Yet another "what bike should I get" post

[HappyTexasMom]

Hi, everyone,

I've been reading around the forums, and y'all seem like a nice group of women. This is my first post.

I've loved cycling since I did a cycling ride at summer camp when I was a kid. I think it was a 30ish mile ride. At the time that sounded like forever. I could have easily done 60 that day, I think.

Fast forward about 20 years...I live in a hot desert climate and I hate the heat, so I've avoided riding for several years. But a few weeks ago I just got the urge, so I went out on my 10 year old Sam's club mountain bike in the middle of the day and rode. I got hot and exhausted, but loved it.

I've been trying to ride every day or every other day. I'm pretty slow, averaging around 10mph. I've been riding around 6-7.5 miles. Just this morning I upped it to almost 10 miles, which was great, but I did get overheated (yes, I'm drinking...almost 2 liters in my camelpack knockoff, with an electrolyte powder added).

From the first day I'm finding that I get a lot of stress on my shoulders. I have suffered from shoulder/upper back pain for most of my life, so this didn't really surprise me. I stopped by a LBS and they said thet could give me a new riser and handlebars, but it would also require changing out the cables, to the tune of about $80. While I was there, I saw a hybrid bike, a KHS Brentwood, which looked like something I would love (and is reasonably priced; seems to be a midrange bike).

Then last night we were at Target and they had a similarly built (but cheaper) Schwinn "comfort" bike, as well as a Schwinn 7-speed cruiser. The comfort/hybrid bike feels good, but man, that cruiser was comfy. No reaching for the handlebars at all. I loved it.

I think KHS makes a 6-speed cruiser (I do NOT want a single speed). But I'm wondering if it's a mistake for me to get something like this. I don't particularly want to ride competitively, but I'd like to increase my distances and possibly start doing longer group fun/charity rides. I'd love to do a mile century someday (but will do shorter rides in between)

So my question is, would buying a (geared) cruiser be a bad idea? Am I better off with the not as comfortable (but probably "good enough") hybrid? Is one or the other better or worse for long rides? I know that a road or even mountain bike is better speed wise because of the decrease in wind resistance, but I already know I won't do longer distances if I have to ride in that position. I just don't know if a cruiser style bike is going too far the other way. Financially, I will only be able to afford one bike for quite a while, so I need to make it something that will work for me as I build strength & endurance.

ETA I will be riding on street and maybe a little bit of light gravel/dirt (along the canals).

[sarahspins]

I'd love to do a mile century someday (but will do shorter rides in between)

So my question is, would buying a (geared) cruiser be a bad idea? Am I better off with the not as comfortable (but probably "good enough") hybrid? Is one or the other better or worse for long rides?

Cruisers aren't really meant for long distance riding.. at best some are aimed at commuting, but generally the more upright you are on the bike, the less comfortable it will be for longer rides. What feels great for 5 or 10 minutes in a store, or even a 5 or 10 mile ride, is not what will feel great after several hours on the road. So my initial reaction would be that it's probably not the best idea, however, we are ALL different, so what may work as a generalization for most, may not apply to you specifically.. but you won't know until you have a chance to try out several styles of bikes.

If your shoulder/upper back pain is a big consideration for you, you really need to find a LBS who will work with you to find not only the right style of bike for you, but properly fit that bike for you as well... you should be able to try out a lot of different bikes to really get a "feel" for what you like.. which is really hard to do just sitting on a bike in a store, you need to be able to get out and ride a little bit (most LBS will allow you to ride around their parking lot at the very least). It might surprise you what feels best, when you're actually able to sit on the right size frame. To be 100% honest, 2 months ago I had no idea that bikes came in sizes other than "men's" and "women's"... it was eye opening, honestly, to realize how much possibility there was to get a bike that really does fit "perfectly."

BTW, I want to say that 2 months ago I pulled out my DH's department store Schwinn mountain bike and went for a 5 mile ride.. it was fun, but my lower back, shoulders, wrists, and my bottom hurt SO bad... DH and I are very close to the same height (about an inch apart), but we're built completely different. I have long legs and a shorter torso.. he has a long torso and shorter legs than me... so the department store that "sort of" fits him did not really fit me at all.. I was far too stretched out and it was obviously uncomfortable. I knew from my one ride that I wanted to keep riding (I have had several severe knee injuries that all but eliminate high-impact activity for me.. thankfully cycling causes me no knee pain), but it was absolutely NOT going to be on that bike. I wasn't sure if I wanted a road bike or a hybrid, or even a MTB, so I went out and test rode a bunch.. I tried both men's and women's models, and I felt the best on the hyrbids I tried, and at that, one without any front suspention, so that's what I bought (a Trek 7.2fx, and not the WSD model).. just a couple of weeks ago though, I started getting this nagging thought in my head that maybe I really should have bought a road bike even though I felt really insecure on them at my LBS (the handling on every one I tried felt really twitchy to me.. and as a newbie rider I didn't like it).. I actually think now, that I'd be more comfortable on a road bike since I've been riding regularly and feel more confident. I've made a couple changes to my bike (went through a bunch of saddles, and I just swapped out my bars), and I think it will keep me happy for a while now.. but I do think that a road bike is definitely in my future. So my advice is to think not just of what feels best "right now" but also at what sort of riding you want to be doing in the future.. if that means a lot of road riding and the goal of doing centuries, then you really may want to look at road bikes now, rather than discounting them based on your perception that they may not be comfortable... if the fit is correct, that shouldn't be a problem :)

