mountain bike fit?

[madisongrrl]

OK, I have done all the measurements and I really think I should be riding a smaller bike than I was originally fitted( is that a word?) on. I have enlisted the help of a local ironwoman/extrerra triathlete to come to the bike shop with me. Maybe two women telling them the bike is too bike will make them pay attention. Thanks again for all the help. Jones.

Good for you. Don't let those bike shop men push you around!

[mmelindas]

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I WON'T SHOP AT A LBS!! I was afraid they'd put me on something (a) I couldn't afford (b) that I couldn't ride comfortably (c) that was too big or too small for me...

I think unfortunately some LBS's only care about profit and sales, not customer fit or comfort... one LBS sold me an Italian Gel saddle that was so uncomfortable I couldn't wait to get it off my bike! Went back to my reliable large "elephant seat" that let me slide back going downhill and was so comfy....

I am riding a 26 inch women's Mtn bike and raised the stem and the seat and now my reach is comfortable, as well as the saddle. It may not be a perfect fit, but my bottom likes it and I can reach the shifters/brakes just fine now.

What I can't do is stop gracefully and turn like a pro...I am still wobbly and scared of how BADDDDD that asphalt and rocks are going to feel when I hit them even going slow....nightmares!!!!

Remember when I was young and bold and nothing scared me. Now that I'm 62, everything scares me especially falling on my tuckus and tearing off my skin......achhhhhhh!

my blog/photos : http://losing-half-of-myself.blogspot.com/

[SilverBullet]

Melinda,

I'm glad that you're taking the initiative and trying to get your weight down to a healthly level. I must say though, that you are wrong about local bike shops. Yes, there are some sales people that are new and are still learning, but there are also some that have been in the business for a long time and would be more than capable of helping you find the right bike for you. I worked at a bike shop for more than three years, and I NEVER sold a bike for the money. If you didn't want to buy a bike from me, so what. I'd still spend an hour helping you out. If you wanted to but a $2000 bike, GREAT! If you were more comfortable buying a $300, even better! It means I helped one more person back onto a bike.

Just because you had a bad experience buying a seat doesn't mean they're all bad. And, personally, I think you did yourself a disservice by going out and buying a $150 Roadmaster. The quality is very low, and you should see the people they have 'assembling' them. For $150 - $200 more, you could have had a much better bike that will be easier to ride and will last longer.

[madisongrrl]

Melinda,

I must say though, that you are wrong about local bike shops. Yes, there are some sales people that are new and are still learning, but there are also some that have been in the business for a long time and would be more than capable of helping you find the right bike for you.

Perhaps you have never been to many of the local bike shops in Madison, WI... There are plenty of employees (at just about every shop) who know very little. The problem is that they don't admit it and try to B.S. you (especially the "alpha" male types....and I always make it a point to call them out). They don't do their homework because many of them don't race bikes (dead give away is if the shop has Sunday hours).

Many of my friends and family are hardcore cyclists who race mountain bikes, road bikes, and time trial bikes on an extremely competitive level. We all get equally annoyed at the level of knowledge by the local bike shops in town. The only shop that I would exclude from this is Cronometro. They are a high end custom shop and are a cut above the rest. So I do most of my business with them.

http://www.cronometro.com/

[SilverBullet]

Perhaps you have never been to many of the local bike shops in Madison, WI...

lol. You are right, I've never been to Wisconsin. I'm glad you found at least one shop that you can rely on!

[bouncybouncy]

i have read this thread up-side-down and sparatic and back thru again and a few thoughts have come to my head i just wanted to share...take them all with a grain of salt or just ignore them completely...

first of all with all the differences of frame type and body sizes there is no one bike that would fit the same height person...inseams vary/reach varies/riding syles vary...

comfort and safety (being able to reach the brakes/being able to scooch back off your seat on drops/not hitting the "uh...um" area in a misfortunate judgement call) all very important

most prominent thought of mine: finding a lbs you trust!!!! and if you can't, finding an individual that is knowledgible to help...but one thing that this site fails at is being able to SEE a person on a bike in order to give that said "knowledgible advice"

we try so hard to help our fellow bike crazed gals out there to find the perfect fit and we are left frustrated by posting our thoughts and hoping the person "gets" what we are saying!!!

i leave with this final thought...for those out there desperately trying to find the "perfect" fit...be patient, don't fork out that $$$$$ unless YOU are comfortable on the bike, test drive, read as much info as you can, ask questions, ask questions, ask questions and never, never let them see you swea....OH NO....that is something else...
never let them sell you something you do not want (comfy with)

*** and in my humble opinion...it would be worth a days drive (maybe more) to be fit by someone who knows what they are doing and are not just trying to make a buck!!!

OK...i am done...who's soapbax did i borrow??? you can have it back now

[rocknrollgirl]

I too have been reading this thread, and lurking, and thinking, and mumbling to myself. I have to put in my 2 cents. It is going to fly in the face of what some of the other members have said, but here goes.

I bought a new fs bike last summer. I tried out about 5 different bikes, at very good bike shops both here in NJ and in CO. Some wsd, some not.

I ended up with a 15.5 Marin. I have very little stand over room, but of all of the bikes I tried, it was the one that was comfortable. My DH and the LBS guy said you could see it as soon as I got on the bike, in my body language. The bike fitters explained that reach and comfort are really more important than stand over room. I ahve to agree.

Maybe it is too big for me technically, but it was the only one that felt right. Have I had a problem? No.

I ride a couple of times a week, and have yet to smack my parts, and yes I have wiped out on numerous occasions.

So what do I know?, Not much, except what felt right for me.
Something to keep in mind.

Ruth