New Bike

[kdskaggs]

Hi, everyone. I am new here but not new to cycling. I have been riding a Serotta road bike for the past 4 or 5 years, having ridden a recumbent for a couple of years prior. When I bought the recumbent, I was having a lot of back problems and the upright position on a diamond frame was very painful and uncomfortable. My back problems have been gone for several years, which is why I bought the Serotta. My problem is that the Serotta doesn't fit me well at all and is way too small. The bike was built for someone else who ended up purchasing a different Serotta. My measurements were similar to hers, so after trying many bikes, the LBS showed me the Serotta. The bike felt good to me at the time, while no others did. When I took the Serotta to my LBS they cringed at the fit. My neck is out further than stem because the frame is so small. My neck and shoulders are uncomfortable on the bike and my ITB is very tight. I sit very upright on the bike, rather than stretched over the bike. My guess is having come from a recumbent position, this position was most comfortable at the time. I rode the bike pain free up until this year.

I am looking at bikes now. I test rode a Ruby Pro today and had glute tightness within 5 minutes of riding on the trainer. Could this be because of the change in riding position? I have no idea what to look for as far as fit with another bike. I trusted the LBS the last time around and would like to be more knowledgeable this time.

Thank you for any help you can give me!!

Kenda

[redrhodie]

Is the Serotta causing pain at this point, or is the issue that the LBS cringed at the fit (I'm assuming you got it from a different LBS than the one that cringed)? Who cares if it measures too small if it's comfortable to you. With your previous back issues, your fit may not be the one you measure for.

Test ride more bikes, different sizes, different proportions. You should have that Goldie-locks feeling of "this one is just right."

I'd be concerned about the Ruby Pro if it hurt right away. That's not a good sign.

[redrhodie]

Oh, I see that your neck and shoulders hurt from the Serotta. Missed that before! I'm also seeing that you bought the bike from another rider, not your LBS. Still, my advice is the same. Test ride more bikes.

Maybe some of the other women will be able to address this-- theoretically, wouldn't a too small frame put less pressure on necks and shoulders? I would think that you'd be more upright, with less weight on your hands and arms, more on your butt. Or, would the neck and shoulders be a problem just because of scrunching up?

[kdskaggs]

Hi,

Sorry to be so confusing. I bought the Serotta from a bike shop in Colorado. The bike had been built to fit another woman but she decided she didn't want it and bought another Serotta instead. They sold me her Serotta for their cost. At the time, the bike felt wonderful. It was my first diamond frame road bike and I loved it! Over time, she has become painful to me. I had the stem changed to a longer stem so I could stretch out more over the bike. This didn't help. I'm told I would need about a 6" stem to get where I want to be. Scrunching describes the feeling perfectly. The bike is also very twitchy at speeds over 20 mph, I'm told this is due to the improper fit. I was reading about seeing the hub under the handlebars last night and the hub is WAY out in front of the handlebars on my bike.

I know any bike will feel completely different than what I have and I hate to make a costly mistake. I really don't know what to look for with regard to proper fit. The problem with my LBS is that they don't carry a large selection of bikes. They ordered the Ruby for me to try. It felt very different than my Serotta but I'm not sure it was in a good way. I was surprised to have glute soreness in 5 minutes. Since I've been riding my bikes, mountain too, for several years and I weight train several days a week with a trainer, I wouldn't expect glute weakness to be my problem.

I live in Oklahoma. Does anyone here have any recommendations for bike shops I can travel to? I'm contemplating driving to Texas to see a Serotta fit tech. I know my measurements aren't a definite way to buy a bike but it seems like a move in the right direction. I test rode dozens of bikes before I bought my current Serotta. I am definitely hard to fit. I'm 5'4" and weigh 95 pounds but my legs are longer than my 5'9" husband's.

Thanks for your help!

Kenda

[Trekhawk]

Hi,

I live in Oklahoma. Does anyone here have any recommendations for bike shops I can travel to? I'm contemplating driving to Texas to see a Serotta fit tech. I know my measurements aren't a definite way to buy a bike but it seems like a move in the right direction. I test rode dozens of bikes before I bought my current Serotta. I am definitely hard to fit. I'm 5'4" and weigh 95 pounds but my legs are longer than my 5'9" husband's.

