advise on the most comfortable upright bike
07-19-17, 04:00 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
advise on the most comfortable upright bike
hi, I am from cork Ireland. I have a gary fisher mt tam 2008 and a scott scale 730 carbon mntb. I don't ride the scott any more as it is too stretched out and aggressive for my sore neck. I am going to sell the scott for a upright comfortable bike. Any advise. Should I go for a tourer or a cross bike, which is more upright and comfortable. I will be on small quite backroads only. I am keeping the gary fisher as I still love to ride it. thanks Pat
07-19-17, 04:26 PM
#2
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,524
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Measure top tube length and focus on that. Most comfortable depends on your dimensions. What might be most comfortable to me could be awful for you. Neither touring bikes nor cross bikes are usually upright. Hybrids and MTBs tend to be more upright. MTBs can have extremely long top tubes, making the rider feel stretched out.
A touring bike converted to upright bars can be very comfortable, as can a MTB. Again, pay close attention to top tube length. People tend to buy bikes based on seat tube length and ignore the far more important top tube length.
A touring bike converted to upright bars can be very comfortable, as can a MTB. Again, pay close attention to top tube length. People tend to buy bikes based on seat tube length and ignore the far more important top tube length.
07-19-17, 06:40 PM
#3
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Sure you want to give up that Scott? 23-24 lbs for a suspension fork mtb is pretty good.
I'd be tempted to try a few mods, same thing I did with my 1992 rigid Univega. The original flat bar and long reach was uncomfortable for my neck (old C2 injury). Too much jolt to my neck at the wrong angle gives me blinding headaches and dizzy spells.
I replaced the flat bar with a 1-1/2" riser bar with slight back sweep. Much better.
A moderately padded saddle with perineum relief helped offset the more upright posture. It's an older Bell with Lycra fabric over progressive density foam -- pretty much the same thing as the current Serfas Tailbones saddles. It's been comfortable on rides up to 60 miles, and the fabric cover breathes well in hot, humid weather -- I don't even need padded shorts.
The final touch was wider, softer tires that weren't sluggish. I tried three sets before settling on Continental Speed Rides. They're 700x42 only, and I can't babble enough about how great these are for all around hybrid bike riding. The shallow file tread is smooth enough for fast rolling on pavement, grippy on wet pavement (and even a light dusting of snow), gravel from finely crushed limestone to seriously chunky stuff, and dry grass or open fields. I usually run 'em at 50-60 psi (I weigh 160 lbs). If there are better tires they'll cost a heckuva lot more.
I'd be tempted to try a few mods, same thing I did with my 1992 rigid Univega. The original flat bar and long reach was uncomfortable for my neck (old C2 injury). Too much jolt to my neck at the wrong angle gives me blinding headaches and dizzy spells.
I replaced the flat bar with a 1-1/2" riser bar with slight back sweep. Much better.
A moderately padded saddle with perineum relief helped offset the more upright posture. It's an older Bell with Lycra fabric over progressive density foam -- pretty much the same thing as the current Serfas Tailbones saddles. It's been comfortable on rides up to 60 miles, and the fabric cover breathes well in hot, humid weather -- I don't even need padded shorts.
The final touch was wider, softer tires that weren't sluggish. I tried three sets before settling on Continental Speed Rides. They're 700x42 only, and I can't babble enough about how great these are for all around hybrid bike riding. The shallow file tread is smooth enough for fast rolling on pavement, grippy on wet pavement (and even a light dusting of snow), gravel from finely crushed limestone to seriously chunky stuff, and dry grass or open fields. I usually run 'em at 50-60 psi (I weigh 160 lbs). If there are better tires they'll cost a heckuva lot more.
07-25-17, 05:02 PM
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Measure top tube length and focus on that. Most comfortable depends on your dimensions. What might be most comfortable to me could be awful for you. Neither touring bikes nor cross bikes are usually upright. Hybrids and MTBs tend to be more upright. MTBs can have extremely long top tubes, making the rider feel stretched out.
A touring bike converted to upright bars can be very comfortable, as can a MTB. Again, pay close attention to top tube length. People tend to buy bikes based on seat tube length and ignore the far more important top tube length.
A touring bike converted to upright bars can be very comfortable, as can a MTB. Again, pay close attention to top tube length. People tend to buy bikes based on seat tube length and ignore the far more important top tube length.
07-25-17, 05:08 PM
#5
Senior Member
Yes, a medium would have been a better fit, however since you are modifying it, change the bars to cruiser bars and the size will no longer be an issue. This is w hat I did with my mountain bike 12 years ago, and use it like this nearly every day for errands. Upright and comfy. I also have a cruiser seat on it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
digitalbicycle
Classic & Vintage
19
08-02-10 08:12 PM
