Gear for little people

[TxDoc]

I'm starting to realize the LBS I got the bike at doesn't really fit everyone going out the door- I didn't even think to ask for a womens saddle. Granted since it's my first real roadbike, there was some getting used to it to figure out what was and wasn't working, but maybe the other shop that throws everyone on a trainer would have been a better idea even though I got her at essentially 1/2 off. The frame seems to be close to the right size- I did one of those online measure yourself a bunch of ways fit things and it says I'm dead on with frame size and seat tube, and pretty close with reach- it said I could go farther, but the fit thing didn't have a check button for crap wrist and no core strength My main conundrum is the original shop owes me a tune up, so it'd be easier to go to them, but they don't have the selection of the other place. Hmmmm.

The way I see it - they DO owe you a fitting service, and if they want to keep you as a customer they should really do that for free and without complaints. As per product selection... if they are a serious bicycle business they should be able to order anything you need to have the bike fitted properly.
That said - given your measurements the D4g could be the bar for you, but it is 38, so if your wrist needs a wider correction maybe you may want to try an anatomical 40 as well, like the Deda or the ITM. I would not suggest bars with very short reach and shallow drops like Salsa poco, because that may end up putting excessive strain on your wrist and certainly you do not want that.
In any case, as soon as my synapsi comes in (next week I hope!!!) I'll be glad to give you a couple of bars in 38/40 if you want to give it a try.
If you want to test ride bars, I have a brand new 40 that is just sitting there, still wrapped up and never mounted on a bike - and plan to take out the Deda 4 girls as soon as the new carbon bar comes in. So if you want to try them let me know, I can just pack them both and put them in priority mail.

[mayanorange]

TxDoc- thanks for the input, I'll give them a call and see if they even have anything I can try (combo bike/ski shop, so have really low stock levels). It'd be great to try out yours (of course I'll let you know if I miraculously find something this weekend). Which 40 do you have? and are they both 26 clamps? I'll have to go get the stem I just returned last week if so- mine's 25.4 and the good shop accidentally got me a 26 that I would have kept, but it didn't quite go as high, tho might work with different bars. I must be driving these guys crazy between swapping out about 6 saddles and now the stem craziness.

Just called- they have a 40, so I'll head over there tonight and try that out and see what they say.

[TxDoc]

Which 40 do you have? and are they both 26 clamps?

40: Ritchey pro road, brand new, 31.8 clamp size.
38: Deda 4 girls, used, 26 clamp size.
Good luck!

[TxDoc]

Sorry, I meant to write the measurements too, the Ritchey is 110 reach and 145 drop I think.

[mayanorange]

They're both definite possibilities. I'll report back after the bike shop.

[mayanorange]

Well that was a waste of my time. Well, not totally- he adjusted my derailleurs and showed me how to wrap my bars and gave me tips on pedaling. But when it came to fit, it was a waste. They had a ritchey wing topped 40 that bent back (bad for wrist) and something ancient from the basement that may have been a nitto that was 40 and felt okayish, but they didn't have another stem to put in to try the ritchey or any other bars to try. Oh, and I knew more about clamp sizes and bar shapes than he did! Sigh.

So do I go to Landrys and get a proper fit? Or should I just try TxDoc's bars? I am a biomechanist, so I understand a lot of the fitting issues and have read a lot, but I can't step back and look at myself, so am doing some by tape measure then by feel from there or just by feel. I have a cycleops trainer which helps- as long as I can reach my tools I can adjust while sitting there Maybe there's something more I'm missing?

[TxDoc]

I am a biomechanist, so I understand a lot of the fitting issues and have read a lot, but I can't step back and look at myself, so am doing some by tape measure then by feel from there or just by feel. I have a cycleops trainer which helps- as long as I can reach my tools I can adjust while sitting there Maybe there's something more I'm missing?

Ok, I am missing the whole picture here... what is the geometry of your bike and what's your current setup (saddle height, stem, bars angle...)?
And well yes, a professional fit would always be best!
Now, with your profession you may get by and do it yourself - with mirrors and some help (like someone taking your measurements and angles while you are on the bike on the trainer). It will take much longer than doing it in a pro bike shop. Of course it's cheaper, but again, a good fit is very important...
Anyway, I just placed the bars with some other stuff on the TE yard sale, if you decide to try them let me know and I can scratch them from that post
But seriously what is the geometry of the bike? I think I'm quite confused now at what the reach problem is
As a side note: when you find out that you know more about bikes than the shop owner (and your name is not Lance Armstrong or Jeannie Longo), then you need to change bike shop!!!
Good luck!

[elk]

sidenote:

can I re-use my Brooks leather tape if I change back to my other bar? It's on the new bar thats on the bike until I decide.....?