Trial and Error Bike Fit Theater
04-24-20 | 09:12 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Bikes: 2001 Bianchi Brava, 2001 Bianchi Volpe, 1994 GT Karakoram
Trial and Error Bike Fit Theater
Hello Bike Forum Members. This is my first post. "Pendolare" is Italian for "commuter."
I’m having bike fit problems. Longer stem: comfort in saddle but pain in shoulders and neck. Shorter stem and/or higher rise: pain in saddle and numbness in hands.
I called Mellow Johnny's bike shop here in Austin about my bike fit and spoke to someone in the service department. He couldn't see me because of the shelter-in-place mandate, but I look forward to reading any advice you can give on my current bike fit situation.
I've bought a 2001 Bianchi Volpe last year. It’s 58cm. I replaced the Body Fit Comfort Saddle with my old WTB Speed (from my 2001 Bianchi Brava).
With the Volpe, I was messing around with the saddle height and fore aft position. I realized I had it both too low and too far forward. The low height didn't make me feel like I was "floating." When I lifted my hands off the bars the saddle fore position made me slide forward (both on the road and on the trainer).
Right now, the saddle seems like it's in the right position because I'm not falling forward and it feels like the height gives me more power transfer...or something. I feel balanced on the bike.
The original quill stem is 120mm, 0 degree rise. Because of the reach between the saddle and handle bars, I feel no pressure in my soft tissues. The saddle feels comfortable and supportive.
However, my hands, neck, traps, and shoulders are in pain after about 30 minutes of riding, especially when I was looking ahead at the road, leading me to think maybe I was too stretched out. There was no numbness in my hands, but there was some pain.
The guy at Mellow Johnny’s suggested that maybe, since I'm 6 feet, my bike saddle was too small and the weight of my body was transferring to my hands and shoulders. I told him that the saddle was 145mm and he said that might be fine but also suggested I could try shallower handlebars or a shorter stem.
I've been swapping bike stems in the last month: 70mm, 95mm, 100mm. All of these have caused hand numbness as well as pain on the saddle (sit bones and soft tissue), probably because I'm too upright or too cramped.
Any advice on these problems? Should I get a wider saddle? Right now ModernBIKE has a sale on Brooks saddles (until April 30th). I could also try a wider WTB saddle. Or should I get another 120mm stem with a higher rise?
Thank you for any advice.
I’m having bike fit problems. Longer stem: comfort in saddle but pain in shoulders and neck. Shorter stem and/or higher rise: pain in saddle and numbness in hands.
I called Mellow Johnny's bike shop here in Austin about my bike fit and spoke to someone in the service department. He couldn't see me because of the shelter-in-place mandate, but I look forward to reading any advice you can give on my current bike fit situation.
I've bought a 2001 Bianchi Volpe last year. It’s 58cm. I replaced the Body Fit Comfort Saddle with my old WTB Speed (from my 2001 Bianchi Brava).
With the Volpe, I was messing around with the saddle height and fore aft position. I realized I had it both too low and too far forward. The low height didn't make me feel like I was "floating." When I lifted my hands off the bars the saddle fore position made me slide forward (both on the road and on the trainer).
Right now, the saddle seems like it's in the right position because I'm not falling forward and it feels like the height gives me more power transfer...or something. I feel balanced on the bike.
The original quill stem is 120mm, 0 degree rise. Because of the reach between the saddle and handle bars, I feel no pressure in my soft tissues. The saddle feels comfortable and supportive.
However, my hands, neck, traps, and shoulders are in pain after about 30 minutes of riding, especially when I was looking ahead at the road, leading me to think maybe I was too stretched out. There was no numbness in my hands, but there was some pain.
The guy at Mellow Johnny’s suggested that maybe, since I'm 6 feet, my bike saddle was too small and the weight of my body was transferring to my hands and shoulders. I told him that the saddle was 145mm and he said that might be fine but also suggested I could try shallower handlebars or a shorter stem.
I've been swapping bike stems in the last month: 70mm, 95mm, 100mm. All of these have caused hand numbness as well as pain on the saddle (sit bones and soft tissue), probably because I'm too upright or too cramped.
Any advice on these problems? Should I get a wider saddle? Right now ModernBIKE has a sale on Brooks saddles (until April 30th). I could also try a wider WTB saddle. Or should I get another 120mm stem with a higher rise?
Thank you for any advice.
