Mountain Biking - Am I in distress?

I have an issue which I am not sure how to go about solving. I bought a new 19" 2004 Gary Fisher HKEK at my local bike shop about 3 or 4 months ago. I feel like the bike is completely wrong for me. Its a 19" and it uses Genesis Geometry. Is this why I feel very out of control as the driver. I'm 5' 10" and 135 lbs. No matter where I adjust the seat or the bars, my body is leaning forward to an extreme. Or rather it is reaching. I always feel like I am reaching forward. And its created a lot of problems for me that I can't seem to solve. For one, I am looking straight down at the front wheel and it is a chore to look up and straight ahead. Another problem is the uneven weight distribution. I've been biking for a long time and have never wrecked unless I knew I was doing something where I would potentially wreck, and I would wreck, sometimes. But the other day, driving down a gravel road I freaking wipe out and go flying over the handlebars because the front wheel just floated off to the side. (Y'all, I was paying attention too.) That's never happened to me before in such an unsensed fluidity...there was no correcting it, no warning that it was even about to happen. And I notice it all the time now. If I'm riding parallel with an embankment, on the embankment slope, the front wheel acts like it's on ice, no matter how I power the bike. Also, I'm riddled with arm pains, hand pains, neck, head, back, and butt pains. The only thing that doesn't hurt are my legs.

I don't consider myself to be a bike conessiour, but I'm athletic, strong, and quick and have never had this kind of problem with previous bikes I've owned. So here is the issue: The manager of the bike store that sold the bike to me should have said that this wasn't the bike for me. He watched me try to ride it around, he stood with me as I sat on it and "tried it out". I dropped $1000 in his pocket that day, and I'm beginning to feel that he was just trying to move out 2004 models at the end of the year to make room for the incoming 05 models. He wasn't really trying to be a professional. Can I go back to this guy and tell him what I've been experiencing? Is there a chance in high heaven that he will trade the bike out for another one? I've only put 28 miles on since I bought it and its in perfect shape. I would have taken it back sooner, but I haven't had time to ride very much and I also thought my body just needed to adapt to the new bike. But in reality, I'm beginning to feel that it's unfixably too large for me. I'm thinking eBay. What should I do?!

How long is the stem on the bike?
Was the seat\ stem fitted to your reach\ hight?

I'm 5.9 and run 16 standover and 20 toptube..and a longer stem.

I prefer the smaller frame, more post, stem idea. Also asmaller frame is easier to control.

@ your hight I'm more 21-22 toptube, 17-18 standover as a generalization.

A long stem can be replaced, shorter is more control\ more upright.
An xc type of riding is still done on a larger frame, freeride\ toss around bikes go smaller frame.

Some points.
Tipping the nose of the saddle helps change the sit axis and takes weight off the hands.
If your hands are knumb from pressing on the grips, move the seat back on the rails in mm increments.
Being an mtb, ride the seat lowest hight you can get a proper knee revolution, not up high as a power stroke.
Mtbing is moving the bike underyou mostly, your off the seat lots. Don't be afraid to get off the seat and behind it if radically dropping in on a grade (low seat).

Try to get a smaller frame..if not the stem is an idea.

I agree 100% with Jeff...but I should say one more thing. Genesis is not for everybody. No matter what you do you may never like the fit. (19" for a 5'10 guy is big)

I have an issue which I am not sure how to go about solving. I bought a new 19" 2004 Gary Fisher HKEK at my local bike shop about 3 or 4 months ago. I feel like the bike is completely wrong for me. Its a 19" and it uses Genesis Geometry. Is this why I feel very out of control as the driver. I'm 5' 10" and 135 lbs. ............

My first thought after that section was that a 19" bike is probably on the long side for you. I don't know the geometry of that bike but I am around the same height as you and usually ride a 17". I would clean the bike up as best I could (make it look as 'new' as you can) and go talk to the manager of the LBS right away in a positive 'let's work this out for our mutual benefit' manner. A good bike shop will help you get into a bike that is the right size for you and you should expect that from them (after all, they're the experts and that is part of what you are paying for); unless you simply decided to ignore their advice. That said, I have (unfortunately) shopped at LBS's where the sales person didn't really know how to size a bike. A wrong sized bike is unpleasant to ride at the least and could be dangerous. This is a great opportunity for them to develop a good, long-lasting, profitable relationship with you, or not. Good luck! :beer:

Thanks guys for the quick response. I've already moved the saddle in every possible position and height and it hasn't helped much. I may go at it again tomorrow with a much lower position. I do agree that it may be the Genesis Geometry used on this bike that is giving me the hardest time. I think I'm going to clean the bike up tonight and drive over to see him tomorrow. Even if it means I spend another $300 to get myself into a bike I enjoy riding, it'll be worth it. If it doesn't work out though, what do you all think the bike is worth now and what do you think I could get on ebay for it. Let me rephrase, what should I start bidding at on ebay?

Thanks guys for the quick response. I've already moved the saddle in every possible position and height and it hasn't helped much. I may go at it again tomorrow with a much lower position. I do agree that it may be the Genesis Geometry used on this bike that is giving me the hardest time. I think I'm going to clean the bike up tonight and drive over to see him tomorrow. Even if it means I spend another $300 to get myself into a bike I enjoy riding, it'll be worth it. If it doesn't work out though, what do you all think the bike is worth now and what do you think I could get on ebay for it. Let me rephrase, what should I start bidding at on ebay?


I'm hoping the LBS will step forward and help you get sized right. At the very least, I'd visit with them about swapping the bike for something else, even if you have to chip in a few coins. Again, most shops (or at least the shops I do business with) recognize it isn't about the sale, it's about the relationship. I'd guess in 'like new' condition you're still looking at around a 20 - 25% haircut (I hope I'm way wrong and it's less) from retail if you try an online, non-local sale. I'd go for working something out with the shop, if possible.

i was just looking at the gary fisher website and why do they copare two bikes to a hamster ball? wth?
http://www.fisherbikes.com/compare/results.asp?bike=Kingfisher1&bike=Kingfisher2&

edit: clicked the link again and got a vespa????

Dirtbike, I got a wheelbarrow. Gesh...lol

Thanks for the advice. I can't imagine the LBS would be totally unreasonable. Afterall, they are privately owned.

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?bike=HKEK

Short stem. And lookey a 17.5. mid size.
Sizes XS (13") SM (15.5") MD (17.5") LG (19") XL (21")

Standover " 26.6 27.8 29 30.1 31.6

Effective top tube " 21.7 22.9 23.9 24.7 25.5

Cockpit length " 24.1 25.8 27.4 28.8 29.6

Minimum cockpit " 23.5 25.3 26.8 28.3 29

Maximum cockpit " 24.7 26.4 28 29.4 30.2

my questions... 1.why did you buy it if it felt so wrong, and 2.why didnt you take a test ride that allowed you to determine if the bike was right for you or not, and 3. why would you buy a bike from a guy who was being unprofessional and made you feel like he was dumping unwanted product on? ive walked away from sales for any one of those reasons, you should have too, especially for a $1000 purchase. i wish you luck getting the bike returned, very, very few shops allow returns (at least that i go to).

the bike is clearly too large for you. check at your lbs to see if you can trade it in for a smaller version of the same bike

i was just looking at the gary fisher website and why do they copare two bikes to a hamster ball? wth?
http://www.fisherbikes.com/compare/results.asp?bike=Kingfisher1&bike=Kingfisher2&

edit: clicked the link again and got a vespa????
i love fisher site