LisaSH, your new handlebars

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Sandra,

There are many things one can try in attempting to solve a too-long reach. Others can perhaps chime in with their experiences.
The problem might be solved by means other than changing the bars, depending on what you are feeling.

Do you think you got the right size frame? How did you pick the bike, or how was it picked for you, and was it fitted to you by the bike store?

Perhaps you should describe exactly what your "symptoms" are first?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

As to my new handlebars, since you asked:

Yes, the new Salsa Poco bars are good. They were so different however that it took until my third ride today to really get a take on them. I especially first had to get used to not having my interruptor brake levers on the tops of my handlebar anymore- i took them off- oh what a panic the first day when I kept grabbing for those brakes at every intersection and they simply weren't there!!! =8-O You can bet I adapted to THAT pretty quickly, needless to say. The new bars have ergonomic "bumps" that fit my hands nicely and make for comfy hand position changes.

I got the new bars to try to shorten my reach by about 1 1/2 to 2 cms. They do not sweep forward at the hood area quite as much as my old regular style road bars. Also the drops are not quite so low down.
Oddly, my reach doesn't "feel" shorter, but they are, I measured. What's different is that now I can ride with my hands comfortably up on the hoods again- I couldn't really get comfy there before without feeling my weight falling forward too much. So that is good.

But the BEST and most unexpected thing is that they seem to be eliminating the significant left elbow pain I have suffered with for many months now when riding more than 10 miles. Today I kept expecting my elbow to really hurt after 20 miles or so, as usual, but no, just a twinge and then no pain, then another twinge and then nothing again. I made it through 30 miles with no big elbow pain for the first time in about 6 months. What an odd sensation that was. It has got to be the bars because the change is so sudden and dramatic.

I have them taped with new cork tape and twine now, am still figuring out how exactly I want to finish them. But I am definitely staying with them. Will take a picture soon so I can post "before and after" pix.
I probably should have ordered some short reach brake levers for my relatively small hands at the same time, but I didn't so that will just have to wait.

[sandra]

Maybe you missed my post when I bought my bike. I happened to find it used for a great price. It had only been ridden once and was in perfect condition. It is a 52. I rode the bike and it seemed like a good fit. I did take it in to the bike shop and have the stem flipped. Otherwise I've been making small adjustments myself. It's really not bad. I keep wondering if there is any little tweaking I could do to make it even better. It is certainly much easier to ride than my hybrid.

Maybe I should consider paying a bike shop to help me.

A small sidenote: Dear hubby is still plugging along on his hybrid. Yesterday he said "my goal has been to pass someone! I finally did, but she was stopped" He test rode a couple of bikes and is in search for the perfect bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandra, from looking at your bike, I would suggest you start by moving your saddle as far BACK (yes, back) on its rails as you can, and go to the LBS where you bought it (or to any good LBS) and ask to get a slightly shorter stem. Your stem looks to me to be about a 9 and I think a 7 might help a lot. Find out what size you have now- I might not be seeing it right and you might have a 7 on there already. But it looks longer than a 7 to me. Don't be tempted to get a stem shorter than a 7 as it will definitely make your steering wobbly like what happened to me. I went from a 9 to a 5 to a 7 stem, which is now just right.
When you have the stem switched you might want to have them put on a Salsa Poco handlebar- that will help as well.
Pushing the saddle back will make you bend a bit more, lengthening your reach, and also it will pull your center of gravity back a bit and take some of the weight off your hands. Sounds counter-intuitive I know, but my DH explained it well and it worked REALLY well for me.

Paying a good bike shop $100 or so to fit you is a good idea actually. Insist on having the most knowledgeable person there make an appt with you for a thorough fit session. Find out which bike shops have fitting trainer machines (is that what they are called?) that might take measurements of you while you pedal.

Others may make different or better recommendations than I did....I'm no expert.

Again- can you describe your symptoms in detail that make you think your reach is too long? What exactly do you feel on your bike, what's the problem(s)?

[sandra]

Saddle back and a shorter stem! Yes, it does sound counter-intuitive, sounds like it would be lengthening the reach, but I trust your knowledge and will give it a try. Yesterday I tried to raise the saddle but I noticed more shoulder discomfort. I'll try shoving it all the way back and see what happens.

I've only had the bike for 2 weeks today, so there is still an adjustment period to just riding a road bike period.

It was such a fluke when I discovered and bought it. I found it on a classified ad of a bike shop the day it was listed. Emailed the girl and she never replied. She finally replied on a Saturday night and we happened to be going the next day to her town (which is an hour and a half away). I met her father in the parking lot of a car dealership to ride the bike. That is also where I had my first big crash with chips and straps, right as I rode back up in from my hubby and the seller.

Anyway, it was in such great condition and the price was so good, and I was in bike love. It felt like it was for me. If worst comes to worst, I know I can sell it and get my money back out of it. The bike shop owner said it was in fantastic condition.

I really think it is going to be OK but it may well be worth it to pay the bike shop to help me.

[sandra]

What exactly do you feel on your bike, what's the problem(s)?

The weight on my hands and arms is never a problem. No hurting in my arms, no numbness in my hands, etc.

I feel neck and shoulder tiredness or discomfort, which could very well be just from changing from a hybrid to a road bike.

It seemed like my saddle was too low. My leg had a little more bend in it that I thought it should, so I raised it just a hair. Then I noticed discomfort in my shoulders, so I put it back down.

How much bend do you have in your arms when you ride? I did ask the bike shop guy about that and he said a little bit, but not much. His suggestion was to ride it a month and see how I adjusted.

[Bad JuJu]

Just to throw my little two cents in here, I also have a Salsa Poco bar on my touring bike and it's great for my short reach and small-ish hands. My faster, lighter Bianchi Veloce came with a Deda 4 Girls handlebar (yes, that's what it's called), which is similar to the Poco, but maybe even a little smaller. Love 'em both.

[RolliePollie]

The weight on my hands and arms is never a problem. No hurting in my arms, no numbness in my hands, etc.

I feel neck and shoulder tiredness or discomfort, which could very well be just from changing from a hybrid to a road bike.

It seemed like my saddle was too low. My leg had a little more bend in it that I thought it should, so I raised it just a hair. Then I noticed discomfort in my shoulders, so I put it back down.

How much bend do you have in your arms when you ride? I did ask the bike shop guy about that and he said a little bit, but not much. His suggestion was to ride it a month and see how I adjusted.

Sandra - I am experiencing some shoulder pain as well, although for me, it is mostly just one shoulder. Anyway, I am trying something new and it's helping a lot. Every time I take a drink from my water bottles, which is every 15 minutes at the most, I swing my right arm around and stretch it out. The best stretch seems to be raising my arm straight up and then bending my elbow and sort of reaching down behind my head.

I think my bike fit is ok but not great. However, the more I ride, the more I figure out different ways to change positions to improve my comfort. I decided to try and make it through my first cycling season without changing out any parts (with the exception of my saddle). This is partially due to the fact that I'm really cheap and I'm buying a house next month so I don't want to spend any more money on this bike, and partially due to the fact that I know my body is still adjusting to serious exercise and to being in a position that it really has never been in before! I've made lots of little adjustments to things myself and it's amazing how just a centimeter here and there can really make a difference. It's also interesting to me that when I first got my bike, certain body parts, like my thumbs, were absolultely killing me! But now they don't bother me at all.

Lisa - those handlebars look very cool. I'm glad to read your post about them. I'll put these on my "list" of possibilities for a new bike.