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08-03-04, 11:39 AM
I recently purchased my first road bike from an LBS. I thought I was being careful in where I bought the bike, but I think I still screwed up a bit. The guys at the LBS are really nice, though not necessarily as effective as I would like. Unfortunately the later seems to be more important.
The first couple weeks after taking the bike home, I had pain in my hands, back, and neck. I did some reading and found that the handle bars were likely too low - they were 3.5 inches below the top of my seat.
So I took the bike in, and they put a Zoom stem adapter on. They were very nice about it; but they just slapped the extender on without putting me a trainer and checking out my posture. So as far as they know I was just trading one position for another that would be higher - they didn't know that it would be right. I'm sure I could go back and they would try something else, but I fear I'm not going to get things done right unless I figure it out myself. At least I've learned an important lesson in purchasing a bike.
My first gripe - the Zoom extender puts the handle bars at such a height that at the end of the handlebars (at the drops), the top of the handlebar meets with the bottom of the top tube. As a result, I've managed to ding the paint and tear the sticker twice on the top tube by letting the handle bars swing too far inward. One time happened when I was putting the bike in the car, the other happened when I picked the bike up to carry it over a tree which had fallen in the bike trail. Is this just bad luck on my part? Meaning, is there a problem with having the handlebars at a level where the end of the bars can make contact with the top tube?
With the bars higher, I feel much more comfortable. It seems that I've traded in some control for the higher bars - it doesn't feel as precise. Still, I value comfort more, so I'll do what works. I think I might benefit from a slightly shorter stem with a higher angle - but am not sure. Are those relatively easy to swap out on your own? Or would I need to take it into the shop for that?
At this point (having already purchased the bike), do I have options to getting the bike to fit better outside of the original LBS? Or should I go back there and get a little more demanding? I admit I'm usually too easy going, and could get more demanding if I needed to, but I don't want to do so unless I expect them to be able to make things better. As I said, they are very nice and (seemingly) helpful, but don't seem prepared to fix the problem correctly.
I'm going to measure myself tonight and use a couple of the fit calculators I've seen posted here. I'm curious if I bought the right frame size (I'm embarrassed to admit I let them sell me a bike after standing over the frame and checking the clearance), and what the calculators recommend for top tube reach, etc.
I'm in the Sacramento (CA) area. Are there any businesses in the area which people would recommend for a proper fitting for a bike I already own? While I can't change the frame size at this point, I'm sure there's quite a bit of tweaking that can be done by somebody who knows what they are doing - assuming the bike isn't way out of whack with regards to size. I suppose I could check with local bike groups to see who they recommend, but I'm already here, so.... :)
I've put about 450 miles on the bike thus far, which is quite a bit for me as I was really out of shape when I started. I really enjoy riding, and don't want to see the bike become a decoration in the garage. However, the bike doesn't feel just right (I'm assuming such a thing is possible), which is detracting from my enjoyment a bit.
I thought I was being a careful shopper, but to be honest, I don't know if I would have known what was right if I had found it. I hadn't really ridden a bike for a decade, so I think just about anything would have been uncomfortable until I got some miles in. Or maybe that's just me rationalizing my poor shopping. :)
Input is appreciated. I see quite a few "fit" threads around, so I'm happy that I'm not the only one.
Spiderguy
The first couple weeks after taking the bike home, I had pain in my hands, back, and neck. I did some reading and found that the handle bars were likely too low - they were 3.5 inches below the top of my seat.
So I took the bike in, and they put a Zoom stem adapter on. They were very nice about it; but they just slapped the extender on without putting me a trainer and checking out my posture. So as far as they know I was just trading one position for another that would be higher - they didn't know that it would be right. I'm sure I could go back and they would try something else, but I fear I'm not going to get things done right unless I figure it out myself. At least I've learned an important lesson in purchasing a bike.
My first gripe - the Zoom extender puts the handle bars at such a height that at the end of the handlebars (at the drops), the top of the handlebar meets with the bottom of the top tube. As a result, I've managed to ding the paint and tear the sticker twice on the top tube by letting the handle bars swing too far inward. One time happened when I was putting the bike in the car, the other happened when I picked the bike up to carry it over a tree which had fallen in the bike trail. Is this just bad luck on my part? Meaning, is there a problem with having the handlebars at a level where the end of the bars can make contact with the top tube?
With the bars higher, I feel much more comfortable. It seems that I've traded in some control for the higher bars - it doesn't feel as precise. Still, I value comfort more, so I'll do what works. I think I might benefit from a slightly shorter stem with a higher angle - but am not sure. Are those relatively easy to swap out on your own? Or would I need to take it into the shop for that?
At this point (having already purchased the bike), do I have options to getting the bike to fit better outside of the original LBS? Or should I go back there and get a little more demanding? I admit I'm usually too easy going, and could get more demanding if I needed to, but I don't want to do so unless I expect them to be able to make things better. As I said, they are very nice and (seemingly) helpful, but don't seem prepared to fix the problem correctly.
I'm going to measure myself tonight and use a couple of the fit calculators I've seen posted here. I'm curious if I bought the right frame size (I'm embarrassed to admit I let them sell me a bike after standing over the frame and checking the clearance), and what the calculators recommend for top tube reach, etc.
I'm in the Sacramento (CA) area. Are there any businesses in the area which people would recommend for a proper fitting for a bike I already own? While I can't change the frame size at this point, I'm sure there's quite a bit of tweaking that can be done by somebody who knows what they are doing - assuming the bike isn't way out of whack with regards to size. I suppose I could check with local bike groups to see who they recommend, but I'm already here, so.... :)
I've put about 450 miles on the bike thus far, which is quite a bit for me as I was really out of shape when I started. I really enjoy riding, and don't want to see the bike become a decoration in the garage. However, the bike doesn't feel just right (I'm assuming such a thing is possible), which is detracting from my enjoyment a bit.
I thought I was being a careful shopper, but to be honest, I don't know if I would have known what was right if I had found it. I hadn't really ridden a bike for a decade, so I think just about anything would have been uncomfortable until I got some miles in. Or maybe that's just me rationalizing my poor shopping. :)
Input is appreciated. I see quite a few "fit" threads around, so I'm happy that I'm not the only one.
Spiderguy