Thanks for your help!

Kenda

Cant help with a recommendation for Oklahoma but I would recommend getting a professional bike fit before giving up on your Serotta.

Good luck

[kdskaggs]

Oh, I plan to have another pro fit with the Serotta. Problem is that I have already had two. I was reading the Rivendell site last night which states that most bikes are a few sizes too small for the rider. I really believe this to be true in my case. I love the bike but not the way I feel on her. If she can be modified with components in any way to fit me, I'd be pleased as can be -- maybe. DH has offered to get me a new bike for our upcoming 20th anniversary. Can't think of anything I'd rather have.

Anyone here have a Rivendell? Seemed similar to my Serotta in style only much cheaper.

Kenda

[bikermomma]

Hi,

Sorry to be so confusing. I bought the Serotta from a bike shop in Colorado. The bike had been built to fit another woman but she decided she didn't want it and bought another Serotta instead. They sold me her Serotta for their cost. At the time, the bike felt wonderful. It was my first diamond frame road bike and I loved it! Over time, she has become painful to me. I had the stem changed to a longer stem so I could stretch out more over the bike. This didn't help. I'm told I would need about a 6" stem to get where I want to be. Scrunching describes the feeling perfectly. The bike is also very twitchy at speeds over 20 mph, I'm told this is due to the improper fit. I was reading about seeing the hub under the handlebars last night and the hub is WAY out in front of the handlebars on my bike.

I know any bike will feel completely different than what I have and I hate to make a costly mistake. I really don't know what to look for with regard to proper fit. The problem with my LBS is that they don't carry a large selection of bikes. They ordered the Ruby for me to try. It felt very different than my Serotta but I'm not sure it was in a good way. I was surprised to have glute soreness in 5 minutes. Since I've been riding my bikes, mountain too, for several years and I weight train several days a week with a trainer, I wouldn't expect glute weakness to be my problem.

I live in Oklahoma. Does anyone here have any recommendations for bike shops I can travel to? I'm contemplating driving to Texas to see a Serotta fit tech. I know my measurements aren't a definite way to buy a bike but it seems like a move in the right direction. I test rode dozens of bikes before I bought my current Serotta. I am definitely hard to fit. I'm 5'4" and weigh 95 pounds but my legs are longer than my 5'9" husband's.

Thanks for your help!

Kenda

Where in oklahoma do you live. I live in the Tulsa area and there are 2 stores I could recommend. The workers there are so helpful and nice. Although there are more than 8 bike shops in Tulsa and any could possibley work for you.

[emily_in_nc]

I was reading the Rivendell site last night which states that most bikes are a few sizes too small for the rider.

That's so odd - I always hear of women at least ending up on bikes that are too big for them (typically non-WSD models with too long a top tube for our typically shorter torsos). I know I always rode bikes that were too big for me until I became enlightened on WSD sizing back in 2003 and bought a Terry!

Emily

[Trekhawk]

Oh, I plan to have another pro fit with the Serotta. Problem is that I have already had two. I was reading the Rivendell site last night which states that most bikes are a few sizes too small for the rider. I really believe this to be true in my case. I love the bike but not the way I feel on her. If she can be modified with components in any way to fit me, I'd be pleased as can be -- maybe. DH has offered to get me a new bike for our upcoming 20th anniversary. Can't think of anything I'd rather have.

Anyone here have a Rivendell? Seemed similar to my Serotta in style only much cheaper.

Kenda

Hmm well all I can say is that there are fit specialists and then there are real fit specialists. I had a great fit session awhile ago it was not cheap or short (lasted about 2.5 hours). They definitely would have told me if my bike was too small. What info did you get from your two previous bike fits??

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's so odd - I always hear of women at least ending up on bikes that are too big for them (typically non-WSD models with too long a top tube for our typically shorter torsos). I know I always rode bikes that were too big for me until I became enlightened on WSD sizing back in 2003 and bought a Terry!

