Bike Fitting Problems Longish

[hid558]

How do I know if I have a long or short torso? Based on measurements what should I look at?

[Irulan]

one way to tell is to be aware of how most clothes fit you. Is your inseam average, longer or shorter than average? You should know by how tops fit if you are long waisted or not. A tailor should be able to tell you also.

[sundial]

How do I know if I have a long or short torso?

Look in the mirror. Do you look "leggy" or do you have a lowered waistline?

As a kid, I found out I had a long torso when I was measured for a leotard. I have to buy long torso swimsuits as well.

[Chicken Little]

I'm with the photo request. One of you in the drops, and one on the bar, looking straight ahead. I'm thinking this is a seat thing, but it would be great to see you on it.

[hid558]

Heres me on the bike!

[HillSlugger]

Are your arms fully extended? You should have some bend at the elbow; maybe you need to go back to a shorter stem.

[emily_in_nc]

Are your arms fully extended? You should have some bend at the elbow; maybe you need to go back to a shorter stem.

I agree -- it looks like you are really having to stretch to use the typical hands on hoods position. I'd try a stem that has a shorter reach out in front but is taller, or add some more spacers to bring the handlebars up a bit higher.

[Chicken Little]

Yup, bring that stem up, and from looking, I think you can move your saddle very slightly forward. If I dropped a plumb line, I think that your knee is a little behind the axle on the pedal. (Anybody feel free to correct me here). I would try that for starters, then lower the seat slightly, then consider the stem changes, starting with an 80mm.

Keep in mind that any change feels better... for a while. This will take some fiddling to get right.

It's easier to make a small bike bigger, than a big bike smaller. You'll get this.

[Irulan]

I agree -- it looks like you are really having to stretch to use the typical hands on hoods position. I'd try a stem that has a shorter reach out in front but is taller, or add some more spacers to bring the handlebars up a bit higher.

Me three, I had a mountain bike with a cockpit like that and I had nothing but problems w/pain in wrists and shoulders.

[emily_in_nc]

Heres me on the bike!

Great, thanks for posting those (great looking bike, BTW!)

The first thing I noticed is that your saddle seems higher than your handlebars. Is that true? If so, that can definitely cause problems for a lot of women, wrist and shoulder pain and the like. Seems that most non-racing women prefer the saddle about even with the top of the bars. Of course I'm generalizing here.

Since you have to raise your saddle that high to get a good knee bend, perhaps the frame is indeed a little too small for you. Chances are you can't raise your handlebars up much without another stem change. Often if both the saddle and handlebars have to be raised quite a bit, it means that the frame is on the small side for you.

Just a few thoughts...I'm not an expert, just another petite gal who rides WSD bikes!