Bike Fitting Problems Longish

[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.

[Chicken Little]

Staring at the pictures while drinking coffee this morning, I'm wondering if you would benefit from a shorter reach bar, such as the Poco Salsa, etc. Get those hoods a little closer to you, without a stem change. Can you tilt the bars up slightly without loosing your ability to brake in the hoods?

Wish you were across the street....

[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!