New bicycle advice

[Autigirl]

Hi Everyone!

I am new to the group and have a question about bicycle fit. After 20 years of not cycling about a year ago I bought a comfort bike. Until I started riding again I had forgotten how much I love riding. We ride almost daily and average at least 60 miles per week and 20 on the weekend. I definitely needed to get a bike more appropriate for long rides.

Last weekend I bought a road bike. I am almost 5' 10" and the salesperson at the bike store told me I was too tall for a WSD. I ended up riding 3 different bikes and liked the Specialized Allez the best. I wanted to shop around some more, but my dh convinced me this was the bike for me so we bought it. Almost immediately I had regret.

The next day we went on a long ride and while the new bike handles well, I was so uncomfortable. My main problem is neck/upper back pain.

I have had the bike one week and have ridden every day for at least 30 minutes. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't just my body not being used to the new position, but each day it gets worse.

It is so disappointing because I usually ride for at least an hour a day on my comfort bike and now with the new bike I don't even want to ride 30 minutes.

I really like the upright position of a comfort bike and have no desire to race. The comfort bike is just not good for long rides so I needed to get a different bike. I don't know if I made a bad choice, if it is a bad fit or if my posture is the problem.

I don't know what to do now. I called the bike shop and our salesman is on vacation. They said I can bring the bike in for a fit, but not sure if that will help. I was fitted when I bought it.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kat

[Biciclista]

It sounds like the fit doesn't fit!
I'd talk to the manager of the shop. I know they probably don't want that bike back, but it sounds like they fit the bike to your legs and neglected the fact that you have a shorter torso and now you're overstretched.
Good luck.

[Grits]

Go in for the fit. They can probably change the stem to one with a less aggressive angle so you are more upright. I had to do that with my first road bike.

[ny biker]

I would bring the bike back to the shop and tell them exactly what hurts and under what conditions. They should be able to make adjustments to help you.

Good luck.

[wildeny]

Autigirl, before going to your LBS for a fit, you can measure yourself up and input those quantities in this Fit Calculator (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO). It will give you three bicycle frame settings. Check them with your current road bike. This way you can have some idea about what went wrong. Then check with what your LBS will say about your bike.

If your bike geometry is within the ranges of these three, then the problems may be others (for instance, riding positions etc).

[Zen]

What Biciclista said.
WSD fit isn't dependent upon height alone, it's mostly for women with a short torso.
Either the salesperson doesn't understand WSD bikes or he didn't want to be bothered explaining the fit to you.

[Autigirl]

Thanks for all of the advice. With the help of my dh I put my measurements into the fit calculator. Surprisingly I was a bit shorter than I thought. I must be shrinking! <grin> My bike is a 54, which is right with the French Fit.

What I really would like to know is if I would be more comfortable on a WSD. When I went to the store the salesman said I was too tall for a WSD. Of course they didn't have any in my size...

My problem is that I am leaning way to far forward and have to stretch my neck up to see what is in front of me. Today one of my friends sent me several pictures of her racing in the Hotter than Hell last year and she has her road bike set up so she is in an upright position. Her handlebars are higher than her seat and she rides a Trek Pilot WSD. Ironically we are the same height.

In retrospect I feel like the salesman told me that I wouldn't fit on a WSD because he wanted to sell what was on the floor. <sigh> I honestly just want a bike that is comfy. I just want to ride!

I guess I need to take the bike back to see what they can do for me. I thought getting a new bike would be so much fun! It has been such a headache for me.

Kat

[VeloVT]

Kat,
I wouldn't *rush* to the conclusion that you bought the wrong bike -- conditioning for your new position may very well take more than a week :). That's not in any way to minimize the suggestion to have your fit looked at, I think that's definitely a wise idea, but it may be partly a bike fit issue and partly a conditioning/riding habits/form issue.

Best of luck!

[Autigirl]

Kat,
I wouldn't *rush* to the conclusion that you bought the wrong bike -- conditioning for your new position may very well take more than a week :).

Best of luck!

Liz,

I think you are right. I am taking my bike to the bike store late this afternoon to see what they can do. I definitely think the handlebars need to be raised - at the very least. I am practically lying down when I ride so I have to strain my neck to see where I am going. It is just not a comfortable ride!

