Holy cow! A new bike already?

So I rode my bike to the LBS today and asked the guy if he could help me with fit issues, and it was a basic $20 fit with me on a trainer and him using the plumbob and measuring some stuff, etc.

Conclusion: My bike is too small for me. (Which I have wondered for some time.)

The main problem I have is that I shove myself so far back on my saddle that I'm hanging off to get my sit bones comfortable and to give my legs enough room. And still I have pain in my posterior.

I just ordered my wire baskets for my bike! I'm fixing it all up cute! I have all these plans for utility biking with this bike.

And I'm not sure that if I get a new one that really fits well, I'll still want to ride this one, sigh.

I have no idea what this means. It may mean that I get a new bike which is a "yay!" but also I have no idea when I'd actually do it.

I'm not sure that I'd even want another upright bike -- I might want more of a road bike.

Of course until I try other styles of bikes out, I won't know.

So, I may get to go bike shopping soon.

Oy!

ooh, Pooks, sister.... we have a lot in common :D :D :D

Good excuse to go do a lot of test riding.

Yep.

And it's also scary, because all the talk of geometry? The only reason I passed geometry is because the football coach who "taught" it would rather chat than "teach" geometry, and graded accordingly.

And right now I'm using one of those 8-gear-in-the-handlebar things, and I have a feeling my next bike might have regular gears -- and a chain.

:eek:

I dunno. I'm rather overwhelmed at the thought of all of it.

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Originally Posted by pooks

Yep.

And it's also scary, because all the talk of geometry? The only reason I passed geometry is because the football coach who "taught" it would rather chat than "teach" geometry, and graded accordingly.

And right now I'm using one of those 8-gear-in-the-handlebar things, and I have a feeling my next bike might have regular gears -- and a chain.

:eek:

I dunno. I'm rather overwhelmed at the thought of all of it.

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I remember how scary it was when I made the exact same leap. I know now that my my old bike was too small too. The first couple of rides were scary. Now I can't imagine going back. Riding upright would feel wrong.

You don't have to know the geometry - you have to know what feels right. The LBS has to know the geometry :)

Take your time. Take mulit-mile test rides and keep trying different geometries so that you get a sense of what you will "get used to" and what is still just not right. (I got a road bike once that I thought I would get used to. I didn't. No, I didn't get properly fitted - it was a very good deal and it did feel fine to ride for a little while, so I bought it... but after thirty miles I got all cranky and mean.... again and again. This has made me reluctant to go for a road bike.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pooks

The main problem I have is that I shove myself so far back on my saddle that I'm hanging off to get my sit bones comfortable and to give my legs enough room....

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This fact by itself doesn't mean the bike is too small, but perhaps that the seat tube angle is too steep. If the STA is good, then with the right seat post and saddle and stem you should be able get set up right, within a certain range. Maybe you just need a more laid back seatpost. I'm not saying don't look at a real road bike, but maybe you can still make this rideable as a utility bike with something as easy as a seatpost swap. Try the kalloy uno 374 from wallingford, quite laid back at a good price:

http://www.wallbike.com/seatposts/uno374.html

Note, the kalloy uno posts most bike shops stock or can order are not as laid back as the 374. And its only $23.

I might try that. When I asked about those kinds of posts he didn't seem to think it would make enough difference to help me, but I'm not sure why they wouldn't.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pooks

I might try that. When I asked about those kinds of posts he didn't seem to think it would make enough difference to help me, but I'm not sure why they wouldn't.

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Obviously I can't look at you on your bike, but the problem you are reporting suggests that you are pushing yourself back to establish the correct KOP, but the best way to do that is with a seatpost with more set-back. If you are doing it only to lengthen your reach to not feel bunched up, then I think a longer and/or lower stem would help. But its hard to fit someone over the internet without looking at them. Maybe you should try a different fitter. What he says just doesn't make sense, if you are reporting it correctly. I just worry that this person was soley out to sell you a new bike.

Pooks, you mentioned the different shifters -- I LOVE my new shifters! The Comfort-Beast has handlebar twisty shifters, and they weren't awful, but the new little lever gizmos on my new bike, oh boy, they're nice! push the little lever for a smaller cog, the big lever for a bigger cog -- couldn't be more intuitive, and talk about smooth! (and then just squeeze 'em toward the bars for stop...)

Karen in Boise