I'm planning on doing a metric century in September (10 weeks from now) and I'm not honestly sure I'll actually make it, but it does feel nice to get out and ride with a goal in mind :D

[MartianDestiny]

Cruiser bikes are definitely the most comfortable for the casual, short distance, cyclist. They are designed that way. They aren't designed to be comfortable in the long haul though. You'll probably start getting rubs from the large saddle, and your legs won't be in an optimal position for pedaling comfort and efficiency for the long duration. Plus they tend to be heavy (you'll feel it on anything approaching hilly), sacrifice handling for comfort with the handlebars, saddle, and headtube angles (fine for paths, etc. Maybe not so fine if you end up doing group/charity rides), and have limited gears (6 is nothing compared to 20 or 24 which are standard on hybrid/road/mountain bikes. You will miss that dearly on group rides, long rides, anything hilly, etc).

You shouldn't settle on your hybrid either though! Not all hybrids or road bikes are created equal, and they don't all fit the same. Especially in the growing class of "hybrid"/utility/urban/flat bar road bikes, there is a lot of diversity in build and fit type. Try out as many as you possibly can. Talk to bike shops and fitters about what can be done to accommodate your shoulder/back pain. Maybe also consider looking at touring bikes (more like a road bike, but with a more comfortable/upright geometry). A good shop can take the information you provide (short term goals, longer term goals, "I'd like to try's", and concerns about fit/pain/etc) and explain to you the benefits, disadvantages, and compromises of the bikes they carry that are close to what you are looking for (you may have to prod a bit though...). Take notes (on the bikes, how they ride, complaints, likes, etc. and the shops). Hopefully you'll find a combination (bike and shop) you are comfortable working with.

My guess (without knowing specifics, or being a doctor) is that you can find a hybrid (or maybe even an upright road bike, we don't all ride with inches of saddle to bar drop like the pros ;) ) that is comfortable for you and still functional for your future goals.

[Crankin]

You've received some good advice. Try all of the hybrids and flat bar road bikes you can, in your price range. My close friend bought a flat bar road bike, after being fairly sedentary and she is hooked. In less than a year she has clipless pedals and full cycling attire. I know you say you can't see yourself on a traditional road bike, but Giant does make road bikes with drop bars and a much more upright geometry.
I used to live in Tempe and can't see riding in that heat at this time of year! Be careful and make sure you hydrate all day long, not just when riding. I would go out at 5 AM, if it was me. I used to walk at that time.

[Kano]

What they've said -- and your shoulders/upper back thing: CORE WORK! Won't cure the shoulders and back, but if your lower torso is doing more work to hold you up, you won't put so much pressure on your hands and thus not your shoulders either. Bike fit is important, and they can do a lot, which is a good reason to buy from a bike dealer rather than a box store (this is part of the added value that comes with the bike shop bike, until there are parts needed), but they can't fix our bodies. That's up to us!

(I take a moment now and then to survey my body and fix things like lifted shoulders and anything else that tends to cause me bother when I'm riding. I find I do less "fixing" as the season progresses -- my body remembers eventually!)

Karen in Boise

[HappyTexasMom]

Thanks, everyone, you've all been helpful.

Kano, I think you are on to something with that core work. Mine is not terrible, but not great, either. Today I was really paying attention to my posture/position and what was causing things to go wrong. I really do think I have too long of a reach to my handlebars. They are flat bars on a mountain bike. I'm constantly trying to push myself back in the saddle (and the saddle is level) and even though I can't tell it by looking at myself, I just feel like I'm reaching too far forwards. I think something like moustache handlebars might be enough get me by until I can afford to buy something better.

However, I did notice that when I tried to straighten up to where I thought I should be, that the core muscles needed to be there (and weren't as much as they should be).

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

And I do totally get buying a bike from a bike shop. I never did before...but then I only road around the neighborhood a bit, so it probably didn't matter, anyway. Now I'm trying to get recommendations for good ones (in a different thread).

[Kano]

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

One of the things I have discovered over time is that for whatever reason it happens, the too much weight on my shoulders IS what makes my neck feel "cranked." My neck may indeed be "cranked," I'm not sure, but it FEELS like it when I'm not keeping my shoulders down. Shoulders where they belong, and even if I'm starting to hurt, it's still always amazing how much happier my body feels!

I know there's very possibly some structural issue you can't fix that causes the pain you experience in your neck and shoulders, but anything you can do to help, right?

Karen in Boise

[sarahspins]

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

It is different.. when you're stretched out too far, you really can't rely on your core to help effectively, because it's just asking too much. If you're on a bike that fits, you're not fighting gravity.. and it doesn't feel like you're reaching too far for comfort... if you are, muscles get tired faster, and some joints may hurt.

Since I just swapped out my bars I am finding myself using new muscles in my shoulders/upper back and upper arms.. but it's not in a bad way, if that makes sense. I'm not hurting, but I am aware that some muscles are getting more of a workout than they had been. I actually expect that in just a week or two (it's only been 2 days), I won't even notice.