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Old 02-19-14 | 08:13 PM
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jyl
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
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From: Portland OR

Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997

Have you been riding a drop bar road bike for awhile, or is this kind of bike still new to you? I ask because it is not uncommon for people to initially feel that this sort of bike feels too low or too long, even if the bike fits fine. The riding position is different than what we maybe were used to as kids or as casual riders on other kinds of bikes. A certain amount of flexibility is needed. Usually women have less trouble with that, but almost everyone has an acclimation period.

What I am saying is, you should not get caught up in what fit calculators spit out and get led into buying bike after bike trying to find the "right one". Instead, I think you'd be better off putting in the miles on the bike you have now. Initially there may be some aches and strains. Of course, any discomfort that is severe means something is very wrong with the fit, and shouldn't be ignored. The other aches, let them be. If they are still there as you put more weeks in the saddle, listen to them and think about changing something. Just getting accustomed to riding a road bike may smooth out the rest.

You may want to post pictures of yourself on the bike, from the side, one with the camera-side crank pointing down (180 degrees), one with it pointing forward (90 degrees), one with your hands on the hoods (like you are riding along relaxed), one with your hands in the drops, elbows bent, and your upper body lower (like you're going fast). That's the usual way of getting fit suggestions in this forum, some people here are really insightful.

When you ride your current bike, how does it feel? What part of your body feels strained, pressured, tired? (Like at the doctor's: "Tell me where it hurts?") Is this on long rides or short rides, fast rides or slow rides?
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