from 105 to Tiagra

[Antaresia]

I'm so fed up with my soma. Why can't it just fit like my other bike? Why can't my expensive, custom built, fitted bike be as comfortable as a $125 beater I bought when I was still a little drunk and didn't even test ride because I was wearing a skirt? SOOOO FRUSTRATED.

I went in to try the new drops & shorter stem. Still not comfortable, feels like there is a lot of pressure in the hands, like they're being jammed into the drops instead of resting on top of them. Suggestion was to get narrower brifters, so I'm replacing the 105's with tiagra. Still trying to convince myself this is a good idea. Thoughts?

I just want to be able to ride this frigging bike. I want to do a ride from Vancouver to Chillawack in a few months, I don't think I can do that on a single-speed beater.

beater
soma

[indysteel]

I can relate. My custom bike frame is currently hanging on a wall in my basement, while I continue to ride my much more comfortable steel Bianchi that cost about a quarter of the custom bike. Ironically, most of my issues on my custom frame manifested themselves in my upper body and hands. I'm now of the mind that the frame itself is just too stiff, but while I was still in the throes of figuring out what part to swap with what part, I learned a bit about geometry and fit.

It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes hand discomfort is remedied, not by a change to the stem or bars, but by moving your saddle back. Yes, back. Comfort on a road bike is, in part, a function of balance between front and rear and between your lower and upper body. It's possible that your hands hurt because too much of your balance is centered forward, not rearward. Before you swamp anything, you might try moving your saddle back a wee bit. For a lengthier discussion of the important of fore/aft adjustments for comfort and power, read Peter's White article on fit.

I know this is probably a longshot, but I offer it as a free suggestion before you spend money on new brifters. I have to say that I'd be surprised if new brifters offer much relief, but if you feel it's worth a shot, then try it. When I was trying desperately to get my custom bike to feel better, we did just about everything we could to replicate the the Bianchi's set up. So you might try to compare your beater as best you can to your Soma and see if there are any glaring differences.

If all else fails, find a different fitter for a fresh perspective. Good luck!

[pll]

I have Tiagra shifters in one bike (my old road bike) and Ultegra in the other. The 105 shifters have the same shape as the Ultegra, as far I can tell. I hate the Tiagra ones. I have small hands, but my palm does not get support on the Tiagra shifters. The shape is odd and uncomfortable.

I found web page with pictures of both shifters side by side for comparison:
http://geodee.com/2010/05/a-non-gear...t-impressions/

[ehirsch83]

one word: SRAM

[ny biker]

Still not comfortable, feels like there is a lot of pressure in the hands, like they're being jammed into the drops instead of resting on top of them.

Unless I'm misunderstanding this, I don't see how different brifters would help the problem.

[indysteel]

Unless I'm misunderstanding this, I don't see how different brifters would help the problem.

Ah; I didn't catch that until you pointed out. I wonder if you she meant that her hands are being driven into the hoods, not the drops.

[Antaresia]

Unless I'm misunderstanding this, I don't see how different brifters would help the problem.

it's honestly a last ditch effort to get this to work.

One difference between beater & soma is that beater, being a single speed, has small hoods. On the Soma, I keep wanting to pull my hands back off the hoods, which might be because they're too fat for my hands. I honestly don't know, it's just uncomfortable. I wish i I knew what was going on and how to fix it, but I don't. Is it possible to just have a bike with bad geometry for you? The Double Cross looks great on paper, and I can't think of a model I'd rather have. But somethings not working, and we're running out of things to try.

I did try moving the saddle forward, backward, different tilts and heights. Even switched saddles. Nothing helped in that department either.

[indysteel]

Have you gone to a different fitter; somebody not otherwise affiliated with the LBS where you bought the bike? It might be time for a fresh set of eyes. It could be that you'll find a different set of brifters to be more comfortable. If I were you, I'd go to a handful of bike shops, preferably ones that offer bikes build up with Shimano, Campy and SRAM and just see how your hand fits with each of them.

I do know how you feel. I have some Campy hoods on my Bianchi that I love, love, love. They changed the design a couple years later, and I just never liked them as well.

[carlotta]

One difference between beater & soma is that beater, being a single speed, has small hoods. On the Soma, I keep wanting to pull my hands back off the hoods, which might be because they're too fat for my hands.

Crazy, crazy idea here: What if you put bar end shifters on it so you could use hoods similar to the ones you like on your SS?

I had a similar feeling with the stock hoods on my Cross Check-- they were too wide for the space between my thumb/first finger and my hands never felt comfortable on them. Since it already had bar ends, I just swapped the levers for an old set of Shimano's that I had kicking around and voila, problem solved. I've never ridden brifters, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but the bar ends are easy (probably a bit easier than the d/t shifters on my roadie).

[Chicken Little]

I got the same thing going on. My cheap REI steel frame bizillion pound steel frame cycle cross improved my century time by 1 hour because I didn't have to stop and stretch my back like I don on my custom steed. Beats me, but I sold the Serotta. Is it a collective psychic event?

Probably not.

[Seajay]

I have a theory that sometimes riders with some experience go chasing hand and shoulder discomfort by raising the handlebar....when in actuality they have settled into a lower position on the bike and the bars are now trying to cram the hands and shoulders back and up.
I've had a lot of luck with these people by LOWERING the bar a tad. A good test would be to look for about 2cm difference in height between the top of the saddle and the top of the handlebar. If you have less....try moving it to that 2cm position for a day or two and see what happens. My 2c

[ridebikeme]

I would defintely 'second' the recommendaions to go to another fitter. Altough the hoods might be a tad different from 105 to Tiagra, I'm not convinced that that is the issue. ( although your LBS can actually see you on the bike where the rest of us can't) My first reaction is that perhaps bar end shifters might be a good choice, but again, not convinced that that will solve the problem either.

I think as others have mentioned, that another fitter might see something that someone else doesn't... a fresh pair of eyes and someone with no history with you and your bike.

Good luck in your search, and keep us in the loop.