So, the bike doesn't fit. Damn.

[WolfGirl]

I've been on this quest for a few months now to get my bike to be more comfortable. Put on new grips, finally settled on a saddle, extended the stem, got a slightly curved bar...and it's still not right. I had it professionally fit about a month ago-ish, where I had my latest saddle (Brooks B-68) put on and the stem extension done. At the time the guy doing the fitting said "Well, the bike sure isn't too big for you," and went on to say that if he were selling it to me today he'd have me go up at least a size.

Since the fitting I've noticed two things:

1. The saddle problems (a lot of lasting numbness in the ladybits) are gone, but I realize I'm not actually SITTING on the saddle much; I'm using my legs to hold myself off it somewhat. Is it because it's not padded and I can't sink into it like a barcalounger? Is it because it's still not broken in and I'm unconsciously protecting my butt? Is this actually ideal to have an "active" riding posture? I have no idea.

2. I'm really leaning forward and putting a lot of weight/pressure on my hands. A lot. Is it because my core is weak (I'm overweight and not in shape) and I'm not holding my body up? Is it because the seat is positioned wrong? When I try to sit back it feels awkward; like I can't just sit on the seat. I have no idea.

So, we (boy, partner, and I) did an 11-mile round trip this morning which was pretty slow, because the boy is only 6 and on a beginner bike. I took the time to fiddle with my positioning and stuff, and finally decided to stop off at one of the LBSes on the way home. A different fit guy there basically said "Lady, I can try to help you, but the bottom line is that that bike is too small for you."

So, NOW what.

1. I have no money. I'd have to wait until next summer at the earliest to get another bike.

2. Is it worth it to try to get another extender put on this one? I've already dumped time and money trying to get it set up, and while I can take my components with me to the new bike, I don't know if it's worth trying to get this one to work out.

3. What new bike would I even get?? I have a goal of doing my first century by Fall 2011. I mentioned this to my favorite repair shop and the guy told me I'd probably want a road bike. What I have is what he called a "flat-bar road bike". I've never ridden one of the curvy-bar kinds. Would I even want to? Also, can you take those on a crushed stone trail? I don't even like riding the one I have now on those trails; my thin tires slip all over and it's a lot of effort to stay upright. Would I need two bikes to do those? (So far this summer we've been staying on pavement, but we miss the trails and there are a lot more stone ones around here than paved.)

4. Should I be righteously annoyed at the shop who sold me this bike two summers ago for not fitting me to the bike right? I didn't know from fit/size/anything, and just assumed that they'd look at me and say "hm, lady, that ain't going to work for you. Let's go up a size." I can't tell you how much I would have appreciated this. :(

Anyway, so now I'm home and pretty discouraged. I have a bike I really love but which doesn't fit right, and it appears never will. I thought I'd have this ride for YEARS before I had to think about another bike; I got a good deal on it, tried to customize it some, and have been trying to care for it. Now I'm not sure what to do. :(

</vent>

[KnottedYet]

There is a shop here in Seattle which routinely and repeatedly sells bikes that are far too small.

I hate trying to fit those, because I have to break the news that there is nothing to be done. Someone paid as much as they could afford, the shop put them up on a stand, "fitted" them, and sent them out the door on a bike way too small. (How about a guy over six feet tall on a 50cm frame? How could that shop let him out the door? He paid full price *and* got "fitted" at the shop. "Reamed" is more like it...)

The folks I try to fit who have purchased their tiny bikes from that shop in the last year, I suggest they try to get an exchange from that shop. The ones who have had them longer I send to another shop where they can do a trade-in.

If you have customized your bike a great deal, you can also look into buying a naked frame in your size and transferring your parts to the new frame.

I'm sorry your bike doesn't fit. Maybe you can save it for your kid to grow into?

Can you contact Dreambikes and ask them if they have naked frames? http://dream-bikes.org/articles/locations-hours-pg56.htm Bike projects like theirs run off profits from selling whole bikes and parts and such, and they are a great cause.

