Now I just feel silly...

[Pascale]

I'm definitely "behind" my handlebars. I haven't checked specifically but I think that if you split the space between the tip of the saddle and the stem in imaginary thirds, my nose, when looking down, would be at about the line between the middle and the front third.

Ok, on the Terry bike I was almost directly over the handlebars when I looked down, and maybe a bit in front - which made me constantly feel like I was on the verge of tumbling forward - I thought it felt a bit small!

[Bikingmomof3]

Pascale,
You are not alone. I put about that many miles on mine going bewteen 16-21 mph. I *want* a road bike, but I never would have gotten on it. With my "comfort" bike, I am pushing it to the limits and loving biking (something I was terrified to do for 37 years). I am practicing, and gaining strength and endurance, while saving up for a "real" road bike.

[Kano]

Pascale,
You are not alone. I put about that many miles on mine going bewteen 16-21 mph. I *want* a road bike, but I never would have gotten on it. With my "comfort" bike, I am pushing it to the limits and loving biking (something I was terrified to do for 37 years). I am practicing, and gaining strength and endurance, while saving up for a "real" road bike.

Me too -- there's definitely a road bike somewhere calling my name! "Right now" I'm thinking about getting the clipless pedals, cuz then I'd be used to using them when I DO get that road bike some day, and I'm thinking about those slick tires for this bike (they'd be fat slicks....) but after taking a week off due to travel, I feel pretty certain that there's SOMETHING wrong with the fit (I think I'd be at the bike shop right now if it wouldn't be too hot to ride back home after!), and that makes me wonder how much work/money/etc. do I want to put into this bike, when I could put it into that road bike... (it's probably something minor, like seat adjustment and/or handle bar adjustment, which isn't necessarily a good thing at all!)

Meanwhile, I'm practicing too! (neighbor lady said she rode so much farther so much easier soon as she hopped on her new road bike, though..... GOSH it's tempting!)

[Bikingmomof3]

Me too -- there's definitely a road bike somewhere calling my name! "Right now" I'm thinking about getting the clipless pedals, cuz then I'd be used to using them when I DO get that road bike some day, and I'm thinking about those slick tires for this bike (they'd be fat slicks....) but after taking a week off due to travel, I feel pretty certain that there's SOMETHING wrong with the fit (I think I'd be at the bike shop right now if it wouldn't be too hot to ride back home after!), and that makes me wonder how much work/money/etc. do I want to put into this bike, when I could put it into that road bike... (it's probably something minor, like seat adjustment and/or handle bar adjustment, which isn't necessarily a good thing at all!)

Meanwhile, I'm practicing too! (neighbor lady said she rode so much farther so much easier soon as she hopped on her new road bike, though..... GOSH it's tempting!)

It is indeed tempting. Fortunately (or not), the boys have school starting soon and any money for new bike goes towards school clothing, supplies, and sporting fees. So as tempted as I am, it is not in the budget.

I do like your idea of new pedals, to become used to them. Great idea. I am trying to find creative ways to push myself with this bike and prepare myself for next summer when I can hopefully buy a new bike.

[CorsairMac]

Pascale: my first "get back into biking by commuting" bike was a Trek Navigator 200 - a comfort bike. I was just so thrilled to be riding it never occurred to me that it wasn't "built" to ride like that! I rode 60 miles a week on that thing, avg spd of 11-12 mph and climbed my cute (read NOT) mountain every night going home on that thing. I also did 25-30 mile rides on the weekends on that baby. By the spring I was "pining" for a road bike and in just a matter of like 4 wks I ended up with a vintage road bike, a MTB and withint 6 wks a 2nd vintage road bike! So hang in there, the road bike for you will come out and you'll love it! and one day you'll climb back on that comfort bike and think "Holy Smokes how did I RIDE this thing for so long?" lol

[Over50Newbie]

Okay Pascale,

My nose is also behind the handlebars. The only time I feel like I am a little too forward is when I stand up to climb a hill.

My LBS told me that my Terry had three different saddle positions. They ended up putting me in the middle one. The front one was too forward for me, and with the back saddle position, I felt like I had to stretch too much to reach the handlebars.

Also, maybe you should try to ride the next size up - the 17.5"? I tried that size and with the seat in the forward postion, it felt okay. It is just that the 16" felt better.

I still say... get thee to a bike store that will do a professional fitting for you. Maybe you have a long torso for your height, but you won't know for sure until you are fitted properly.

Good luck!

[HappyAnika]

That is amazing you've been putting that kind of mileage on that bike!

When I bought my road bike, they said when I'm in riding position with my hands in the hoods if I look down toward the handlebars they should line up with the hub of the front wheel. If you see the hub in front of the handle bars you are too far forward, if you see it behind the bars, you're too far back. Just a guideline, hope this helps.

[Kano]

I do like your idea of new pedals, to become used to them. Great idea. I am trying to find creative ways to push myself with this bike and prepare myself for next summer when I can hopefully buy a new bike.

My understanding on these pedals is that we can move 'em to the new bike when we find it, too. That makes them a bargain even though they're not cheap, right?

Anyhow, this week, new "slick" tires on Thursday -- decided that on that other thread. I think next week is the week for new pedals. We have a hilly ride with a group of people over the weekend, and that's probably not an ideal day to be a pedal newbie. By then, the stuff I've improved about the bike will be just about half the initial cost of the bike....

(Sunday was going to be our day for pedals, but then the bike shop that we could have biked past on our way home was going to be closed, it being Sunday and all, so we didn't go to another bike shop either. Could be a "while we're out" this weekend, since the bikes will be on the car already!)

Karen in Boise

[Bikingmomof3]

What type of pedals are you planning on buying?

[Kano]

What type of pedals are you planning on buying?

That's a question for my bike shop guy! I'm not sure, but they'll work with my shoes, and they'll be the easiest possible to get out of !!!!!

My shoes are Specialized Taho, which are like the cheapest shoes that would go onto my feet, and even though I have no real objection to yet another pair of shoes in my shoe stable, it would be nice to be able to use them. The guys at George's seem to be partial to the ones with an "spd" type widget? Or, maybe since we're riding the low end bikes, they're suggesting the low end pedals????

It's a whole other thread, I know -- but maybe someone on the list has suggestions for us newbies breaking our bodies in to this sport???

Karen in Boise