I recently purchased a used cannondale caad 9 4. I am pretty sure the frame (58) is a good size for me but I am having some discomfort after my rides. I just received a demo saddle for a Selle SMP pro (after reading reviews) I am going to try out. Been having problems with rides after the 15 or so mile mark. I am unable to find a position on the seat that is bearable and getting numbness. When I stand I can feel the blood rush back into the perineum area and the area feels hot. I am also having trouble with my hands/arms.
I have previously had a little bit of mountain bike experience but I have gone from never riding a road bike to putting about 75 miles a week on my bike for the last two weeks (6 rides).
My elbows are now constantly bothering me, my left worse than the right. The pain is felt when extending the arm straight, I also feel pain while trying to ride, more when the road conditions cause a vibration. I have taken a 5 day rest but my elbows are still in pain when I extend them. I for certain was not riding with good form at first. I am sure I rode too long with my arms in a near locked elbow position. Since I started feeling the discomfort in my elbows I have worked to keep my elbows bent when riding. I am also experiencing a numbness in my arms and hands after a few miles. My left arm more than my right, which also has the worse elbow pain. I read about where on the hand to avoid putting too much pressure and have been trying that but still getting the numbness.
While tinkering with the bike setup I have found a few things I have questions about. I read that the seat should be positioned foward/aft so that the tip of the seat to the center of the bars is the same distance as the length of your arm from elbow to tip of middle finger (19.5" for me). The bike has the stock stem and with the seat that came on the bike, a prologo kappa pas, the rails where not long enough to move the seat to achieve this. The new seat I am testing has longer rails but with the recommended (using the book that came with the seat and the knee over pedal I have read about and have since read is highly debatable) setup I am still around 2.5 inches longer in distance from tip of the seat to the center of the bars than my arm length. Moving the smp seat that much farther forward will put it at the furthest forward position possible.
I am 6'1 - 6'2 with a 33" inseam. By bike frame is a 58. My stem from the back to the front of the bars measures 5.5 inches. I also find it more comfortable to ride in the drops then on the hoods so I think either my stem or bars are not the best configuration for me. I am finding that I put a lot of weight on my hands no matter where they are on the bars.
I have set my seat height using the inseam times a number I cant remember off the top of my head and the method where you set the seat so your leg is straight with the heel on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke.
Long story short I have been looking around for a good bike fitting to hopefully help with my discomfort. I have found a place 2 hours away in Lubbock Texas that offers the "BikeFit" (
http://www.bikefit.com) system of fittings. Does anyone have experience with "bikefit"? I have found a few fitters using the retul system most of them are 4+ hours away.
I also came across reviews for a guy in Houston
http://www.tadhughescustom.com. That would be a 7 hour trip for me. I am willing to do what ever it takes to get setup correctly. I am enjoying riding and sitting around waiting for my elbows to get better is such a bummer.
Any recommendations/comments on fitting or personal experience with the discomfort I am trying to alleviate is welcome. I have spent as much money on high end shoes/pedals/helmets/bibs/socks ect trying to make the ride as comfortable as possible as I did on the bike itself. Once I sort through the butt/arm issues I will be able to enjoy cycling much more. Thanks in advance.