[JennK13]

and if you get a naked frame and transfer your components, you could list your current bike/frame and try to sell it. Sadly, you typically wont get what you paid for it, but at least you'll get something out of it that you could put towards your new bike - that fits. Or even buy a previously owned bike in decent shape and transfer your components to that.
It really sucks that they sold you that bike. When my DH got me my first bike two Christmases ago, it felt "small" to me, but they didn't have the next size up in stock. Fortunately, the LBS said I could take it and ride it for a month to see if it felt small once I was rode it some. It did - and they ordered me the next size up. I was glad they did the exchange, but I was kinda ticked that they even let me out the door with it. It NEVER felt right to me - even in the shop, on the stand it felt too small. I don't know why they even bothered telling me to take it, but I humored them and took it back the next week and had them order me the other one.

[Cataboo]

Not knowing what type of bike you have makes it hard to give you suggestions - if you post pics of your bike how it is set up now and/or pics of you on the bike, we can try to help.

If there's any resale value of your bike on craigslist - you could sell it and buy another used one on craigslist that's more suitable to you.

Yes, your core is probably weak - the first summer I started cycling I had lots of wrist/fit issues - and a lot of those were resolved as my core grew stronger. I'm quite happy bending over much further now than I was the first year. So to a certain extent - you are just gonna be uncomfortable for a while.

[emily_in_nc]

Ah, to have a bike that is too small.... :o

Not trying to minimize your problem (agree with the person who suggested that you might be able to sell it on craigslist or ebay and buy another used bike more suitable), but as a petite gal, I've definitely had too-big bikes but have never, ever had the problem of a too small bike!

Good luck - at least you know what the problem is now, as that is half the battle.

[WolfGirl]

Thanks, ladies...

Muirenn, good idea; I think I will take the issue to Trek, yes. They might throw it back at me that I took two years to discover the problem, but it's worth a shot.

Knotted and JennK...that's really discouraging, that people consistently sell bikes too small! I mean, I don't like to have it done to me, but it's worse to hear it's done that often. It reminds me of something that happened to my partner...when I met him he happened to have this pair of sneakers that was really big. So much so that I could tell by looking at them that they couldn't fit his feet. I asked him about it, and apparently he had gone to some foofy running store in town where this was the only pair left in this style, and the salesperson just kept encouraging my partner to buy them. Now, leaving aside the fact that my partner was crazy to do so :rolleyes:, what kind of shoe salesperson sells shoes two sizes too big?? This type of thing makes me insane. :mad:

Some specs on the bike (and me): The guy today said it was a 15. I'm 5'3" (petite! really!) but with a longish torso and shortish legs. I don't know my inseam right now (but will before I go fit another bike!). He didn't recommend any specific brand because he wasn't trying to make a sale, which I appreciate (and couldn't make right now anyway), but said he'd recommend a 17 at least. I don't have many add-ons to the bike (just saddle, stem, bar, grips, assorted other doodads) but to _me_ it feels like a lot, since this is the first bike I bought as an adult, I never bought a bike I didn't just accept all the components on before, and I've spent a decent amount of time (and money) in various shops trying to get it all worked out. Not very encouraging to a newbie to have this experience, let me say. :rolleyes:

And yet, even though it's been disgustingly humid for weeks, we had such a nice ride today! I swear, if I ever get the fit of a bike worked out I'll never get off the thing.

[moonfroggy]

it might be good to go to yet another shop and ask them if it is to small. i have had one shop say i needed a larger bike and other shops say smaller. also you could post some photos of you on your bike and probably someone here would have some good input based on that.

[Cataboo]

The first time I went bike shopping in real bike shops, I was sold a 13" frame women's design. I'm 5'2. Short legs, long torso. Noone should ever sell me a WSD. I very spottily used the bike because it just didn't feel right hwenever I got it, and then I sold it on craigslist and bought a used bike to replace it. And I've never bought a bike in a bike shop since.


So if what you're riding is a mountain bike, 15" is probably about right for you to have standover clearance. My mountain bike now is about a 14".


If you're talking about road bike sizing, a 15" is small. My smallest road frame is a 44 cm which has too short of a top tube for me, and I usually ride about a 48 cm. I can ride a 50 cm.


