I'm going to pick up my new bike today. So what's with the white stuff?

[IBrakeforPastry]

Muirenn - are you the one who has mentioned zero-offset seatposts? I'm thinking of getting one for my Dolce in a last attempt at a comfortable fit. I feel the reach is just a bit too long, and I'm pretty sure the knee alignment will still be good. Any thoughts (before I go out and buy another bike)?

[Crankin]

Your Dolce *should* have their short and shallow drop bars. If not, they are the things that made reach way better for me. Several companies make them, but Specialized has the short and shallow bars with the shortest/shallowest drop and reach, along with Salsa. The aluminum ones cost like 50.00, and are well worth it. I have them on both my carbon Trek and my titanium Guru. I did try the stem thing with my last bike. It just made the bike twitchier. The brakes on my new Silque are adjustable, so the reach with these bars is great. Before that, I had the short reach Ultegra brifters that unfortunately, they no longer make. However, I've been told that's old technology, as all of the component makers now have adjustable reach levers. My bike is so comfortable, it's like I went to heaven!

[IBrakeforPastry]

Yes, sorry for the confusion. I'm talking about the Dolce. The stem is as short and steep as they come. It has the short and shallow bars. As a matter of fact, when I'm in the drops, the reach feels too short. When I'm on the hoods, I feel too stretched out. And my hands are small, making the brifters feel bulky.

I'm excited about taking out the Vita. We did some fitting and adjusting in the store (including a different stem) and I think it'll be great. At least it stopped snowing, for the time being...

[Crankin]

It sounds like the Dolce wasn't fitted correctly. That doesn't make sense, that you feel stretched out on the hoods and cramped in the drops. Maybe then, you need bars with longer drops?
I'm no expert, but usually, the issue is you feel fine on the hoods, but can't reach the brakes in the drops. Again, you need some expert advice on if you can make this bike work for you.

[IBrakeforPastry]

I now have a nice collection of stems. I'll experiment. I have arthritis and a pinched nerve in my neck, so I'm very sensitive to any discomfort in that area.

It's snowing again.

Another thought. When riding on the hoods, how straight/bent are my arms supposed to be? I was just playing around on the trainer and if I leaned forward more (hello core strength!), and therefore bent my arms more, I was more comfortable. I'm not sure how long I could stay like that, though.

[Crankin]

Your arms should be slightly bent at the elbows in any position. Core strength is the key.

[Catrin]

I now have a nice collection of stems. I'll experiment. I have arthritis and a pinched nerve in my neck, so I'm very sensitive to any discomfort in that area...

Congratulations for still being able to ride! My neck took me off the bike, but I've found other things to do. Personally, mainly due to my neck and arthritis I had a very short reach on my bikes as my hands/neck couldn't tolerate a more "normal" reach. As Crankin said, the elbows should be slightly bent, and core strength is indeed key. The white stuff WILL go away, at least that is what I keep telling myself. We were below freezing this morning in Indianapolis. Warm weather has to come, yes?

[IBrakeforPastry]

I still haven't been out on my new bike, but I've been getting very good at changing stems on the Dolce. I tried a longer stem with a steeper angle. I think this may work. The reach is, of course, a little longer, but I like that I'm up higher. Unfortunately, the front brake cable isn't long enough for this set up, so I can't try it out on the road just yet.

Catrin - I'm so sorry you had to give up biking. I've suffered from headaches my entire adult life and it's only been the past few years how I discovered that some of them are exercise related. Working with a PT has helped, and now I just try to be very careful. I can tolerate lower body discomfort, but once I feel the slightest discomfort in the upper body, I back off. It's just not worth it. That's why I'm being so picky about the fit and comfort.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Were you going to post a picture?

I need a visual!!

Well thanks for asking! I will try to post later today. Stay tuned...