the nightmare continues

[Antaresia]

My bike woes have not gone away, they were just put on the back burner. But now all distractions are gone, and I have to face the soma once again.

I gave up on the original LBS. At the end I felt like I was being "handled" rather than helped, a few back handed "compliments", damage to my bike, and parts so ugly and useless I figured I was being trolled ("see these white drop bars? Sometimes women have problems with them, so we're putting them on your black bike and lengthening your stem instead" I am not even kidding)

I went to a different lbs, the guy wasn't a bike fitter but I figured if I asked him to set the soma up like my comfortable apollo that would work. It didn't, it's even worse now.

Around mid-september I went to the local bike boards and asked for good fitters, except not *shitty lbs*. I got a few recommendations, and a PM from a guy who works at *shitty lbs*. We talked for a bit, I unloaded my problems - I was civil, I know it wasn't him I was dealing with. I then follow up with some other recommendations for fitters, and made an appt yesterday ($150, but it's a guaranteed fitting). When I get home I see another PM from *shitty lbs* guy, he says they'll still "make it right" if it involves switching frame (I can't afford that), re-fit, or help selling my bike. Just when I thought I was moving forward, now I have more options to stress about. A few weeks after my last message, and the same day I make an appt with a different lbs. Why on earth.

I don't even know what I would do if I sold the soma. What I really want is a magic wand to make my bike WORK for me so I can stop thinking about it.

So stressed out about this, I feel like there is no right answer and I will continue to make the wrong decisions over and over.

*edit
not everything is terrible, I still love my apollo. Here I am relaxing in the middle of the street with it reading a comic book

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab17/Candoia/bike/photo-31.jpg

The street was closed to traffic, and the city put giant bean-bags in the middle of the road to sit on.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab17/Candoia/bike/photo2.jpg

I love my orange bike, comic books, and my city.

[indysteel]

My short and sweet advice is this: Sell the bike and cut your losses. At this point, you're just throwing good money after bad.

I went through this myself with a custom bike, but my $5k mistake is just hanging on my basement wall. At some point, I had to accept that the bike wasn't going to work for me and no millimeter here or centimeter there with yet another fitting was going to change that. I felt much better once I decided to move on.

[goldfinch]

When the problematic bike shop said they would make it right, what do they mean? Would they get you a new frame and switch over your components for free? If so, that would be making it right.

If short of that, what do they propose?

I am afraid that the fitter is not going to make your bike fit. If I recall, it is way too big for you. However, the good thing about working with the fitter is that you can find out exactly what you need.

[TigerMom]

My short and sweet advice is this: Sell the bike and cut your losses. At this point, you're just throwing good money after bad.

I went through this myself with a custom bike, but my $5k mistake is just hanging on my basement wall. At some point, I had to accept that the bike wasn't going to work for me and no millimeter here or centimeter there with yet another fitting was going to change that. I felt much better once I decided to move on.

Indysteel voiced my thoughts exactly (except that I don't have a custom bike hanging in my basement). I think that your Soma bike has too many parts that you have issues with. It sounds like you should sell.
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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)