New Bike, need help

[Daggett]

I picked up my Serotta Fierte today. I having a couple of problems I hope you can help with.

I am having pain in my neck and between my shoulders. I think I have too much weight on my hands. The steering is a little squirrely also. My fit and posture look good on the bike. Do you think the stem could be too long? Any suggestions? Thanks

[Kathi]

Are there significant differences in the fit of your Fierte and your old bike? If there are then it will take time for your body to adjust.

When I made significant changes to my Aegis, I ached all over. I was to the point that I that I had made a big mistake in changing the height of my handlebars. Even though the position felt better, I felt awful. It took me a good month to adjust to them.

I also made the mistake of riding 60 miles right after we raised my handlebars. In fact, all my rides were 40 - 60 milers. No wonder I was miserable.

When I got my Ottrott last month I planned a nice long hilly ride and my fitter said to take it easy, do short rides and let my body get used to the bike. Fortunately, my new bike isn't much different in body position from the old bike so I adapted pretty quickly.

If you don't feel better in a couple of weeks then go back, you may need your handlebars raised.

I guess I was lucky, my fitter did such a good job fitting my bike that I have no complaints.

[Kathi]

What bike was your old one and what was the differences between the two?

I demoed the Fierte, a 46p and it definitely is not a squirrely bike. It handled and turned very nicely.

I assume that since you bought a Serotta, the LBS did a fitting, correct?

[pooks]

I think my husband needs to get fitted to his bike and get numerous adjustments. His knees are bothering him after only a couple of miles (he has trouble with one of his knees, anyway), etc. Since we bought our bikes mail order, nobody has ever helped him with it. (I've had a couple of different guys at REI watch me ride and make some adjustments which really made a difference, of course.)

But -- this adjustment period. Does this mean it might be better to wait until after the Livestrong ride in Austin to make any changes in the hubster's bike? (He's only riding the 10 miles.)

[Daggett]

Kathi,

My old bike was a Trek hybrid. Nearly all of my weight was on my butt. So any weight on my hands is an adjustment, but I do believe that I have too much weight on my hands. When I was looking for a new bike I liked the position of the Trek Pilot but the LBS and I felt for the money the Serotta was a much better buy. He tried to match sizing to the Trek. The Fierte is a stock geometry. I purchased a 52S which has a sloped TT similar to the Pilot. My fit and posture look correct, but my neck and shoulders do not agree.

[Triskeliongirl]

I would go back to your LBS, tell them where it hurts, and ask them to adjust it. How long is your stem. A stem that is short and/or high can make the bike feel squirelly, as can not having good balance over the bike. Bars that are too narrow can also give the kind of pain you have, but the guys in your shop are in a better position to diagnose the problem than we are since we can't see you on your bike. If they say the position is good, then I would give it a little time.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Going from a hybrid body position to a road bike body position is a big change.
When I switched, on my new road bike i felt like i was falling forward on my face, all my weight was on my hands, my hands were going numb, my back hurt. The 2 bike people I trust said my position looked good on it.

We made big plans to change my 9cm stem to shorter 3cm, higher handlebars, seat forward, etc etc.
But before we had time to do all that, I rode for 2 months and found that my body started adjusting to the new position. Now 2 months later, I am lowering my handlebars, pushing my seat back, my hands feel fine and I find my muscles have adjusted so that they now distribute my weight more evenly over feet, seat, and hands. I am WAY more comfortable now.
I never did swap out for the shorter stem yet, which is sitting on the garage table gathering dust while I ponder returning it...
Unless you are in terrible pain, try riding it for a few weeks before making changes, and then change only one thing at a time.

[Kathi]

Daggett,

I agree with Lise S.H. ride for a while and let your body adapt to the changes. When I changed my Aegis I raised my handlebars 4 cm. I really felt it in my shoulders and back. After 3-4 weeks my body stopped complaining.

The ususual recommendation is to make changes in small increments, if you went to a road bike from a hybrid that is a big change and you will feel it for awhile.