But you can put longer and higher angle stems on bikes, you can switch out the handlebars to a different type that provide more reach, etc. You could put a setback seatpost on it - you put a brooks saddle on - I think those have short rails and may be contributing to sizing issues. My 44 cm frame which is too small for me has a 130 mm high angle stem on it, a setback seatpost and the saddle all the way back on the rails, soma sparrow handlebars and it's fine. It has a steeper seattube angle than I like, but I can ride it without problem.

[Cataboo]

ha. I never noticed she had the bike in her signature.

That bike has a pretty sloping geometry - the 15" is on a bigger bike than the seattube measurement would imply. The top tube is 533 mm... At 533, that's pretty long, which would argue for it being possible to make that bike fit - And one of her complaints is that she's leaning forward and putting too much weight on her hands making her wrist hurt. So she'd probably be better off with a shorter or higher angle stem that would allow her to sit more upright and put less weight on her hands.

I can't comment on brooks saddles - because I've never used one - they aren't for everyone.

If the fork is too short and her seat is way above her handlebars - then she could put a fork extender thing on:
http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?ID=92859-Dimension+Threadless+Steerer+Tube+Extender
(Yes, I know those aren't the best solution - but moneywise it's not too expensive one)

That'll raise the handlebars up higher.

This is what my soma sparrows look like on my surly - I've got a 130 mm high angle stem in combination with the bars so that they add rise to the bike. (She could possibly also just get riser flat handlebars)

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs202.snc3/20945_261332506864_624946864_3379655_6077764_n.jpg


But anyways, we need pics of how the bike is set up to really make recommendations. She may be better off just selling the bike and buying a bigger used one.

[sarahspins]

That bike has a pretty sloping geometry - the 15" is on a bigger bike than the seattube measurement would imply. The top tube is 533 mm... At 533, that's pretty long, which would argue for it being possible to make that bike fit - And one of her complaints is that she's leaning forward and putting too much weight on her hands making her wrist hurt. So she'd probably be better off with a shorter or higher angle stem that would allow her to sit more upright and put less weight on her hands.

I agree... I am 4 inches taller and I have a 17.5" trek 7.2fx (not the WSD), and if anything it's verging on being "too big" for me with a top tube length of 54.8cm and a 110mm stem (I swapped out a shorter one when I changed my bars). If you look at the WSD fx bikes, the top tube length between the 15 and 17 is only 6mm.. which is relatively insignificant.

I had fit issues on my fx and I really think that the fx was just the "wrong" bike for me in a lot of ways... my LBS "fit" me on it when I bought it, and it had been the bike I was happiest with when I first went shopping, but there were a number of issues that I was aware of within my first couple of rides. I was pretty sure within 2 months that I should have bought a road bike instead, but when I was initially shopping, I didn't like how they felt, and I know if I had been road bike shopping, I absolutely would have bought the wrong one to begin with. My husband who is only 1" taller than me fits the fx a lot better (with the stock bars and stem) because his torso is longer (as well as his arms)

The top tube on my road bike is 52.5cm and I have an 80mm stem on it... it fits like a glove despite the fact that it's bordering on what many LBS would consider "too small" for me given my height.. but it's comfortable for me and I love it.. I test rode a lot of bikes before buying "mine" though - I didn't want a repeat of bike #1 :)

Too much weight on the hands suggests to me that the reach is too long, or that the bars are potentially "too low" for the style of riding she'd prefer to do.

[Cataboo]

3. What new bike would I even get?? I have a goal of doing my first century by Fall 2011. I mentioned this to my favorite repair shop and the guy told me I'd probably want a road bike. What I have is what he called a "flat-bar road bike". I've never ridden one of the curvy-bar kinds. Would I even want to? Also, can you take those on a crushed stone trail? I don't even like riding the one I have now on those trails; my thin tires slip all over and it's a lot of effort to stay upright. Would I need two bikes to do those? (So far this summer we've been staying on pavement, but we miss the trails and there are a lot more stone ones around here than paved.)

</vent>

YOu could try getting a cyclocross bike with thicker tires that you could use for the trails. Maybe look at the specialized tri-cross.