Emily

Emily, the Rivendell observation applies in general I think, but they are talking about the overall size of the frame- not about top tube length and reach so much. They are talking about people who buy bikes that they can put their feet on the ground while still in the saddle at a red light- like the way we could when we were kids.
The too-long top tube issues is a well known problem for many women. But it has to do with our torso/arm reach, not with our overall frame size needs.

Say for instance you have two 5'6" riders- a man and a woman. They are both riding 50cm frame bikes. Both bikes are too small for them. So...they both get identical "right size" frame bikes of say 54cm frames. The guy is comfy now. The woman might be on the right size frame now, but her shorter arms are now causing her to have numb hands, weight too far forward, etc. The reach is too long for her. So then she gets a women's proportioned 54cm bike. Now she's still on the right size frame bike, but is comfy and the reach is no longer too long for her. Her weight is balanced and her fit issues are gone.
It's too different things really.


Kenda- what makes you say that Rivendells are like your Serotta?
What is it really that you are looking for in a bike in general, --what kind of riding do you want to do on it? And what kind of body posture do you want/need to be in?

[elk]

I'm just listening in here; have nothing of consequence to add except that now you've written this letter, I KNOW you're going to have the right bike soon...

it's interesting to me because I'm 5'4, always thought of myself as kind of a pony...and with every bike I tried, they kept putting me on bigger sizes. the cockpits were too short.... I woulda thought I'd have a 16 and an 18.5 fit...and with my Globe I ended up with a size 53 women's....

Must be the right size becasue so far I **knockwood*** have no issues and with the others I felt the problems pretty quickly.
anyway. Fit is facsinating....

[indigoiis]

I also have a bike that is a bit too small - I need a longer stem.
I can see the hub, and I did originally feel "squinched."
I put the saddle back an inch on the seatpost, and readjusted my posture to a more forward arch, loosey arms, with purposefully rounded shoulders.
I had much less neck and shoulder pain.
It took a few tries to get used to riding this way, and it also helps to strengthen back and ab muscles with regular stretching and roll crunches.

One thing a small bike does to me is put too much pressure on my rear.
I long for a longer top tube. Some day.

[kdskaggs]

First, thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the help!

Indigolis, I have tried a longer stem but was told at my last appointment that I would need a stem about 6 inches longer than the stem I have. They also kicked my handlebars out a bit as well. I'm still squished.

Elk, I was looking for the size on my Serotta but can't find it. When I test rode the Ruby, I rode a 51. My glutes bothered me right away so I'm guessing it was too much of a stretch. In my measurements for a Rivendell, I measured a 51 by their guidelines going by my pubic bone to floor distance. I know there is more to proper fit or else it would be easy to figure out.

Trekhawk, I'd be willing to pay for a really good fit. It would certainly pay for itself if it kept me from buying the wrong bike. What city was your fit in?

The first fit session measured me and set up my Serotta for the way they believed it should fit me. After riding it a year, it wasn't comfortable so they adjusted the stem and handlebars quite a bit. I had an appointment locally a few weeks ago and was told that the bike was way too small for me and that they could go with a longer stem that might make me more comfortable but that a new frame that fit well would be the best route.

Bikermomma, I live in Sand Springs. We're neighbors! Jake at T-Town does all of our bike work. I also bought my Santa Cruz from him and love it! Wish they could fit me with a road bike the way the Santa Cruz fits me! What shop do you use?

Lisa, I have never seen a Rivendell except on the website so it probably wasn't right of me to say that I thought they were similar. In pictures, the bikes look similar to me. My Serotta is a steel frame, as are the Rivendells. I wrongly thought my Serotta had lugged tubes like the Rivendell, it doesn't. I thought the Rivendell's were simple looking, like my Serotta. I'd love to see one.

The bike I'm looking for is comfortable to ride 50 to 100 miles. It isn't heavy and hard to ride but feels like it fits me and was made for me.

Kenda

[Trekhawk]

First, thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the help!

Trekhawk, I'd be willing to pay for a really good fit. It would certainly pay for itself if it kept me from buying the wrong bike. What city was your fit in?

Check out the link below:

http://www.pkracing.com/

[kdskaggs]

They look very impressive! I wish they were a whole lot closer though. I'll keep them in mind if a closer good option doesn't present itself. I will travel if I have to.

Thank you!

Kenda