Innergetic

Last year I purchased a 56cm CAAD9. At the time I was 5' 9''ish. I'm now 6' 1".

Over the year I inched up the seatpost height bit by bit and started to feel some lower back pain. Mind you this didn't go away after a few weeks of riding. It starts about 30 minutes into a ride and becomes almost numbing (which, I know, is a bad sign) after another hour or so.

The seat sits a good 4" above my handlebars. I'm pretty sure I don't need help identifying the problem... I'm constantly hunched over. Even riding on the tops will make me sore after 45 minutes, riding in the drops only shortens this period.

Some more info: I'm 16 (thus the 4+ inches of growth) and I hover between 135 and 140 lbs. My inseam is 34", and I have the seatpost at the 3cm marking.

I'm thinking longer, more upright stem, but I still want to feel at least somewhat aggressive.

Help me out people!

kneed2wrydemore

It's hard to tell w/o seeing you on the bike.

What does your LBS say?

Innergetic

I'm going this weekend. I'll try to get a pic up tomorrow.

baribari

Get a stem, wait till you're 18, then buy a new frame.

SkinnyLegs

Flip it

ptle

Get a 17 degree stem and flip it up. I'm sure the bars will still be a good 2-3 inches below your saddle.

fa63

At 6'1", you should be able to get a CAAD9 to fit you. If your stem is flipped down, flip it up; that will raise your bars by about 3/4" (assuming +-6 degree stem). A longer stem, if you need one, will raise the bars even more.

How long is the stem on there now?

urbanknight

More upright will help, but not necessarily longer. Also, 4" is not a big saddle to bar drop (ask umd). Do you work out your upper back and do stretches? My back hurts when I neglect the seated row (or inclined pull ups) and stretching for too long.

RT

umd had a mind-blowing graph posted in a stem thread recently. Showed amount of reach gained/lost by flipping/changing stem length.

under18cyclists

I'm 15 and the same thing happened to me....But I bought a bike to big anticipating it and now she fits like a glove.

urbanknight

When I was 15, I bought a larger bike in anticipation... and stopped growing.

carpecanard

Have you cut the steerer so that it's not possible to raise the stem? I'm also 6' 1", and my 56cm CAAD9 fits perfectly. Sounds like your inseam is a bit longer than mine; at my saddle height the saddle-to-bar drop is 3.5".

enjoi07

dude. i'm 6'1 on a good day and fit a 56 caad9. make that ***** fit. stretch mother ****er.

kimconyc

I'm 6'1" and one of my bikes is 57cm seat-tube c-c, 55.5 top tube c-c and it fits awesome with a 130mm 84 degree stem.

All you might need are some spacers and a longer stem. What stem is on there right now (guessing 110mm)?