LHT back at LBS

I took today off work to take care of some business, and after talking with the fitter at the LBS that built my bike I've dropped it off. The fitter has odd hours right now, and isn't in until tomorrow. The good news is that the wrench who checked my LHT in said that the levers looked pretty standard to him - not compact levers and the reach appeared further than would be normal for bars with STI shifters. I don't have STI shifters... He did say that the stem is about as short as they come, so there isn't much they can do there. (other than to change bars - which might be an option if the first efforts don't fix the problem). This is good news because it may mean a simple resolution.

So, it will likely take a few days and of course will have to meet with the fitter - but hopefully this is mainly an issue of Surly having sent the wrong levers with the bike! I am also going to make sure they check on where the levers are installed as several here have mentioned that they look a little high.

Thanks for all of the advice on core strength and so forth - I've been working on that but it doesn't mean that more work isn't needed and will discuss this with my trainer. I do work on my own several days a week and he can give me good ideas of what to do to focus more on my core.

I am happy to report that apparently Surly included not only the incorrect levers, but the incorrect bars with my LHT build! (happy in that it is an easy fix). My fitter, who is a very tall/large man, said that such large levers would give even him problems! He was not surprised to hear that my hands were cramping at all. So he is contacting Surly to have them ship the correct bars and levers.

That doesn't mean that I won't have to focus on posture, but I knew something else had to be going on - the pain came too fast and too strong.

Glad it's an easy fix! Hope you have pain-free rides very soon.

That's great, Catrin. I hope that solves all of your hand problems. Be sure to report back after you get the bars swapped out.

Whew! Good thing you didn't wait for 100 miles. :eek:

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Originally Posted by t.ruf

Whew! Good thing you didn't wait for 100 miles. :eek:

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I was afraid it would have to be 200! However I am sure I could have worked something else out. My current fitter tells me that Surly was quite apologetic and are getting parts in the mail today :)

Glad it's such a simple thing! Hope they get them swapped out quick and the bike is EVERYTHING you dreamed of once they do!

Sounds like another very good reason to shop at your LBS, rather than buying on the net. We frequently get customers who want us to put together a cheap kids bike they have bought online - it's usually a BSO, but ends up costing more than a decent bike from a shop because of the labour cost. We also get plenty of customers who either ask us to match online prices or provide all the necessary parts having bought them on the web. It's very difficult as we really want to please our customers - but we need to make a living too. It's nice when it's not all about price.

50% of The Bike Whisperer

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Glad it's such a simple thing! Hope they get them swapped out quick and the bike is EVERYTHING you dreamed of once they do!

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I think it will be - even with the pain and a very short ride on Sunday, I fell in LOVE with how smooth that bike rode! It was as smooth as silk...now I need to get my skills ramped enough to take full advantage of such a sweet ride. 2 months from now I won't even remember what happened Sunday morning.

Can overly-large bars cause over-responsive steering?

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Can overly-large bars cause over-responsive steering?

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No, that's actually from narrow bars :) Even the widest road bars would be quite an adjustment from your fx. I know I noticed a huge change just going to my 490mm sparrow bars from the 580mm bars that came with my fx, and moreso once I had a bike with proper drop bars (my Mixte came with 38cm bars, which were too narrow for me.. I put 40's on there, and that's what my Felt has too). The best way I've seen it described is "twitchy" and it is true.. I didn't like the feeling AT ALL when I was test-riding bikes a year ago, which is how/why I ended up with my fx and not a road bike, even though I think I wanted a road bike all along (and I am glad to have both now, honestly.. I don't regret my fx at all.. it's easier to pull the kids in with it's lower gearing, and with an extra 90lbs of kids and trailer I need the lower gears). You do get used to it though.

That is kind of crazy that Surly shipped the wrong levers AND bars... but I'm glad you're getting taken care of now :D

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Can overly-large bars cause over-responsive steering?

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What Sarah said, but also (more likely) a shorter stem can make a bike feel twitchy, and so can less rake and/or trail in the forks. I don't remember what you'd been riding, but with the LHT it's a lot more likely to be the former than the latter! You'll get used to it I'm sure. :)

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Originally Posted by sarahspins

No, that's actually from narrow bars :) ....

That is kind of crazy that Surly shipped the wrong levers AND bars... but I'm glad you're getting taken care of now :D

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They only shipped the wrong levers - my fitter tells me that the 40cm bars they do (and did) ship with my LHT are too wide for me - that I "require" 38cm bars and he has already ordered other bars for me.

It is good to know that the "twitchiness" was from the different style of bars, knowing what it is from does help. That means that I will be remaining in the "circle" drive at my favorite park until I can hold something of a reasonable straight line, at least with this bike. I don't think it will take that long - it may take longer to shift properly :p In the meantime I hope to graduate from the park soon with my Trek.

They did tell me at the LBS that there really are no shorter stems than what is on my LHT, so if I am reading you and OakLeaf correctly it is likely a factor of both bars and stem. That is helpful information. It is worth it to get that smooth ride :D I am looking forward to seeing what that gearing will do with THE hill in the park. Since it is geared to go loaded up a mountain side, it should make that hill much easier :cool: (ok, so I need to force my hands off of the bars to the shifters, but I will get there)

I think it's a combination of both - same principle at work, anyways :)

Your hand pain will most likely resolve with the narrower bars.. and the right levers!

Oh good. I'm glad to hear that they've found a simple solution. Wonderful. When you get her/him back from the shop - have fun riding!! :)

My LHT is still in the shop :(

However they DO have the bars and brake levers ready to install! Sadly it probably won't be ready on Sunday, and even if it is ready Monday I won't be able to pick it up until Wed. evening. Such is life, and I am so busy right now that I wouldn't be able to ride it before then anyway.

It is good news that all of the parts are in though...it bugs me that I haven't named him yet, but we haven't had a good ride as of yet :cool:

I think you should name him Sully.. like the big blue monster in Monsters Inc :)

Would go great with Stella ;)

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Originally Posted by sarahspins

I think you should name him Sully.. like the big blue monster in Monsters Inc :)

Would go great with Stella ;)

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Great name! :D

hmmm Sully meet Stella, Stella meet Sully. We will see how he wears it... (off to Youtube to see what blue character this is) Stella was named after the Stella headlight I bought, and there was also the movie "How Stella got her groove back" - I never saw it but it seemed appropriate :rolleyes: