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Old 08-23-07 | 12:17 PM
  #11  
CharlesC
Old biker
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Radium Springs, NM

Bikes: Custom Cammack touring road and 1987 Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo

All the replies to your question have merit. Rider to bike fit is a subject that large books have been written about. Adjusting a bike to fit your body and riding style can be frustrating and take time. A new bike with different geometry is going to feel different to you even if it's adjusted to the exact same measurements. As an aside, I have never riden a 74 degree seat tube bike that I was comfy on. For me personally those upright angled "criterium" bikes provide a twitchy bone jarring ride. But then I'm more of a century/touring rider and definitely not a racer.
The way I adjust my bikes is to take my Allen wrenches and such with me on a at least a 15 mile ride. 25 is better and make a very small adjustments to what ever doesn't feel right - usually 1/8" or less - and ride for 5 more miles. Just tooling around a parking lot doesn't do it. It takes a number of miles for your body to adjust and tell you if you moved the component in the right direction and amount. This morning I rode my touring bike that I had just installed new pedals on last nite. It was immediatly clear I needed to lower the saddle. I lowered it 1/8" and was back to my former comfort. I rode another 15 miles and all was well.
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