New Bike

[kdskaggs]

First, thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the help!

Indigolis, I have tried a longer stem but was told at my last appointment that I would need a stem about 6 inches longer than the stem I have. They also kicked my handlebars out a bit as well. I'm still squished.

Elk, I was looking for the size on my Serotta but can't find it. When I test rode the Ruby, I rode a 51. My glutes bothered me right away so I'm guessing it was too much of a stretch. In my measurements for a Rivendell, I measured a 51 by their guidelines going by my pubic bone to floor distance. I know there is more to proper fit or else it would be easy to figure out.

Trekhawk, I'd be willing to pay for a really good fit. It would certainly pay for itself if it kept me from buying the wrong bike. What city was your fit in?

The first fit session measured me and set up my Serotta for the way they believed it should fit me. After riding it a year, it wasn't comfortable so they adjusted the stem and handlebars quite a bit. I had an appointment locally a few weeks ago and was told that the bike was way too small for me and that they could go with a longer stem that might make me more comfortable but that a new frame that fit well would be the best route.

Bikermomma, I live in Sand Springs. We're neighbors! Jake at T-Town does all of our bike work. I also bought my Santa Cruz from him and love it! Wish they could fit me with a road bike the way the Santa Cruz fits me! What shop do you use?

Lisa, I have never seen a Rivendell except on the website so it probably wasn't right of me to say that I thought they were similar. In pictures, the bikes look similar to me. My Serotta is a steel frame, as are the Rivendells. I wrongly thought my Serotta had lugged tubes like the Rivendell, it doesn't. I thought the Rivendell's were simple looking, like my Serotta. I'd love to see one.

The bike I'm looking for is comfortable to ride 50 to 100 miles. It isn't heavy and hard to ride but feels like it fits me and was made for me.

Kenda

[Trekhawk]

First, thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the help!

Trekhawk, I'd be willing to pay for a really good fit. It would certainly pay for itself if it kept me from buying the wrong bike. What city was your fit in?

Check out the link below:

http://www.pkracing.com/

[kdskaggs]

They look very impressive! I wish they were a whole lot closer though. I'll keep them in mind if a closer good option doesn't present itself. I will travel if I have to.

Thank you!

Kenda

[GLC1968]

Kenda -

If you are 5'4" but have super long legs (longer than your DH), then you are probably not an 'easy' fit. I'm the opposite of you (5'4" with extremely short legs and a long torso) and I had much trouble getting set up on a bike that was comfortable for me. I was afraid that I'd only get the right fit by going custom and I couldn't afford it!

Anyway, I bought a bike with a geometry as close to what "should" work for me, and then I went to a fit specialist. I was terrified that I was going to be told that my bike wouldn't work, but luckily, I was very close. They did some tweaking and now I have abnormal love for my bike!

Here's a brief but interesting article about these specialized fit places. The one I went to is mentioned, but they've since closed up shop. They also mention the one Trekhawk posted.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...pecialist.html

I didn't see any mentioned in OK, but this might give you an idea of what to look for in your area.

Good luck!!

[Trekhawk]

Kenda -

If you are 5'4" but have super long legs (longer than your DH), then you are probably not an 'easy' fit. I'm the opposite of you (5'4" with extremely short legs and a long torso) and I had much trouble getting set up on a bike that was comfortable for me. I was afraid that I'd only get the right fit by going custom and I couldn't afford it!

Anyway, I bought a bike with a geometry as close to what "should" work for me, and then I went to a fit specialist. I was terrified that I was going to be told that my bike wouldn't work, but luckily, I was very close. They did some tweaking and now I have abnormal love for my bike!

Here's a brief but interesting article about these specialized fit places. The one I went to is mentioned, but they've since closed up shop. They also mention the one Trekhawk posted.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...pecialist.html

I didn't see any mentioned in OK, but this might give you an idea of what to look for in your area.

Good luck!!

Hey GLC - thanks for posting the article it is very interesting.

[kdskaggs]

GLC, thank you for the article! I'll read it and see where to go from here. I did write Serotta about my poorly fitting bike and amazingly, they wrote me back. They recommend going back to Wheatridge, in Colorado, because one of their teachers now does bike fits. He's supposed to be one of their top fitters. If I knew for sure that I wanted another Serotta, I would probably do that, even though it entails 20 hours of driving for each trip there. There is a Serotta dealer about 3.5 hour drive from here but I'm not sure how good of a fitter they have and I really don't want to repeat my past mistake. I do love my bike though so maybe I ought to get another one.

This is way too confusing for me. At least I know Wheatridge has many bikes to test ride.

Kenda

[kdskaggs]

Hi, GLC, I measured my pubic bone height, according to Rivendell's method. It is 80cm or 31 1/2 inches. Rivendell recommends the following if I want one of their bikes:

Rambouillet - 54cm
Saluki - 54cm
Bleriot - 55cm
Atlantis - 53cm if you run big volume tires, or 54.5cm if you plan on
something no larger than a 1.5" tire

I have never seen one of their bikes and there is nowhere anywhere close to test ride one so I doubt this will be my choice.

Kenda