Questions on bikes?
07-23-07, 06:34 PM
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Questions on bikes?
I just started riding a Windsor leeds road bike. didnt spend much to what some people paid for a first bike. my question is. does anyone know if I can lift the handle bars. i took the handlebars off with an allen wrench thinking that could lift but i couldnt. so if anyone knows let me know.
another question on road bikes. should I only raise the seat instead of trying to mess with handle bars? is that what Road bikers do? I am new.
one more Question. my neck hurts after riding for about 2 miles until i lower my seat. I then lower my seat and after two minutes my left knee hurts.where do I need to position my seat between.
another question on road bikes. should I only raise the seat instead of trying to mess with handle bars? is that what Road bikers do? I am new.
one more Question. my neck hurts after riding for about 2 miles until i lower my seat. I then lower my seat and after two minutes my left knee hurts.where do I need to position my seat between.
07-23-07, 07:04 PM
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Hi, Ian. It sounds like you might need to get a bike fitting. You can check out threads in your regional forum to see if anyone there has talked about local bike fitters. If riding is giving you pain, a fitting may be worth it.
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07-24-07, 05:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Psyeke
my question is. does anyone know if I can lift the handle bars. i took the handlebars off with an allen wrench thinking that could lift but i couldnt. so if anyone knows let me know.
with the same stem and steerer tube, the short answer is maybe. You can flip the stem if it isn't already flipped to get the bars a little bit higher.
Originally Posted by Psyeke
another question on road bikes. should I only raise the seat instead of trying to mess with handle bars? is that what Road bikers do? I am new.
Originally Posted by Psyeke
one more Question. my neck hurts after riding for about 2 miles until i lower my seat. I then lower my seat and after two minutes my left knee hurts. where do I need to position my seat between.
If your knee(s) hurt the seat is too low. If your neck hurts either your bars are too low or you just aren't used to the riding position.
Are you riding in the drops (lowest part of the curve in the bars)? If so, ride on the hoods (rubber part covering the brake levers/shifters). Most of your riding will be on the hoods. Ride in the drops for speed, when climbing, or to get down out of a headwind.
Visit your LBS to correct these *comfort* problems.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
07-24-07, 07:12 AM
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Have your seat in a position so you can just reach the pedal with your heel at the bottom of the stroke. Then you will have about the right amount of bend when you ride with the ball of your foot on the pedal.
Apart from flipping the stem a small amount of bar adjustment can be done by switching spacers on the steer tube from above the stem to below ( or vice versa). If you cant get it any higher like this, you must buy a stem with more rise. Racers seem to have their bars 4" or more below seat level but I am comfy with it 1" below. If you buy a new stem there is the length to consider - a rough indication of correct reach is when the bar hides the front hub when you are riding, but mine is about 1/2" further back. You can get an adjustable stem that allows you to try different positions by varying the spacer locations and the angles, but many people dont like them because they find they come loose. If you are riding with a visor on your helmet, take it off. Get on the bike and ride it more.
Apart from flipping the stem a small amount of bar adjustment can be done by switching spacers on the steer tube from above the stem to below ( or vice versa). If you cant get it any higher like this, you must buy a stem with more rise. Racers seem to have their bars 4" or more below seat level but I am comfy with it 1" below. If you buy a new stem there is the length to consider - a rough indication of correct reach is when the bar hides the front hub when you are riding, but mine is about 1/2" further back. You can get an adjustable stem that allows you to try different positions by varying the spacer locations and the angles, but many people dont like them because they find they come loose. If you are riding with a visor on your helmet, take it off. Get on the bike and ride it more.