[tulip]

The guy today said it was a 15. I'm 5'3" ...said he'd recommend a 17 at least.

I'm 5'6" and I ride a 17" Jamis Coda Comp (straight bar road bike). My road bike is between a 49cm and 50cm.

I would say that at 5'3", a 15" bike would be about right. I would not agree that you would need a 17" bike or bigger. Certainly not bigger! Your fit might not be just right, but don't throw that bike out just yet.

Core strength is very important. Get working on that right away.

[Catrin]

I am 5'3 in my stocking feet and have the smallest Trek 7.6 FX. It is a WSD bike and if I remember correctly it is 15.5. I have long legs for my height, but for my torso the reach is slightly too long for me. It isn't TOO bad, as I learned how to ride on my Trek, but since the Wanderer (LHT) fits me so much better I am currently not riding the Trek until I decide what to do with it. It certainly isn't too small for me....

+1 on core strength. I am still working on this but am finally starting to understand why Tuilp and others have mentioned this to me over the months since I first came to TE.

[uforgot]

I'm 5'5" and I've had the 15 and the 17" fx. I think the 17" fits the best, but I really think I'm between sizes. I went with the 100mm stem on the 15" and 90mm on the 17". The fx is a hybrid, so the fit is more forgiving than a road bike. Maybe the fx isn't for you? Did you try a 17", because I think it sounds way to big.

[Loraura]

1. The saddle problems (a lot of lasting numbness in the ladybits) are gone, but I realize I'm not actually SITTING on the saddle much; I'm using my legs to hold myself off it somewhat. Is it because it's not padded and I can't sink into it like a barcalounger? Is it because it's still not broken in and I'm unconsciously protecting my butt? Is this actually ideal to have an "active" riding posture? I have no idea.

Sounds like saddle width may not be right. It took me about a year of trying different saddles to find the perfect saddle for me. It makes a HUGE difference. I ride a Specialized Ruby 155. I bought a new bike that came with the exact same saddle in a 143, and it would NOT do. Definately not. So even the same saddle in different widths makes a big difference.


2. I'm really leaning forward and putting a lot of weight/pressure on my hands. A lot. Is it because my core is weak (I'm overweight and not in shape) and I'm not holding my body up? Is it because the seat is positioned wrong? When I try to sit back it feels awkward; like I can't just sit on the seat. I have no idea.

Couple of things. Yes, being overweight and lacking in core strength will absolutely, positively make hand pressure worse. Also, a flat bar road bike is worse than a "curvy bar" road bike. I started out on a flat bar. I had the same issue. Here is how I solved it:

1)Gloves. a)wear them, b)don't rule out very thinly padded gloves. The thicker the padding, the worse my hand pressure was.
2)Move hands A LOT. Like every minute. Every intersection, put your hands in a different position. You see how this would be difficult on a flat bar becuase there simply aren't enough places and angles to put your hands at. Bull horn clamp ons will give you a little bit more flexibility, but honestly, it really wasn't enough for me.
3)Losing weight. I've lost 110 pounds. 50 of those were while I was riding. Every pound your hands are supporting makes a difference.
4)Core Strength. My weakest aspect. I just started working with a personal trainer.


If you want to do a century, in my opinion and experience, you will want a true "curvy handle"/ skinny tire road bike. Hybrid's are not meant for long distance. Honestly, any thing over an hour or two is pushing it on a hybrid in my opinion and experience. I didn't start pushing 60-100 miles until I was on a true road bike.

[bcipam]

When I bought my Lemond in 2002, the shop had recommend a 53 but I went for the 51 as in the shop, it felt more comfortable. It took a year but I realized the 53 was a better fit. That said I have been riding the bike comfortably since then. It was a matter of a good fitting and then some adjustment of handlebar, seat position, pedals etc. and the bike has done me well. Thankfully I have now saved enough money to have a custom frame built but I still ride the Lemond.

I can't imagine the bike is so small it can't be adjusted. It doesn't take that much money - find a good fitter in your area and see what he can do. $150 for a fitting is much less than money for a new frame. And having a good fitting and the measurements will keep you from repeating your mistake.

