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What-do-you-thnk-is-the-most-UNcomfortable-road-bike

Old 12-15-10, 12:15 PM
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What-do-you-thnk-is-the-most-UNcomfortable-road-bike

Don in Austin posed the Question from This thread

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...able-road-bike.

Have plenty of reasons why a bike can be uncomfortable but not a complete bike.

Nearest I can say for me was the OCR. The frame is a size too small Too short a cockpit and when corrected with a longer high rise stem it never reallyy worked.

So what bikes will you not be riding again unless you have to.
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Old 12-15-10, 12:38 PM
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I thought it was my 73' Raleigh Supercourse that I began riding again in the early 90's after a long time away from cycling. But then, when I stopprd riding the same bike in the late 70's I thought it was the most comfortable bike I had ever ridden. I just can't figure that one out.

Now days it's whichever bike I'm using when riding the rollers in the basement.
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Old 12-15-10, 12:49 PM
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I'll never forget the Specialized Dolce Elite. That thing was soooo harsh.
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Old 12-15-10, 02:17 PM
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It's got to be that Free Spirit 10 speed that was one of my beater bikes for a few years. I could ride it to work, but it was always fiercely uncomfortable. The metal saddle pan was a dead giveaway.
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Old 12-15-10, 02:25 PM
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Old 12-15-10, 02:30 PM
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Old 12-15-10, 03:52 PM
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My Trek T-1000 is pretty uncomfortable.
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Old 12-15-10, 03:53 PM
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The Trek Alpha 2500 SL I used to ride. It was an incredibly stiff frame and a bone shaker of a ride.
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Old 12-15-10, 07:43 PM
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Any '80s Cannondale road bike.

Super harsh
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Old 12-15-10, 08:01 PM
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I think it was my old stingray with the banana seat.
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Old 12-15-10, 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by love2pedal.com
Any '80s Cannondale road bike.

Super harsh
I loved my Cannondale Black Lightning. I had a 87. When I trashed the forks I got upgraded Aluminum forks. I rode it until just a few years ago when I realized I was getting my teeth rattled when those around me were perfectly content. I had no idea that a frame could matter so much. I now ride a Roubaix Expert and am at the opposite end of the spectrum; I feel great while those around me complain about the rough roads.

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Old 12-15-10, 10:10 PM
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I'm gonna have to go with 80s C'dales and Trek aluminum road bikes with 23 or thinner tires.

I love my Trek aluminum MTB but it's got gigantic tires on it.
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Old 12-15-10, 10:33 PM
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To me the most uncomfortable road bike is anything similar to a "comfort" bike. You sit straight up. I had one. It will start hurting just over 10 miles.
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Old 12-15-10, 10:39 PM
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Any road bike with only a "single speed" set up, I bow to those of you who can ride these, no matter the "style", my knees would just blow up!!
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Old 12-16-10, 10:47 AM
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The most uncomfortable road bike I've ever owned was a Cannondale Criterium. Gawd-awful harsh ride. Replaced with an Eisentraut Rainbow: lugged steel, nearly identical geometry to the C'dale, and better in every regard. More comfortable, faster climbing, better handling. Oh, and a pound (!) heavier for just the frame.

My worst mtb for comfort was a Giant something-or-other. High-end butted OS aluminum. Again, terribly unforgiving ride. Replaced it with a skinny-tubed steel Bontrager. Again, heavier, flexier, more comfortable and FASTER. Hmmm... maybe frame flex isn't evil after all.


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Old 12-16-10, 11:42 AM
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Just over 3 years ago I tested quite a few bikes. Several were not to my liking but Back at My LBS I tried a Giant TCR C3. That was when I got Boreas but 6 months later and I was in the market for a new bike. Had to be Cheaper than Boreas but had to be good. My LBS had a couple of TCR-C frames in stock and they suggested I Buy a TCR C3 and swop bits over- Which I duly did. Changed a few parts at the same time and swopped the OM wheels for Aksiums.

Got the TCR-C out on a ride and it was terrible. Hit a manhole cover and it bounced sideways- Hit a few small holes in the road and it did not stop bouncing and anything over 30mph downhill was frightening. Only saving grace was the speed it went up hills. Point it up hills and they were done.

Tried swopping a few things like tyres and pressures but nothing really worked. Then I put the Handbuilt wheels on. Once again they had come to my rescue.

The TCR C frame was a L/W frame put out for Club riders and it was stiff. Too stiff for my Lighweight body and radial spoked stiff wheels. Just a change of wheels and it was cured. And it still goes uphills.
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Old 12-16-10, 05:44 PM
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For me and my bad back, suspension is critical; therefore, anything rigid makes the list, goes double for skinny tires.
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Old 12-16-10, 05:55 PM
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Assuming the size/geometry of the frame is such that you can set the relative position of the crank, saddle, and bars appropriately, the only thing left to make the bike uncomfortable is the ride quality. Get an old all aluminum frame and pump up the tires to 120 psi.
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Old 12-16-10, 06:24 PM
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Not enough different makes ridden to comment on any one specific make. For me out of the bikes I have owned and ridden from friends favors any thing too big for me makes my knees really hurt, enough that I would stop riding and let my knees heal up. A shorter frame does not bother me as long I can safely raise the seat post to my leg length. Stem and drops don't seem to effect me at all. Ad yes I am a strange person/rider.
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Old 12-16-10, 07:35 PM
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One that doesn't fit!
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Old 12-17-10, 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by coldfeet
One that doesn't fit!
Finally! Thank you.
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