Not a new rider, but new road bike

[nikkoblu2]

I'm not exactly new to riding. I bought my Trek in Sept 2007 and have been riding April - October since then. Last year I decided to take the plunge and buy the Cannondale road bike I mention in my signature. I had been contemplating it because I wanted to work my way up to a century and get there a little quicker. The folks at the LBS encouraged me that if I wanted to progress past my 40-50 mile rides (avg 14 mph), I should move up to a road bike.

I test drove a few last fall and picked out the Cannondale. I was only able to put about 300 miles on it before the weather got crappy. I knew there would be an adjustment period, a tweaking period, but I'm wondering if I may have the wrong bike for my body.

Everything below the waist is comfortable. My problems are with tightness in my neck and the "pads" of my hands being terribly uncomfortable. I've been back for several adjustments - stem changed, tilt of handlebars changed, brake hoods adjusted, etc. I understand I'm not supposed to raise my head as much as I tend to. I want to look waaaaayyyy ahead, and I believe I should just be looking a few feet in front of me.

I rode 37 miles on Saturday after last weekend's adjustments and my neck isn't as uncomfortable as it's been, but it's still tight today. As far as the hands, I've ridden with old gloves, new gloves, and no gloves. My hands don't hurt after I'm done riding, but while leaning forward I feel the fat pads in my hands getting very tender with some tingling and numbness.

Let me cut to the chase here. My question to you longtime riders out there...is it possible my body is just not suited for the way I need to sit on a road bike and I should talk to the folks at the LBS about turning this bike in and getting another really great hybrid...or maybe a flat bar road bike (which is something I didn't even know existed when I bought this bike)?

As usual, thanks for all your really great input!

[marni]

while I agree that a fitting at another bike shop might help, and that if it doesn't you should possibly research a new bike, I would also like to mention the fact that I routinely ride 40-60 miles 2 or 3 times a week. I have been doing this for four years and in addition have ridden across the country twice and do several centuries a year to raise money, so I am definite that my bike fits On occasion, the hands hurt and go numb, it depends on the ride, the day, the phase of the moon and how tired the rest of my body is. I love Pearl Izumi gloves with the padding for unlnar numbness. My neck is pretty routinely stiff after a long ride because I tend to ride with my head lifted quite a bit to avoid white line stupidity but again it depends on the ride, the weather, head wind or not, and the phase of the moon and how tired my body is. It also depends on how much time I spend in the drops as opposed to upright or aerobars.

Just saying that you should start doing some neck and head rolls after you bike. That plus a hot shower and let it pound on your neck a while.

marni

[nikkoblu2]

Thank you both for your insightful replies. I'll be going in to the bike shop this weekend to discuss swapping the bike for something different. I'm just getting a strong feeling this is not going to be the right position for me.

[blackhillsbiker]

I'm liking my road bike much better after I have restarted yoga. My back and neck are much more comfortable now. Still, if I want to do lots of miles with minimal discomfort, my Kona Dew is the bike I choose. Somehow the fit and position are perfect for me.

Deb