Road Cycling - Rode some bikes today...felt some pain in the one I wanted

2002 Trek 2200.

SL Aluminum
58cm
double chainring
Ultegra RD
105 FD
Ultegra shifter
Ultegra crank
105 BB
105 brakes
Bontrager hubs
Bontrager Select wheels
Shimano SPD Pedals
$999 - Originally a $1500 bike

2004 Lemond Alpe d'Huez
55cm
Full Ultegra gruppo.
Bontrager Select wheels
$1329


The Trek seemed like a steal at that price. They also had new Trek 1500's at the same price. The 1500, in comparison, had no name brakes, and BB, forgot to check the hubs, but I suspect also no-names.

I am really tempted by this bike.

Problem....my back....while riding I felt a constant strain in my back. Keep in mind, that no seat adjustments were made prior to my ride, and that I havent been on a road bike in ages. Also, when I met the sales guy, I told him I thought I needed a 56 or 58, and he dismissed the notion of a 58 just by looking at me...however he did misjudge my height by 2-3 inches also.

I took out the Lemond 55cm for comparison. The seat post was too low, from my guesstimate, That or the bike was too small for me. My back didnt feel strained at all. I'm not sure, if 2nd time was a charm, or the size, or geometry had something to do with it. I should have rode the 2200 again, but I had to get back to work.

Despite being full Ultegra on the Lemond, it shifted like crap...perhaps it needed adjustment, perhaps it was because of the triple ring. Although the Trek shifted much smoother, that too had alot of room for improvement.

Never had a double ring on any bike before, wonder if i really need a triple...doubt it...the double felt good.

In any case...assuming I get the fit down correctly on the 2200....would you advise on any other bike for the same money?


I wrote the above at lunch but never posted it.....here's an update:

I went back to ride that Trek 2200 again.....hoping that the strain I felt behind the shoulder blades was just rust...nope.

It could be related to my back problem, thoracic disc disease @ T7-8 & T8-9, but I rode 2 Lemond's, including a 55cm Alpe d'Huez and a 57cm Buenos Aires, and their more upright riding position produced none of the pain.

Damn...the 2200, a 2002 model, was $999. In comparison, the identically equipped steel/carbon'04 Buenos Aires was $1900!

It would have been a steal had the Trek fit me.

Does it seem odd that the Trek wouldnt fit me? If I go back and ask them to adjust the bike, ie the seatpost, stems, etc can the bike be made to be a good fit?

For reference my current bike is a Trek MTB, a '00 6000.

tell the shop folks about the problem and see if they have any solutions fit-wise. it could be something as simple as swapping out a stem, or raising the stem, or lowering the seatpost. if you want the trek, try to make it fit you, but it seems like the lemond is probably the way you should go.

go with what your gut...or, in this case, your back tells you.

The Buenos Aires is one sweet bike but you may be able to find the Zurich (next step up for Lemond) for the same $1,900 as I was able to. Your dealer guy may just be full of it as to his assessment of what your needs are. Anyone here responding will tell you that fit is of utmost importance for you. I have a lot of back pain myself so I can identify with your problem. Do lots of crunches to keep those abdominals in good shape. Ultegra is a good groupo so there must have been something going on with the one you test rode that shifted poorly. My advice if you feel that you want to do business with this guy is to take someone along with you that knows something about fit and bikes in general. I ride a Cannondale by the way. Good luck and best wishs!

Well, thankfully, I'm not looking at a $1900 bike...$1000 is my ceiling.

2002 Trek 2200.

SL Aluminum
58cm
double chainring
Ultegra RD
105 FD
Ultegra shifter
Ultegra crank
105 BB
105 brakes
Bontrager hubs
Bontrager Select wheels
Shimano SPD Pedals
$999 - Originally a $1500 bike

2004 Lemond Alpe d'Huez
55cm
Full Ultegra gruppo.
Bontrager Select wheels
$1329


The Trek seemed like a steal at that price. They also had new Trek 1500's at the same price. The 1500, in comparison, had no name brakes, and BB, forgot to check the hubs, but I suspect also no-names.

