My road bike does not fit. Help.

[pooks]

I do seem to notice that if I can shove myself into positions that it doesn't seem to encourage, I get more power and speed -- hmmm, yes, more reason for a roadie bike!
Karen in Boise

Yep, I'm doing that, too. I'm practically hanging my tailbone off the back edge of my Brooks 67 when I'm most comfortable -- was the same with the previous saddle, too. And its back as far as it will go. Which does make me wonder if I've just got the wrong geometry or something. (LBS guys who have seen me on it say I have the right size bike, so evidently it's not too small.)

[xeney]

Pooks, two things: (1) the person (woman) at my LBS was sure that my bike was the right size for me, too, so they do not actually know everything, and (2) the Brooks saddle may not be able to go back as far as a regular saddle, and that might be causing you problems. That is exactly how I figured out that this bike was really, truly not fitting me; I put on a Brooks and kept climbing off the back of it trying to get a good pedal stroke.

You might try raising the seat a little. Even on an upright bike like a hybrid, that might get you back a bit.

Since my 7cm stem didn't arrive and I really need a rideable road bike for a class I'm taking tomorrow, I am going to get the only other option we found locally, which is a Ritchie adjustable stem. My husband thinks it will be too much and make my steering very squirrely, but I am buying it from REI so if it does not work out, I can return it after the 7cm arrives. I also got a set of cyclocross levers and we'll install those tonight (although my husband is really never going to stop calling them "chicken levers," not even if I kick him really hard).

[Bad JuJu]

although my husband is really never going to stop calling them "chicken levers," not even if I kick him really hard).

But it's worth a try, isn't it?
But seriously, good luck finding your fit. I bought and sold two bikes that were too big for me because LBS guys told me they were my size. After that, I educated myself and did the homework I should've done in the first place so I'd know for myself whether a bike fit me or not.

For what it's worth, I've gone the short stem extension route too, and it didn't noticeably affect my steering for the worse. And I too am finding that I just can't get the women's Brooks shoved back far enough for me. Might try a seatpost with a longer setback though. Just my 2 cents.

[pooks]

This is the second saddle I've tried and neither would go back far enough.

That seat post with a longer setback? Maybe I should learn more about that option.

[Bad JuJu]

I think this is the seatpost that Triskeliongirl mentioned:
Alpha Q Carbon seatpost

[xeney]

JuJu, from what I've read the seatpost with the most setback of any on the market is 35mm. We're already there, so we've maxed out that option. (And I can't reach the handlebars.)

I think this bike is going on the block. Damn.

ETA: yeah, I did check that one out ... it only has 25mm of offset, so it's actually less than what I have now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A bike being the "right size" has little to do with whether it FITS you well or not.
Any LBS person who sends you off with a new bike just because it's "your size" isn't doing their job. You could take 5 bikes that are all your "correct size" they will all fit you differently. You will have a different body position on each one. ONe might be a perfect fit and another might leave you in pain after a couple hours of riding. Yet you are told they are all "the right size". The right size often is just a beginning point in the search for a good fitting bike- it only refers to ONE measurement on a frame- the seat tube. It doesn't have much to do with angles or arm reach or handlebar width/height, and a dozen other factors. Happily, some of these factors can be changed on a bike, but others you can't do much about.
This is an interesting article on frame sizing (with some definite opinions):
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html
It also has some good links on the bottom to other articles by other people.

[xeney]

Well, I didn't mean she said, "Yes, you're a 53," and pulled one off the shelf and sent me on my way. She had me sit on different bikes, she moved the seat around, she had me test ride.