Good luck with the problem... Loraura gave you excellent advice. Alot of what you are experiencing I believe just comes from lack of fitness. And I agree with a flat bar - unless you are biking mountain a flat bar is not good. I assume you are sitting very upright on your bike which is why you want a flat bar and a wide saddle. That positioning causes alot of the problem you are complaining of. There is a reason most roadies want to be bent forward at the waist. Using your core to support your weight will definitely take pressures off your hands and wrist. You are riding with your arms bent - correct? And wider saddles are not always better.

And yes Hybrids are generally cruiser bikes - for short easy distance but that is not to say you can't do a century on them. I've seen people do centuries on beach cruisers (hate them). I think as you train for your century alot of problems will go away.

[OakLeaf]

Trouble is that if the seat height is too high above the handlebars for her comfort, she's going to need a new fork to do much about that.

[bcipam]

"Lady, I can try to help you, but the bottom line is that that bike is too small for you."


</vent>

Just remember - a bike shop needs to sell bikes... if you came into me I would also tell you to buy another bike...:o

A good owner would have said "let's try and make this work for you... here's what I recommend for a stem, saddle etc..."

[bcipam]

3. What new bike would I even get?? I have a goal of doing my first century by Fall 2011. I mentioned this to my favorite repair shop and the guy told me I'd probably want a road bike. What I have is what he called a "flat-bar road bike". I've never ridden one of the curvy-bar kinds. Would I even want to? Also, can you take those on a crushed stone trail? I don't even like riding the one I have now on those trails; my thin tires slip all over and it's a lot of effort to stay upright. Would I need two bikes to do those? (So far this summer we've been staying on pavement, but we miss the trails and there are a lot more stone ones around here than paved.)


</vent>

I have both mountain bikes and road bikes. I would never think to take a road bike on a crushed gravel trail - not to say I haven't done centuries that involved "alternative" roads - such as the Tour de Tucson with its river crossings, but generally paved road - road bike, dirt, gravel etc., mountain bike.

You decide - what do you ride most? If gravel trails stay with a mountain style bike and not bother with a road bike. If you want to do a century I recommend for the ride, putting on road slicks so it is easier for you. You know by fall 2011, a rodad bike might fall in your lap. Just enjoy what you have now. Get out and ride and things will get easier.

[bcipam]

Trouble is that if the seat height is too high above the handlebars for her comfort, she's going to need a new fork to do much about that.

It might be an issue of a longer stem, putting the saddle back and lowering the risers. Most likely flexibility is also an issue - again a fitness issue that can be resolved.

[bcipam]

They sold you a 15? I'm not an expert, but if that is in inches, that puts you at 38.1 cm. Pretty small. A 17 would be 43.18. (Am I doing this right people? 2.54 cm = 1 inch, but I know measurements are based on some esoteric stuff I haven't figured out yet!)

!

Not certain it works that way. I am 5'8" and my mountain bikes are 17 and 17.5 and the road bikes are 51 and 54. The road bikes are just different geometry. The 51 has a much longer top tube, the 54 is shorter, more WSD. It really has to do with the bike's design and where the manufacture measures height. On some bikes I can ride a 56! A person say 5'3 - 5'6 would ride a 15 mountain bike.

I can't imagine the OP on a bike bigger than 15. A 17 would be way too tall! The most important measurement is actually length not height. If the OP can comfortably reach the shifters and brakes, then the bike is probably the right size. I would even think at 5'3" she might try a 13...

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, it really depends on geometry.

My custom road bike is a measured 47 cm c-c and a perfect fit. My off-the-shelf road bike is a nominal 50 cm, and probably pretty close to that center-to-top; a decent fit. My hybrid is 13" and definitely too big for me - even though it's a step-through frame and sold as a women's bike, it's not really built with a short reach.

[WolfGirl]

Hey gang, it's been a couple of weeks but work got crazy. Thank you so much for the suggestions and replies; going to go over them eagerly!

