Fifty Plus (50+) - Switched to a crank forward, and am so much happier...

Just had to share with anyone who'd "listen."

I started out with a Cannondale Comfort 400, and still don't know what was wrong, but I could never make that bike work for me. Think the frame was too short horizontally, but whadda I know? Not much. It was the large Fem frame.
Also am dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome.

A year ago looked into getting a Rans Zenetik, but just didn't proceed. Last week, the Cannondale became a real pain in the a, so I said that's it, and went over to the only bent shop in town, and Rans dealer. Came home with the Zenetik. Also came home realizing my tailbone is either broken or bruised. I'd fallen a few weeks back, on my rear, but didn't notice any real pain until I got on the Cannondale last week in what became my last ride on it ever.

At the bent shop, wasn't experiencing much pain on the Zenetik or any of the other CFs I rode, but when I got home I noticed it was really hurting me to rise from a sitting position in a chair. So I only rode a few miles the day I brought the bike home.

Yesterday didn't ride at all, giving my bum a rest. However, today was too good a day to pass up--to heck with the tailbone pain! The weather was a cool 60, so my SO and I took off for a ride. Guess he and I rode about 5 miles, came home, and I took off again by myself. And yes, by that time my tailbone was really hurting, but the sheer joy of riding far exceeded any pain, and I probably rode another 3 miles before caving in to the wishes of my backside. The Zen is that fun to ride.

I can't believe I suffered so long trying to make the Cannondale work for me, Never completely eliminated the carpal tunnel problem I had on it either. This Zen is the answer to my prayers for a bike. I had the bike shop switch out the handlebars that came with it for the swept back ones they put on some of their bents before taking delivery of the bike. No carpal tunnel problems now at all.
I'm not a happy cyclist; I'm an ecstatic one!!!

This is a repost with crank forward spelled out as I didn't think about the confusion with carbon fiber that it would raise. My bad.

Congratulations on finding a bike that fits! It sounds as if you have been smitten.

Very definitely! It's funny though, when I first got a bike a couple of years ago after not riding for 15 years, I didn't notice that it was too small a bike for the first year I had it, kept trying out new seats. A new seat would help for awhile, bought different handlebars. Can't ride a road bike because of hand/wrist issues so I just kept on riding short rides, until it hit me the bike is too small.

I had even taken it into a couple of LBSs, but they didn't get it despite the fact that the only way I was halfway comfortable on the bike was if my sit bones were as far back on the seat as possible.

Wow, I was not aware of that frame design. Thanks for posting it. I can see how it would probably help your wrist issues.


I'm thinking it might be a problem if you are having a tail bone issue. It looks like the position of the saddle is more like a seat than a bicycle saddle, and therefore doeesn't isolate the pressure onto the sitbones as much as a bicycle saddle. On the other hand, I'll bet you could fashion a donut shaped add-on to get the pressure off your tail bone. I would think dense closed cell foam material - like a camping sleeping pad - would work. I'll also bet you could figure out a temporary way to attach it to your bicycle seat. If you use a glue or two sided tape that you can remove without tearing the seat cover, you can undoubtedly remove any residue with alcohol or mineral spirits without damaging the cover.

Good luck.

Thanks Camilo, great ideas for when I do start to ride it again. Should provide some extra insurance against re-injury.