Quote Originally Posted by calico View Post
I am 5'10" and very long-waisted, and every bike I try seems to have me leaning painfully far forward/down. I end up with severe wrist pain very quickly. I asked at several bike shops but they don't seem to know what to suggest. I asked if they can put taller handlebars on a bike to accommodate my tall torso, and they didn't seem to know.

I still have the bike I bought in college, a Nishiki, which was supposedly sized to fit my height but it also causes wrist/hand pain. I even tried wrist wraps to give support to no avail.

My eventual goal is to get comfortable riding to do the 4 mile commute to and from the college each day (all paved roads, gentle hills).

Help! Is there any hope for me?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.


I am also overweight and tall. I started riding again in 2007. My hybred Schwinn (bought in 1993) served me pretty well. I promised myself a new bike if I proved to myself that I would keep on riding. This year I bought a new bike a Specialized Dolce', the reason I'm bringing this up is because as a woman's bike I find the fit much better my top tube is 54.8 while the vertical tube is 56 (big difference for me). Someone said in an earlier post that your looking for a bike shop when your buying a bike. I couldn't agree more. I have 3 bikeshops within 12 miles of my house but I drive 45 minutes to go to Clairemont, New Hampshire (I live in VT) for the service I get at that shop. Oh and shorts, I found TE in 2007 because I was looking for plus size bike shorts. I use mountain bike shorts (because of the baggy outer shell), but this is a great place to find your size.

Just my 2 cents,

Robin

PS I'm riding my first 50 in 20 years tomorrow ... wish me luck