Quote Originally Posted by 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!

YIPPEE! I am so happy for you! You have been through so much grief with "fittings". Now you can ride pain free. Enjoy.