I am really tempted by this bike.

Problem....my back....while riding I felt a constant strain in my back. Keep in mind, that no seat adjustments were made prior to my ride, and that I havent been on a road bike in ages. Also, when I met the sales guy, I told him I thought I needed a 56 or 58, and he dismissed the notion of a 58 just by looking at me...however he did misjudge my height by 2-3 inches also.

I took out the Lemond 55cm for comparison. The seat post was too low, from my guesstimate, That or the bike was too small for me. My back didnt feel strained at all. I'm not sure, if 2nd time was a charm, or the size, or geometry had something to do with it. I should have rode the 2200 again, but I had to get back to work.

Despite being full Ultegra on the Lemond, it shifted like crap...perhaps it needed adjustment, perhaps it was because of the triple ring. Although the Trek shifted much smoother, that too had alot of room for improvement.

Never had a double ring on any bike before, wonder if i really need a triple...doubt it...the double felt good.

In any case...assuming I get the fit down correctly on the 2200....would you advise on any other bike for the same money?


I wrote the above at lunch but never posted it.....here's an update:

I went back to ride that Trek 2200 again.....hoping that the strain I felt behind the shoulder blades was just rust...nope.

It could be related to my back problem, thoracic disc disease @ T7-8 & T8-9, but I rode 2 Lemond's, including a 55cm Alpe d'Huez and a 57cm Buenos Aires, and their more upright riding position produced none of the pain.

Damn...the 2200, a 2002 model, was $999. In comparison, the identically equipped steel/carbon'04 Buenos Aires was $1900!

It would have been a steal had the Trek fit me.

Does it seem odd that the Trek wouldnt fit me? If I go back and ask them to adjust the bike, ie the seatpost, stems, etc can the bike be made to be a good fit?

For reference my current bike is a Trek MTB, a '00 6000.

My experience with the better shops is that they at least take some basic inseam measurements to figure out frame size and seat height. I've had the "eyeball" approach too - the sales guy tried to say that I needed a 57 cm frame - I currently ride a 54 cm. I think it would be worth paying more to go to a reputable shop that takes the time with measurements and fit.

I had a choice of buying '03 trekk 2200 or '04 trek 1500 for the same price($990), i picked up 1500 because it had better wheels then 2200, as far as brakes concerned I was primarily interested in getting better
wheels since they are more expensive then brakes.

- greg

2002 Trek 2200.

SL Aluminum
58cm
double chainring
Ultegra RD
105 FD
Ultegra shifter
Ultegra crank
105 BB
105 brakes
Bontrager hubs
Bontrager Select wheels
Shimano SPD Pedals
$999 - Originally a $1500 bike

2004 Lemond Alpe d'Huez
55cm
Full Ultegra gruppo.
Bontrager Select wheels
$1329


The Trek seemed like a steal at that price. They also had new Trek 1500's at the same price. The 1500, in comparison, had no name brakes, and BB, forgot to check the hubs, but I suspect also no-names.

I am really tempted by this bike.

Problem....my back....while riding I felt a constant strain in my back. Keep in mind, that no seat adjustments were made prior to my ride, and that I havent been on a road bike in ages. Also, when I met the sales guy, I told him I thought I needed a 56 or 58, and he dismissed the notion of a 58 just by looking at me...however he did misjudge my height by 2-3 inches also.

I took out the Lemond 55cm for comparison. The seat post was too low, from my guesstimate, That or the bike was too small for me. My back didnt feel strained at all. I'm not sure, if 2nd time was a charm, or the size, or geometry had something to do with it. I should have rode the 2200 again, but I had to get back to work.