I hope to get this thing resolved and be able to put my comfort bike back up taking it out only for trips to the park with my kiddos. <grin>

Have a great day!

Kat

[MartianDestiny]

As others have said it is possible that the bike is just too long for you.

However, it may just need some adjustments. It sounds like regardless of bike size the shop set you up in too aggressive a position to start with (or didn't set you up at all).

If there is still steerer tube left you can move the stem up and drop the spacers below it. You can also change to a shorter stem, one with a higher rise (angle), or both. Switching the bars from standard "male" bars to what they call "short and shallow" (or just short) may help as well (brings your reach back some and makes getting in the drops and up on the hoods easier). Would also be a pretty good idea to measure your shoulder width (collarbone I believe) and compare that to the handlebars, they may well be too wide which will further cause you to feel like you are laying down (or falling flat on your face) and contribute to neck and upper back pain.

I'm 4'11" and my main rides are not WSD. It has little to do with your height and much more to do with body proportions. (as you are learning)

I'd go back to your shop. Explain your pain and see what they are willing to do to see if this bike will indeed work for you before concluding it doesn't fit at all (my bikes all have custom picked bars, stems, seats, and seatposts to dial in fit...it's not unusual). Hopefully those few minor changes will help you get the bike dialed in without having to go through the headache of trying to get the shop to exchange it (and if the shop is good they'll be willing to spend some time and work out some deals working with you on this).

[MartianDestiny]

Wanted to add:

It does indeed take a fair bit of time to get used to an aggressive position.

I've never ridden fully upright like a comfort bike; I was used to mountain bikes. My shop left my steerer full length (allowing bars to be in my "mountain bike" position just above the saddle to start). I'm dropping spacers slowly as I get used to the bike and limber up (stretching multiple times a week now). By slowly I mean ~3 months and 1000 miles before I dropped the first 5mm spacer out and I was sore after that ride (you'd be surprised how much difference that little adjust made). Good again now, but it will be awhile before the next one comes out.

I can only imagine how much going straight from an upright comfort bike position to a road race position would hurt!

[Autigirl]

Thanks so much for all of the advice. There is such a wealth of information on this forum. I am learning so much!

This afternoon I went to the bike shop to see what could be done with my bike. The salesman who sold me the bike was on vacation so the manager helped me. I was so apprehensive, but the service I received exceeded my expectations!

The manager is very knowledgable about WSD and immediately knew what the problem was. He told me not to worry that he would make it right, and he did! He definitely thought I needed to be on a WSD and started getting them down for me to test ride. What a huge difference!

I ended up exchanging the Allez for a Dolce. I have to give props to Richardson Bike Mart in the Dallas area for great customer service. The manager was awesome! The exchange was painfree and I can't wait to ride my bike tomorrow!

Thanks again,

Kat

[VeloVT]

That's awesome. I'm glad you had such a good experience with the shop and more importantly, glad you found a bike that you love :p. Enjoy your new ride!

[sgtiger]

I'm happy for you that you found a bike that fits you. Woohoo! And props to manager for recognizing that the other one wasn't working out and letting you exchange it hassle free.

[Jo-n-NY]

Congratulations!!! Looking forward to a ride report. I hope you feel better with the Dolce :)

~ JoAnn

[Biciclista]

oh what great news! I was cringing at the thought of them modifying that bike to fit you. I've already done that with a bike and all it got me was a less stable bike that still didn't fit me correctly.

Have fun with the Dolce, I've ridden them, they're nice bikes~

[ZenSojourner]

You would not believe what I did to my Trek to get it somewhat close to sort of almost fitting, LOL!

I replaced the stem, the brake levers, the handlebar, the seat post, the seat, the pedals. The only thing I didn't replace was the crank.

It was still too long for me, but it was as close as I was going to get in an off the rack bike. Even the WSD bikes they are making now are not suitable for me, as I'm long legged and short waisted even for a woman. They'll fit me to standover and then I'm having to lean so far forward to get the handlebars that I can't sit properly.

I used to ride with a friend who was 6" taller than me, we had the same length arms and legs. All that difference was in the torso, LOL!

LOVE my Terry Madeleine! Now I know what it's like to ride a bike that fits.

[Autigirl]

Just had to say thanks to everyone for all of the kind words and support. I *love* the new bike!

Kat