Quote Originally Posted by Torrilin View Post
From a practical standpoint, the airway issue seems most important. I can't bike if I can't breathe . I can see at least 6 changes I could make that might help, and I'm not sure which is best to start with. (New handlebar, adjust brake/shifter position, adjust handlebar height, new saddle, adjust saddle position forward/backward, add gloves to support my wrists)
It sounds to me like everything that's wrong starts with the saddle for you. If you sit where you can breathe, you hurt. Staying in the place where you can breathe sounds hard to do. I'd start with the saddle. If your bones aren't back far enough, move it forward. Make sure that it's not at some goofy angle. The top should be mostly flat as I understand it. Mine was angled "nose down" just a hair, and I couldn't stay put on it! And be SURE to tighten that bolt enough so that it doesn't scooch backward as you ride! (ask me how I know THAT!)

Getting your butt happier on the bike can make a difference for your hands, cuz you'll be willing to put pressure on it, and that will take a load off your hands!

I'd also have a close look at the brake levers -- maybe they can be adjusted so that they're at a better angle for maintaining a neutral wrist position. Maybe they can also be adjusted for reach, and the cables may need a bit of tightening? Also look at the hand grips -- are they positioned correctly? On my comfort-beast, they had a flat side that should have been mostly horizontal for the heel of my hand to rest on, but someone had put them on angled downward some. Rotating them helped a LOT.

The good thing about making adjustments to start with is that they're free! You may still find that you need to spend some money on new stuff to make your bike comfortable, but remember to give each adjustment some time before you decide they didn't do the job and you need to do something else, unless the change makes things worse! (something hurts, it may need to heal before the change that helps obviously did the trick!)

Nothing ickier than an aching bottom on the bike! Makes for one heckuva ride! My sympathies!

Karen in Boise