I did send Trek a letter regarding the whole issue. Heard nothing back. Called them this week, talked to the manager. He did give me some crap about it taking me two years to figure this out, and then offered $200 off a new FX 7.5. I basically told him that I really didn't feel that $200 was enough to counter a $1000+ mistake, when I didn't actually MAKE that mistake. He said he'd go talk to some high-up mucky-mucks. ....and then came back with $300 off.

I very politely told him to forget it, and that I would not be patronizing their brand in future.

So, now I'm not sure WHAT to do. Get a new bike? Just a frame? Try to get this one to work? Like I said, I'll go over the posts and gather all the nuggets of wisdom. Feeling pretty discouraged about the whole thing, not to mention extremely apprehensive about buying ANYTHING after this experience. :(

[WolfGirl]

How does the bike feel? Is it still bothering you?

I've hardly ridden since I started this thread, because of work craziness. However, my summer clinic is over, and so my boy and I will be biking a bunch for the next few weeks. When I have ridden recently, my hands (lower palm and heel) bother me a lot and quickly. The saddle thing (not really sitting on it) is also ever-present. I'm going to really evaluate over the next week or so, and try to figure out the next step. :confused:

[Cataboo]

I've hardly ridden since I started this thread, because of work craziness. However, my summer clinic is over, and so my boy and I will be biking a bunch for the next few weeks. When I have ridden recently, my hands (lower palm and heel) bother me a lot and quickly. The saddle thing (not really sitting on it) is also ever-present. I'm going to really evaluate over the next week or so, and try to figure out the next step. :confused:


take a pic of how your bike is set up now and post it so we can see. Better yet, take a picture of what you look like on it. It sounds like you're putting too much weight on your hands, which doesn't make me think your bike is too small - but I guess if your seat is a lot higher than your handlebars, you could be pitching forward with your weight on the handlebars. How upright are you when sitting on the bike?

I'd go get ergon grips for your hands for now. I rip all the padding out of my pearl izumi gloves because the padded gloves actually hurt my hands more.

I think you probably should be able to make that bike work for you - but lots of people outgrow their trek fx's fairly quickly, flat bars are hard to go the distance on.

[Cataboo]

I did send Trek a letter regarding the whole issue. Heard nothing back. Called them this week, talked to the manager. He did give me some crap about it taking me two years to figure this out, and then offered $200 off a new FX 7.5. I basically told him that I really didn't feel that $200 was enough to counter a $1000+ mistake, when I didn't actually MAKE that mistake. He said he'd go talk to some high-up mucky-mucks. ....and then came back with $300 off.
:(


Well. Figure out what you can sell yours for. If that + $300 could get you a new trek fx that fits you... maybe take them up on that. The reality is that they're being fairly generous offering you $300 towards a new bike - when they really don't have to. yes, a bike shop fitted you wrong (we think maybe, according to another bike shop) ... but how much of that is trek's fault vs the bike shop that fitted you? and then there is the 2 years issue...

how many other things in life can we buy, have for 2 years, and then go back to the manufacturer to tell them that it really wasn't what we wanted and see if they'll give you a discount on a new one?

Did you try asking trek if they'd just give you a discounted frame?

[uforgot]

Oops. Edited because I repeated an earlier post of mine. Anyway, I've ridden both the 15" and the 17" many miles on the Katy Trail and they were both equally comfortable. I don't think it's as critical for a hybrid to fit perfectly. I spent months tweaking my Surly Cross Check to get it comfortable with the drop bars, but the hybrids...no time at all. Have you tried different stems? You can certainly get the bars higher with a stem with a larger angle on it.

I also think that Trek was very generous with the $300. The bike you have retailed for $789 (http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2008&Brand=Trek&Model=7.5+FX&Type=bike), and if you could sell it for half of what you paid, (that's generally what I've gotten on them), you are out only about $95. Frankly, I'm impressed that Trek offered it since the bike is 2 years old, and the fit was the responsibility of the shop and it was also your responsibility to let them know sooner that it wasn't comfortable.

I think you should post pictures, as suggested, because we have a lot of women who have been trained as fitters and I believe they can help you. I really think you can make that 15" work.