argh... the continuing saga of bike fit

[mimitabby]

Kathi and FarrellCollie
thanks for more good advice. I like your gadget, but i don't think i'm going to try it, after all i have heard, i am afraid of raising the bars any higher! I will work on getting used to it
and shoulders relaxed, elbows bent...
thanks all!

I feel like there's hope now

[salsabike]

Aside from getting together soon, mimitabby, so you can try my Bianchi Eros Donna, and of course, trying all the above suggestions....I would honestly recommend doing a little test-riding at an LBS that has some bikes in a slightly smaller size than the Veloce, and some WSD bikes for sure. You would then have a better idea re whether there is a bike out there that fits you noticeably better, and whether it's worth pursuing that. I honestly believe that a bike that fits well feels that way.

[Kathi]

I would think that the woman who did the fitting would tell you that the bike was too big. You spent a lot of money making those changes and if the bike was that far off she should have been honest with you and recommended a different solution.

When I had my fitting on my Aegis I went to a Serotta trained fitter. They have a bike called a size cycle that can be adjusted to your dimensions. My fitter set me up on it before I made the decision to change my fork. That way I had an idea of what the changes would be like.

[SR500]

Assuming the seat is in the correct position, you can get stems from 60 to 140 mm, and angles from -20 to +40, add spacers and there is a lot of movement. A pic would really help. A road bike requires a bit of a bent over position, you may need to balance the benefits of fast and quick with what feels best. Also gloves can make a difference in numb hands. Descente makes a glove that is padded for riding in the hoods. Good Luck.

[Kathi]

Last week I bought "Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists" and he says to ride a "couple of hundred miles" before you make changes. But he also says that if you're not comfortable after that don't hesitate to go to the bike shop for adjustments.

[mimitabby]

here I am with my NEW Ibex wool knickers, they were perfect for the weather today...
I hope this shot shows enough of me on my bike.

[mimitabby]

Assuming the seat is in the correct position, you can get stems from 60 to 140 mm, and angles from -20 to +40, add spacers and there is a lot of movement. A pic would really help. A road bike requires a bit of a bent over position, you may need to balance the benefits of fast and quick with what feels best. Also gloves can make a difference in numb hands. Descente makes a glove that is padded for riding in the hoods. Good Luck.

SR500 I wouldn't dream of riding without padded gloves.. My 25 year old son
ripped his hand open when he fell without gloves. it was UGLY.

I have already gotten all the stems I am going to get..


Kathi,
she kept saying that I looked comfortable!! after 5 minutes, how could she tell?
it's funny; they do Serotta fits at that bike shop; why didn't i get one? I just got a bike fit.

[KnottedYet]

Y'know Mimi, that looks pretty dang good. How it looks is certainly not related to how it feels, but it doesn't look terrible.

Have you read any of Andy Pruitt's book? He goes over specific complaints and how to adjust your bike relative to the complaints vs. how a bike shop sets up an "ideal" bike.

Today I loved a 50cm Jamis, when technically I should've been on a 53cm. But it was perfect for my neck problems and how they relate to my comfortable position on a bike.

What looks good for a person with measurements like you might not be good for the real you.


By the way: NICE knickers!!!!!!

[DebW]

As a few people have suggested, you really may just need 1-2 months of riding this bike to get used to how it feels and handles. Give it time and try not to get discouraged yet. It looks like a great bike and your position looks quite reasonable. A road bike like this is supposed to handle very differently from what you've been riding. It is supposed to handle nimbly. But before you get used to it, that translates into squirrely. After you get used to it, it feels stable but quick. Once you get to the point where the bike feels stable and you can handle it with confidence, then you may still have to tweak your riding position.

P.S. In a previous post I mentioned headset adjustment. If that is off it will affect the steering and needs to be fixed. Did the LBS ride the bike after replacing the fork? Do you have an experience road-biker friend who would give it a spin to make sure the bike is riding properly?