Despite being full Ultegra on the Lemond, it shifted like crap...perhaps it needed adjustment, perhaps it was because of the triple ring. Although the Trek shifted much smoother, that too had alot of room for improvement.

Never had a double ring on any bike before, wonder if i really need a triple...doubt it...the double felt good.

In any case...assuming I get the fit down correctly on the 2200....would you advise on any other bike for the same money?


I wrote the above at lunch but never posted it.....here's an update:

I went back to ride that Trek 2200 again.....hoping that the strain I felt behind the shoulder blades was just rust...nope.

It could be related to my back problem, thoracic disc disease @ T7-8 & T8-9, but I rode 2 Lemond's, including a 55cm Alpe d'Huez and a 57cm Buenos Aires, and their more upright riding position produced none of the pain.

Damn...the 2200, a 2002 model, was $999. In comparison, the identically equipped steel/carbon'04 Buenos Aires was $1900!

It would have been a steal had the Trek fit me.

Does it seem odd that the Trek wouldnt fit me? If I go back and ask them to adjust the bike, ie the seatpost, stems, etc can the bike be made to be a good fit?

For reference my current bike is a Trek MTB, a '00 6000.

In addition to the top tube being too small/short if the bike's too small, the handlebars are probably too narrow which will also cause the problem you outline. Too close to the too narrow handlebars is not good. Conversely, a too large frame will stretch you out too much and can cause shoulder and back strain.

What is your inseam size?

For example, if you have a 33" inseam, I'd start you out on a 56cm frame and watch you ride it. Everything else being equal (longer legs or longer torso) there might need to be a few tweaks..

MTB sizing is totally different....better riders I know who have both types of bikes have MTB's as much as 4" smaller than their road bikes for better manuverability. I usually fit MTB's 2" smaller than road sizing.

roadwarrior,

I'm 5'11" and wear pants w/ a 32" inseam.

So the problem w/ the Trek is a too short of a top tube and too narrow?

I could see why the Lemond would be be better wrt the narrow handlebars of a Trek in comparison, but not sure how a smaller sized Trek would help since the tip tube of a 56cm bike would be even smaller.

Greg,

The '02 2200 had the same wheels as the '04 1500.

roadwarrior,

I'm 5'11" and wear pants w/ a 32" inseam.

So the problem w/ the Trek is a too short of a top tube and too narrow?

I could see why the Lemond would be be better wrt the narrow handlebars of a Trek in comparison, but not sure how a smaller sized Trek would help since the tip tube of a 56cm bike would be even smaller.

Greg,

The '02 2200 had the same wheels as the '04 1500.

I was speaking more generally on why your back might hurt...sorry that it sounded confusing.

add an extra inch from the bottom of your pants leg to the floor for 33" and no shoes..
For a Trek, since they measure their bikes center to top...I'd put you on the 56 at least to start (I put up another thread on bike sizing and if you look there you'll see that the factor to put you on the c-t bike is different than a center to center. For a center to center, I'd use a 54 to start. Remember that the sizes are apples and oranges...

Obviously this is a guesstimate based on what you told me...but if you look at the other thread (linked below), that might help you.

BTW...don't let the shifting bother you. In the shop it drives us nuts when "customers" walk around "just looking" playing with the shifters. Then you try to ride it and it's all out of whack. We always retech the bike before finally giving it to the customer, and that almost always requires us to adjust the shifters.

Fitting info (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=46668)

Why the bike is bothering you...it does not appear to be height or seat tube length sizing. I don't know about the stem size, if the seat's set up properly, how far you rode it, things like that. Based on what you are saying, it sounds short on the top (based on your symptoms)..and I checked the Trek site and the top tube is also 56 cm (at least the current 2200 is 56cm)...here's what's interesting in that I am 6'2" and wear a 33" inseam..you are 3 inches shorter and only one inch shorter in the inseam (proportionally a longer torso). So, without seeing you, I'd guess it's too short up top so maybe a longer stem would work.

Just some thoughts.