Another thread on bike fit, please help

[lisathew8lifter]

Hello ladies! I have been road riding for over one year and ride a 53" Gary fisher ion. I have grappled w low back pain for years and switched from running to cycling as a result.

I have loved my Gary fisher and have tweaked the seat height, moved it up, back, moved the bars up, ect. After an hour or so my low back starts to hurt and that's all I can think about.

Hubby and I rented bikes two weeks ago while vacationing in So Cal and I had a wsd 5.2 madone. I rode four hours without any low back pain or sore rhomboids. We rode every kind of terrain, types that aren't here to ride in Mn (low mtn pass, big descents) and I had zero back pain or shoulder pain. Other than that I didn't notice a huge diff between the bikes. Fast forward to today I cAnt get that out of my mind. As long as I'm not in pain I want to tide. Went to our lbs yesterday, they don't have a 52" (that's what I rode) but another lbs in mn does. We called to rent it and they will let us use it for one hour. Agh!!! I am scared to commit to a 3200.00 bike after one hr of riding! I lift weights have seen a or and chiro and back pain is getting better. My question to you experts is could the madone really be what I need? Is it a fluke that I ride that far without pain?
Thanks in advance!

[pll]

Sounds like the Gary Fisher bike might have you stretched forward more than you can tolerate and the Madone WSD geometry fits you better, possibly due to a shorter top tube. Check the other Madone WSD series bikes -- geometry will be similar, if not the same, the components will be different.

[jusdooit]

You may want to try a shorter stem on your Gary Fisher before investing in a new bike. It may be just what you need to tweek the fit.

[lisathew8lifter]

We are going to measure seat to tube and seat to pedal to see if there is a diff between the two. I want to try that before making the decision. The guys at the lbs basically said you cant make the ion the madone no matter how hard you try to tweak. I'd hate to be switching out bikes this soon but if I have to I will. Thanks for the responses!

[Sky King]

As most women, once I find something that works, I have learned to buy it as the end result is what matters. Big expense but four hours in a variety of terrain and no back pain is huge I have to share this video about Gary Fisher those guys were crazy.

[TrekTheKaty]

I just switched from an aluminum frame to a madone. I've also had back problems in the past. One thing I noticed is, the carbon seems to transfer less road vibration to my body. I just rode 43 miles without any back ache. Try one of the cheaper madones, if you're on a budget. The 4.7 is consideraby cheaper, but has lower end components. There is also a $200 end of season sale, if you can find your frame size.

Don't focus on the pain while riding. Try doing a few stretches while pedalling, or stop on the side of the road.

[Mama Coosa]

The head tube height on the Madone is taller as well, which probably also contributes significantly to the increased comfort. You might be able to make the Ion more comfortable, but the salesperson is right. You'll never make it a Madone.

[Sky King]

lisathew8lifter - yes, me thinks the video w/ Gary Fisher riding down hill had a bit of "off camera" effects

Bike Fit - Managed to accidently sit next to the resident bike fitter at our favorite watering hole last night. The man thinks he is "all that AND a bag of chips" All I could do to keep the lips zipped. His idea of a bike fit involves positioning as if you were in the peleton at the the Tour De France. The Bike Hermit should probably thank him as he has numerous happy customers he has "re fit" thanks to the racing fit they were talked into by said "super fitter" okay, enough ranting. Good luck with the decision