Hip angles and max thrust

[Triskeliongirl]

If you are going to the shop tomorrow, why don't you also bring with you the bike that fits, and see if they can measure the old bike and then adjust the new one so the fits are similar.

[run it, ride it]

And after a week on the new bike with the new adjustments, I'm just not sure about the old one anymore. I rode it to work today and wouldn't you know, it gives me pain in the left shoulder, and now that I've been reformed from my running posture, the seat feels too far forward and too low. I have some more tweaking to do to!

I'll bring it along, anyway. If only to illustrate, "THIS IS WHERE HANDLEBARS BELONG!" I hope no one pulls anything trying to mount that beast on the trainer. I forgot how heavy the steel frame is!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you can stand it, give your new bike a few more days for your body to adjust to the new positions. I know you have some pain, but it might ease up and the longer you wait the more it will become clear where the problems are. New positions can be uncomfortable until your body adapts, and they **may** be really comfortable later!
I'm now holding off on installing the new shorter stem I had ordered after riding my new road bike for a week- I really was convinced the handlebars were WAY too far away at first, all my weight was on my hands, and my hands were going numb. The more I ride, the more comfortable I am though, and my body has gotten stronger and more balanced and now my weight seems to be naturally distributing itself between my hands, seat and feet! No more numb hands. Now my handlebars don't seem so far away at all, the bike doesn't seem impossibly tall anymore, etc. It just took a month of riding for my body to adjust to the new bike and the new positions. I am really comfortable now, I feel like I fit my bike perfectly, and am starting to ride with more power and grace than on the old "comfortable" upright hybrid loaner bike I started with. I NEVER would have thought this was possible, without actually going through it myself. It's weird to experience.

[run it, ride it]

The curious part of it is that I rode in a more aggressive position on the old bike than I do on the new one. I've got all the core strength in the world from running and Dressage, but I feel like I can't use it--like all the stress goes straight to that one spot in my back.

Sigh.. we'll adjust the handlebars... and this time I think I'll agree to the shorter stem. I've realized I don't want any lower handlebars; I raised the seat of the old bike up to where it SHOULD be and I have a serious downhill slope to me.

Just how seriously is my control going to be compromised by a shorter stem?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just how seriously is my control going to be compromised by a shorter stem?

Not much, if it's a reasonable amount of change. Your body will adjust!

[run it, ride it]

Lisa, thank you so much for the continuing advice and especially the last-minute relief! I'm on my way to the bike store... will update!

[run it, ride it]

Thank god!

This time when I went to the bike store, the guy fitting me actually knew what he was doing. He said, "where are you hurting?" and I pointed to my lower back. He said, "I think I know why, just looking your bike."

The last guy had my seat much too far back, and raised it much too high. That explains the crotch numbness!

This guy spent a solid 40 minutes with me. When I said, "the handlebars feel too far away," instead of focusing on 'textbook fit,' he just looked at my flattened, stretched-out back and locked-out elbows and agreed.

He was so patient and attentive. I didn't feel like I had to defend myself, or like I didn't know anything. He actually cringed himself when I told him about the pain and said, "we'll keep working at this until the bike is painless. Riding should never hurt like that."

A shorter stem and a test ride later, the bike feels just perfect.

My back is slightly rounded, my elbows are bent, I can lean forward and rise up out of the seat with no trouble at all. My abs can finally carry the load my back was straining with. A few trips to the chiropractor and massage therapist should fix the damage already done. My crotch is content, hands are happy, and MAN do I ever get more power out of those clipless pedals when I can actually reach them!

The guy didn't charge me a cent, as well he shouldn't have! I dropped $1000 on a bike and asked more than once to be fitted--they finally got it right!