybe I am to stretched out . Maybe the handles bars are to far away.

What is a reasonable distance between the handlesbars and the seat?

I have also noticed that when I am off the bike and I push it backwards, it is much harder to roll it backwards than forwards. It almost feels as if the brake might be on.Sort of "tighter" if that makes any sense.

I have checked the brake and it is not on.

This whole process has kind of made me feel like an idiot.

Thanks for your time ladies.

[Kano]

When I went from "comfort beast" to road bike this past spring, my sales guy did what I think of as rudimentary adjustments -- kind of the stuff you'd do for anyone, you know, seat, handlebars, that sort of thing -- and suggested I take it home and ride it for a couple of weeks, then come back for the more "custom" stuff, when I knew what was the bike and what was me.

HE expected me to be uncomfortable for a while, changing position so drastically, and I knew that would likely be an issue too. (he may have thought I was a crazy lady, who wouldn't ride it more than about twice, cuz there I am, in jeans and tennies, a short round lady, saying I want this "more power" bike.

Took my bike home, put on my clipless pedals (poor cannibalized beast sits in the basement, wheels off and all, cuz DH kept breaking spokes and "borrowing" my wheels, so I couldn't ride her if I wanted to! and I don't, really, with the platform pedals. I have grown to really dislike those...)

Anyhow, back to my subject -- went for a ride, loved it, but my hands hurt. Got different gloves to help that (twice) and a few weeks later, I did take it in for some tweaking on the handlebars, along with shims on the brake levers. I also bought a new saddle, and have puttered with its position off and on all summer, but that's all the adjusting that's been done: raised the bars a barely noticeable (by eye) bit, and the saddle. I've gotten much stronger overall, and learned a few things about where to put myself on the bike (the Tour de France is important educational TV, you know -- see what they do, try it, it's amazing!) and with very little mechanical fine tuning, I'm incredibly comfortable on my bike!

(Me, I've undergone extensive "fine tuning" this summer, heck, you could almost call it a major overhaul!)

Karen in Boise

[Lori]

You could not find the bike because I typed in the wrong bike.

It is a girls Giant MTX 225.

I took it to the LBS today and had the seat and handlebars adjusted and it made a huge difference. I really appreciate all of the responses and help.

I do have a second question though.......

I notice that I feel everything in the road through the seat. Even the seams in the sidewalk. I upgraded my saddle so I do not have any problems there, so far. I am just wondering if there is a different seat post that will help with that.

Why do I have a feeling that this is going to be an obsession instead of a hobby !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As always, thank Ladies.

[HillSlugger]

A carbon seatpost will absorb a lot of the road vibration and a suspension seatpost is also a possibility. Are you wearing padded biking shorts?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Nothing wrong with feeling the seams in the street while you are riding- unless you are experiencing discomfort because of that. If you are like me, then the more you ride the less the small things will bother you.
If the tiny bumps bother you- you could also switch to fatter tires rather than buying a carbon seat post...if your bike will take fatter tires. Fatter tires definitely give a smoother cushier ride. A cheap test is to not inflate the tires you have to full limit- try 15 pounds less than max.

[coyote]

Along the same lines as Lisa's thinking....you might want to see how much air your tires have in them. If they are at the max. PSI, you could take about 10psi out. That might make a difference. Some tires have a min and max. If yours does then try playing around with them.

[jusdooit]

What ever gave you the idea this would become an obsession? LOL.
Never feel dumb, you're just learning. And trust me there's a lot to learn.
BTW ditto on the tires.

[malaholic]

Take a close look at the saddle angle - is it tilted slightly downward? If so, adjust it until it is nice & level; that may help if you are having lower back pain. When I bought my bike the saddle was angled just a few degrees down and my lower back was just killing me - the guy leveled it out, and I've not had a back problem since.

If you're feeling too "stretched out" you may also want to have some other adjustments made to effectively shorten the length of the cockpit and give you a more upright riding position. This could be along the lines of either using a shorter stem, or rotating the bars up, or changing the angle of the stem to raise the bars, or sliding the saddle slightly forward (note on saddle sliding - that may also take your knee position out of whack so don't do it if your saddle is already adjusted correctly). As you ride more and start to ride more aggressively, you may eventually want to return to a lower riding position.

I'm not really sure about the legs aching, where does it hurt & what type of pain is it?

[OakLeaf]

If you were riding a steel frame before, aluminum transmits way more road shock. Keep your elbows bent, wear gel gloves.