Is this a normal experience?

[cricketk]

Is this a normal event when one purchases a new bike? Does your body have to get used to a new bike? It just seems odd that my cheap Walmart bike did not cause these problems, but my new bike does.

I found when I changed from riding a hybrid bike to riding a road bike, I was ache-y for quite a while - the different position (and the enjoyment of speed) killed me for the first couple of weeks.

As I've gotten more comfy on the bike and more conditioned to riding in a road position, I've found bike fit to be an ongoing project. After a few months, I decided to lower the seat a little more than I originally set up, and a few months later, I've decided that I need a slightly shorter stem.

I think that maybe by the time I've ridden this bike continuously for a year, I'll have it set up completely how I want.

[OakLeaf]

Ha, sounds like our answer is "maybe yes, maybe no."

It's been a long time since I transitioned directly from one bike to another, and I really don't remember having an experience like yours. But I can tell you that when I was commuting long distance in the car, I was always sore for a couple of weeks when I got a new car. My body just had to adjust to a slightly different position.

It sounds like you're only having muscle pain? That's much better than having joint or nerve pain, anyway. Is your riding position radically different from your old bike? Have you been doing core strengthening exercises?

As long as you're not having joint or nerve pain, if it were me, I'd give it a week or so of consistent riding, do a lot of stretching, keep up your core workouts, and see if the pain starts to resolve. If not, then it's probably time for some fit tweaks.

[mimitabby]

if you didn't ride any more than before, and you ARE doing your core exercises, take the bike back and tell them where it hurts!
You shouldn't hurt that bad from a bike that fits. When i went from hybrid to a road bike, I had a lot of issues because the bike didn't fit me right.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think there's a difference between pain while you are riding and soreness after you ride.
To me this sounds like muscle soreness from being in a new position.

Before I got into biking, I used to do 3-4 mile brisk fitness walks almost every day. Then I started biking, and got so into it that I totally stopped doing my walks for about 8 months.
Then last month my knee started getting sore and I figured I'd alternate walking with biking to see if it helped.
OH MY GOD after my first two walks I could hardly hobble around the house! My entire body was in pain and I felt ancient. And here I was biking between 75-100 miles a week, yet I could barely hobble around just from a couple of brisk 4 mile walks!! It was becuase the two activities used slightly different muscles in different ways.
Happily, after my 3rd walk I felt ok and now I walk twice a week along with my biking to make sure this doesn't happen again. (Besides, I need the weight-bearing exercise to prevent bone loss.)

It's amazing how painful sore muscles can be after a new kind of workout.

[Lori]

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/kids/1290/29388

Here is the link to my bike. Also the seat that I have is a Selle Royal 3Demension, which seems to be okay. My butt is not huritng.

I was measured and fit for the bike when I bought it and tested it at the store.

I am thinking that maybe I am to stretched out . Maybe the handles bars are to far away.

What is a reasonable distance between the handlesbars and the seat?

I have also noticed that when I am off the bike and I push it backwards, it is much harder to roll it backwards than forwards. It almost feels as if the brake might be on.Sort of "tighter" if that makes any sense.

I have checked the brake and it is not on.

This whole process has kind of made me feel like an idiot.

Thanks for your time ladies.