Okay, I'm hooked! I've been commuting around on the week ends and after work but this is my first actual commute to work! I was 5 minutes late and about a 1/3 of my commute was on some really high traffic streets but other than than that it was an awesome ride. My bike is now sitting in my office with me. If I can get my second junker car in running order and leave it at the office for daytime runs to other offices, I think I'd commute everyday. I'm hooked! Fun ride, even if it was raining!

I still have some work to do on this bike to make it more comfortable. The frame is a little small so I think the bars are a little low. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

oh a couple of pics of the bike sitting in my office.

The bars look fine to me. They definitely aren't in the "too low" position, but it really is a matter of personal preference when you get down to details. Depending on the length of your commute the lower handlebars will help you conserve some energy by keeping your profile out of the wind a bit.

Great looking commuter bike.


Have you explored other routes to work that will get you off the high traffic roads?
Every time I start a new job I always do "test" rides in the car on several routes before deciding on a safe route to ride.

Yeah the bike is nice but who is the lady in the center photo?! Woo-hoo!! Now *THAT* is a nice picture!

Maybe I need to change my grips then or something. My hands keep going to sleep when I ride for more than a couple of miles. You're right about the wind though, I have a headwind as I ride in. ugh. lol.

The big one in the middle? That's everyone's favorite tramp... Paris Hilton. lol.

Don't worry, if your commute is like mine, it'll make up for the headwind on the way in with a headwind on the way home... (Hey, wait a minute...!)

Judging by the extreme height to which you have the seat and stem adjusted, the frame appears to be considerably small for you. But you already mentioned that. It's not just the height of the bars but the top tube length, etc... I'd wager that a larger frame would be much more comfortable for you.

Now getting back to the photo....

I'm no expert on bike sizing/adjustments - tho I think I've finally got mine right - but I know something about hand numbness from experience.

Any of the following may be factors: too much weight on your hands, bending your wrists (especially while putting weight on the hands), or hand positioning/angle/contact surfaces on the bars. Try to keep your wrists straight, and put more weight on the seat, less on the handlebar.

This latter may be easier if you raise the handlebars higher, relative to the seat.

I think you're right I better start looking for a larger frame. I guess I can just transfer all the equipment over if I can find a frame for cheap. lol!

Oh, and here's a couple of close ups since everyone seems to like the pics in the back ground. lol. I'd scan the autographed one from Angelina Jolie but it's not a great shot. From the tomb raider premier.

Getting ready for round tomorrow, fingers were numb again when I go home. Damn it. Maybe I need to drop a few (20) pounds and get the added weight off my hands. Anyone else dealing with this?

Try bar ends pointed straight forward, that will allow you to stretch forward a bit, and to vary your hand position. You seem to have too much length in you cable housings - otherwise your commuter looks nicely set up.

I could use someone like you to tidy my desk.

That might be the answer is bar ends to change hand positions. Thanks and you're right the cables are little extreme. I think I'll shorten them a little. That extra 16" isn't really needed. lol. Thanks for the input and thanks to all as well!

Don't let that pic fool you, only part of my office looks like that, the desk is filled with paper and computer crap.

Heh, I see a nipple, ban him!

beautiful day today, slight rain all day, mostly sunny. 6:30 p.m I roll out of the office and the heavens open up. Rain, thunder, high winds... what the heck. This is the 3rd day in a row this has happened. Anyone else having the weather ambushing them? lol.
I actually don't mind riding in the rain, it's kind of fun actually. I love the look from everyone in their cars. Just sort of a confused stares. lol. I did have a Isuzu trooper honk and wave today.

[QUOTE=Quickbeam]Judging by the extreme height to which you have the seat and stem adjusted, the frame appears to be considerably small for you. But you already mentioned that. It's not just the height of the bars but the top tube length, etc... I'd wager that a larger frame would be much more comfortable for you. [QUOTE]

I agree. Try riding a bigger frame for a few miles (maybe you can rent one from a shop?) I bet you'll feel more 'at home'.

When you are riding try the old test of looking down for the front hub; if the hub is way behind the handlebar, you need more forward extension. A longer stem will do this to a degree, but you probably need more top tube as well.

I wouldn't ignore the numb hands thing. not to make you paranoid but you should experiment and find a way to stop that before it develops into something serious. make sure you have a relaxed grip and bend your elbows. If you have and use bar ends you'll have less issues, I would think.

And so cool that you are hooked! keep it up and you'll be glad you did!
Ride Safe!

I just put on bar ends (Performance Forte, long ones, bent at the ends). I really like them. It gives me more places to put my hands and for some reason holding on the ends of the bar ends in particular seems more comfortable.

Looks like I'll have to try the bar end trick... I went out looking for a cheap 56cm road frame today. Good god that size is impossible to find. Damn it. I'm hoping the barends will limp me a long until the rain stops. I'll probably keep this one for awhile as my rain bike, though I guess it depends on how lucky I am at finding a frame. I'd like to build a single speed for summer time commuting / pub crawling.

Congrats on starting the bike commute!

I always had hand numbness problems (albeit after longer rides) on those kind of handlebars. I recently switched to a bike with drops, and though I'm still adjusting, I get no more numbness, as well as being able to get more aero. Good luck with it, in any case.

Thanks Joker, I really need to learn how to type. lol.

That's what I want to add to my single speed if I can ever get it built but I wonder if drops would work on my current rain bike? You've planted a seed now. lol.

[QUOTE=pgoat][QUOTE=Quickbeam]Judging by the extreme height to which you have the seat and stem adjusted, the frame appears to be considerably small for you. But you already mentioned that. It's not just the height of the bars but the top tube length, etc... I'd wager that a larger frame would be much more comfortable for you. I believe the rule of thumb is that the front hub should be hidden by the handlebar when you look down at it.
Atombob, you could always get one of those adjustable stems for your handlebars, which will allow you multiple positions, and a higher position. The reason bar ends feel so good is you're not turning your wrists when you hold on to them, like you do when on the regular flat bar. The ones that hook on the end give you two more hand positions.

https://www.ritcheylogic.com/stems.htm

They're also made for threaded headsets.

"I believe the rule of thumb is that the front hub should be hidden by the handlebar when you look down at it."


exactly - if it isn't you need to adjust. If it the hub is just partially peeking out you could probably just swap in a longer/shorter stem. if the whole hub is visible, you could be riding a frame that is just too long or short for you.

Of course there are other variables, such as seat-bar height releationships etc. Bottom line, if a frame is the wrong size you may not realize it but once you can compare it to one that is the right size, the difference becomes more obvious.

If you can't get a larger frame (which would be the best solution--the frame looks very small for your setup) I'd suggest bringing the bars (if possible) up to the seat height. It looks like they may be a 1/2 inch below the seat. It may not seem like much, but it can make a big difference. Keep tinkering and you'll find the right fit.

Congrats on the new commute.

excellent tip - raising the stem will put more of your weight on your saddle and should help with the numb hands considerably. I try to keep my elbows bent and relaxed. Good gloves and Bar ends or some other way of changing hand positions regularly help quite a bit also.

Just make sure you don't raise it too far! (look for the safety line on the stem quill.) Same with your seat post, since you appear to be maxing out your adjustments on this frame.