Girlie Bits hitting top tube

I've had my road bike for over a year now, Giant OCR 3 XS. When I bought it, had the professional fit and all that jazz. Last week I started feeling like I was sliding off my seat....figured I needed to adjust the seat, but hadn't gotten around to it (I know, bad).

Anywho, on another group ride this week, the lovely tall gentleman looked at me and said that my seat needed to be lifted. During a stopping point, he helped me adjust the seat, then others watched as I pedaled. All agreed it was now perfect.

EXCEPT now my girlie bits are hitting the top tube when I standover. When my seat was lower, this didn't happen..... thoughts?? Have I been riding a bike too big for me without realizing it for a whole freaking year?? That seems not right......but on the flip side, if that IS the case, that may mean a new bike:D

I don't get how move the saddle changed the standover height? I am very confused. :confused: Do you mean when you get out of the saddle?

It's like the tip of the seat is pushing me in the butt, so I have to scootch forward and that makes me higher up on the tube.

Looking at it, I'm wondering if when he raised the seat, if he also tilted it up too much......

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Originally Posted by TexanCzexican

It's like the tip of the seat is pushing me in the butt, so I have to scootch forward and that makes me higher up on the tube.

Looking at it, I'm wondering if when he raised the seat, if he also tilted it up too much......

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Is it a compact frame??
Normally when you put a seat up it moves the seat slightly further back not forward. Did he play with the setback or just the height??

When you are fit for a bike, where the seat is ultimately positioned is NOT taken into account for frame size.

So your new seat position forces you forward a bit more. Who cares? Its when you RIDE your bike that the distances, angles, and positions matter. You're no longer standing where you used to when straddling the bike. Unless you foresee this being an ongoing problem (i.e., you stand over you bike a lot and don't find a comfortable easy way to angle it or whatnot at stopsigns or traffic lights), just let it go and enjoy your newly positioned seat!

(FWIW, I'm not surprised that he nudged it forward when he raised the seat; additional height usually means a few mm or more of backwards position for the seat and to get your foot centered over the pedal correctly you need to adjust the seat forward as well.)

The Giant OCR is a compact frame. I'd say go back to the shop that originally fit you and have them refit you. Eye balling a saddle adjustment rarely works correct the first time.

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Originally Posted by bike4ever

I'd say go back to the shop that originally fit you and have them refit you.

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The problem with that is the original bike shop is 8 hours away and my LBS bike fit specialist left for Austin.

I'm thinking of heading to Houstons' Bike Barn this weekend and having them do it.

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So your new seat position forces you forward a bit more. Who cares?

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Um... I care....as having a metal bar bop my vagina isn't the most comfortable experience in my life. Also, I'm not so advance to balance on my bike while at stop lights & signs, so yes, I do have it happen, rather frequently during a ride.

I understand your dilemma now! And I would suppose you can't do a perpetual track stand at stop signs to avoid having to standover. :p

Ask around for the best bike fitter in Houston and you probably need an appointment for a weekend. There is a ton of Bike Barns in Houston. If you are going to pay, make sure it is for a good fit. BTW Austin supposedly has some of the best fitters in the state at Jack & Adams (a Tri Shop). And Bicycle Sport Shop Central will charge you $40 for a full fit and guarantee the fit, they got a few guys who are supposed to be great. Just food for thought, it is only an extra 30 minutes opposed to Houston. :D

Ha! Ok, maybe Austin would work...:D

When I wait at lights I have my bike angled quite heavily to the left (I stand on my left foot and have my right clipped in, with the pedal at the top position). But I can see how you can bump yourself painfully just getting there, as you unclip one foot, scoot in front of the saddle and reach down to stand on the unclipped foot.

You can always check the fit roughly yourself. I've "done my own fitting" on my bikes after reading a few guidelines, like this (it can be handy to have someone help hold your bike, though, I didn't and it was a bear):

Saddle height: your leg should be straight (normal straight, not stretched) when you sit on the saddle with the pedal as low as it goes and your HEEL on the pedal. Clipped in this should give you a small bend in the knee. Check both legs, then try biking around and check that your hips aren't rocking from side to side to "reach further".

Saddle position: the front of your knee should be directly above the centre of the pedal (axle) when the pedal is in the "3 o'clock position". You can use a plumb line to check this, eyeballing it is hard. Or get off the bike, set your pedal arms horisontal, use a spirit level to check where the perpendicular crosses your top tube and mark it on the top tube with a piece of tape. Then sit on your bike and see how your knee matches the tape.

And your saddle should be horisontal, at least to start with. I've never felt comfortable on a saddle tilted in either direction but some people swear by tilting them slightly.

PS. Maybe you need a slightly shorter saddle?

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Originally Posted by TexanCzexican

Um... I care....as having a metal bar bop my vagina isn't the most comfortable experience in my life. Also, I'm not so advance to balance on my bike while at stop lights & signs, so yes, I do have it happen, rather frequently during a ride.

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Not sure if this will be helpful for you or not... but here goes:

It seems I"m a little odd in that I balance on my tiptoe (of my unclipped foot, with the other clipped in at the top of the pedal stroke), still on the saddle, at stoplights instead of stepping down flat footed so my butt is over the top tube. I do have to lean my bike to accomplish this, and I guess it puts the saddle somewhere in between where it would be if I were sitting on it, and the crease where my leg meets my pelvis, if that helps you picture it. And yes, my foot/calf muscles do sometimes get a little tired, especially if the light happens to be on a hill. But it makes for a quick takeoff and it might solve your "hitting the top tube" dilemma, at least temporarily until you can get a better fit.

I don't claim that this is a better method, it's just what I ended up doing for some reason :). Actually I think it wears my left shoes out faster.

I tilt my bike slightly to the clipped out side (my left) and stand quite flat on the foot. Then when I'm ready to go, I push off with that foot. I ride an OCR but will have to check to see if I can stand with my bike straight up. I don't thing I've ever done it. :D

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Originally Posted by liza

It seems I"m a little odd in that I balance on my tiptoe (of my unclipped foot, with the other clipped in at the top of the pedal stroke), still on the saddle, at stoplights instead of stepping down flat footed so my butt is over the top tube. I do have to lean my bike to accomplish this, and I guess it puts the saddle somewhere in between where it would be if I were sitting on it, and the crease where my leg meets my pelvis, if that helps you picture it.

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Yeah, this is exactly what I do. The nose of the saddle is kind of in the crease between butt-cheek and thigh, and my left foot is on tippy-toe. :)

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Originally Posted by TexanCzexican

Ha! Ok, maybe Austin would work...:D

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The Austin Cycling Club had a discussion about bike fitters this week on our list serve. That is the only reason I know about the Jack & Adam's guys. Supposedly they have an employee named Zane that trained under the guy who set up Lance's bikes. Don't know if this is true. The list serve also said the owner Nelo's Pro Cycles or the owner Music City Cycles (who is super nice even if he did go to UT) will give you a great fitting.

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

The list serve also said the owner Nelo's Pro Cycles or the owner Music City Cycles (who is super nice even if he did go to UT)

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ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

Do you think your seat moved recently (when you first felt yourself "sliding off" the saddle, or do you think you figured out your geometry a little better once settled into the bike over time?

My girlie bits graze the bar when I stand close to my front tube, but only gently and I'm always riding with a chamois short. It doesn't hurt, but prolly looks kinda funny to onlookers. (Hence my "who cares?" bit. Which obviously you do if it is uncomfortable!)