I thought I knew how to fit myself to my bike but

[smilingcat]

I never had a problem with ugly green Bianchi (celeste color). My bod never really ached. One of the squirrelist bike ever and way too stiff. Great for crits.

Then when I got a Panasonic DX-6000 or was it 5000, it was comfy like you wouldn't believe and never really ached even when I did the death ride. No radio reception on AM or on FM but that's another dealio. so so bike for crits.

Then I got a Litespeed. That was soo comfortable. I managed to do the climb the Kaiser, breathless in agony, sierra classic and my back never game me problems. Unfortunately, this was the bike where I ended up doing serious sheet time. I sold it about year after the accident. Still regretting. Great bike for classics though.

Then came Orbea lovely bike tad too big so ended up selling it after riding for about 800 miles. It just wouldn't do. E-bay seller told me it was small frame. NOT!! it was medium. no wasting time trying to fit when its plainly wrong. My back started to have problems...

Then I got this cheapo bike frame. I like it because it was cheap. Handles nice, I get bit of flack since its not a name brand like Orbea, Cervelo, Bianchi, Colnago, Ridely, Look etc.. Its a lowly K2. I like the ride. but my back is just giving me the fits... And my position on the bike is considerably more relaxed than when I was on my Litespeed. (I WANT MY LITESPEED BACK!!)

grrrr

I thought I knew how to fit myself. but my back is telling me it ain't so. I think I'm going to break down and get a proper fit. First time ever in my life.

I'm getting bit desperate since I signed up for the Death Ride. I was hoping to put about 200miles during the past four days with about 15,000 feet of climb. Between the rain, donating blood again today and MY BLIMEY ACHING BACK, I only rode 27 miles with only 1500 feet of climb. And my back is complaining.

I'm a typical Asian, short legs, short arm and long torso. Not quite a penguin. so the fit isn't the easiest.

I hope the second opinion will make a difference. And YES i DO STRETCH OUT BEFORE THE RIDE and I do about 4 miles of warmup before starting my real training ride and 4 miles of cool down.

Or is it I'm just getting old.

If your body aches, get a proper fit. don't try to "force" a fit. Not a good idea. Lunacycle made some good points on stem/handlbar thread.

don't mind me ranting
Smilingcat

[Miranda]

I am going through the same thing now. That is a lot of bikes. After questioning if I should retro-fit my bike that's not my ideal frame size now, I decided to do the professional fit route.

I plan to do some traveling to look out of town at shops, and think while I am there, I'll get even another op. Plus, I have done my own reading and measuring at home myself best I can. And, seeking some help from bike pals locally... plus my friends here at TE.

It may sound like overkill, but "one" $ mess of a non-fitting frame is enough for me. I figure the $, time, travel, etc. I spend getting fitting help is nothing compared to the cost of a different bike that still doesn't fit. And, as you mentioned, I have pain issues too... that one is hard to put a price on it.

I would also suggest getting some medical advice on the back. If any way possible, find someone who knows cycling. Be it a sports med doc, PT, etc. I went through this recently as well and it was a help.

Add all that $ up and the cost of a fit in notta! Plus, if I do decide to buy the entire bike at the lbs I paid for the fit, they will credit it towards the bike.

Good Luck!

[tulip]

I've had every bike fit to me except my Bike Friday, which gets folded and packed and unfolded again, so I just go with the flow on that one. I had my commuter bike professionally fit to me as well as my Luna. Pro fits are completely worth the money and should be considered as part of the cost of the bike. So if your budget is $1200 and the fit is $200, you're better off buying a $1000 bike with a $200 fit than a $1200 bike with no fit.

[sundial]

It's amazing how each bike can be just 2 mm different and affects the fit so dramatically. Do you have a birthday coming up?

One day I may have to get a custom built for my quirky body fit challenges.