Thoughts from Newb
 

I have been watching youtube videos on bike fit. A whole bunch. Seat height I feel I have down. Riding a few times and my legs feel good...you know, like I used them and taxed em, but not painful or sore. I'm new to road bike and road miles. Time is a major issue so it's hard for me to get out (3 young kids and lot of activities plus work of course).

I've gotten 3 10 mile runs in over the last week. about 14.8 mpg avg and 40 min per ride. I've been working on my cadence. First time out I was bouncing a bit at higher cadence. I got that under control now and my cadence is 80 average with 105 as the high. I will continue to work on that to keep it consistent.

I have had some soreness in me arse! It's weird, less sore than the first ride on a mtb if you haven ridden all winter. More of a fatigue. I'm guessing that will settle in as I toughen up the arse. I am driving myself nutty over reach and frame size. I'm 181.5 cm and on size 56. I don't feel too stretched but I'm also a clyde and just paranoid about reach. I do not have any back pain after these short rides and no soreness. I do get some fatigue in my elbows. The fatigue is dull and not pain. It goes away if I sit up and ride no hands style. The fatigue as I'm calling it is even in both elbows. I get a "feeling" in the shoulders but I wouldn't describe it as a pain. More of an awareness I've used em.

1 of the videos showed a measurement in cm from the 2nd crease of the middle finger to the mid shoulder joint. Then take that and measure against the mid seat post point to the end of the stem. Is this a relatively accurate way to get you in the ballpark? Is it from the bend in the finger to mid shoulder? beginning of shoulder? Either way, using this measurement of id or beginning of shoulder, I'm not shorter than seat post to end of stem measurement.

It's a lot to ask. I know. But new and trying to settle in. I don't really have any known bike fitters without some travel and I would like to just get in the ballpark and go from there. I may be there and just don't know it. Maybe more miles will show the light.

Anyway, I plan on a 20 mile later today.

If all you are experiencing is sore muscles, not specific pain, I'd say keep riding and see if it goes away. If something was really off in your fit, the problem would cause an increase in discomfort over time and distance. As for the elbow/shoulder pain, maybe look at the width of your handlebars relative to your shoulder distance. https://www.bikejames.com/strength/h...t-to-find-out/

My initial reaction is that your bike is a bit small for you, but, on the other hand, you are not experiencing severe discomfort. I would say to keep riding and most of that discomfort is likely to disappear. From my own experience, the more miles ridden in Spring, after the Winter slowdown due to snow and ice on roads, the more comfortable I am.

Thanks for the replies. I just finished a 25 mile ride. Cadence improving and up to 85. I spent time trying to focus on any discomfort. My ASS I could feel a little fatigue but no pain at about 7 miles in...was same feeling and fine til about 22 mile mark. It wasn't pain but it bothered me. A minute off the saddle and it was like a new ass. I should mention I'm a sit and spin, I have big legs that just go!

I noticed my elbows were, or seemed to be not loved out but nearly locked out. I spend most of the time on the hoods but was playing with the drops. In the drops my elbows had a little bend. Frankly, I can't tell if it's just me with bad form and locking the elbows or if I need a shorter stem. I paid attention to shoulders and neck....shpulders felt decent but used...and neck was letting me know it was there at the 20 mile mark. No pain tho. I wear a 46 sport jacket and I'm thinking the 42mm drop bars should be changed for 44. Maybe that is my first step.

I want to add: back and legs feel great. Back feels same at mile 1 as it did at mile 25.

Am I correct to think if I were "reaching" I would feel it in my lower back?

Depends on how you are bending. Thanks for this thread by the way. My posture sucks in every day life, so when on my road bike I try to bend from the hips...arching my lower back. I haven't found the forearm length notion very effective, but I do find the hidden front hub a decent indication of reach. For me. On my current set up, if I "slouch", the front hub is hidden by the handlebars. If if bend from the hips, the hub is in front...slightly. I obsess about this. the reason I obsess is because I get numb right had fingers, and right had toes. Left side is fine. Lower back, per your post, is not really an issue. I expect a bit of discomfort there regardless of if bad posture or bending properly. For me, back discomfort is not an issue. Right hand numbness bothers me. Perhaps related.

I said I had a good saddle position but I saw it was (from stock) canted forward so I leveled it a bit and raided it probably 2cm. I don't want to mess with it more than a tiny bit at once. My legs feel good and knees as well.

More I look back more I keep seeing my elbows locked. I keep coming back to form and not fit....I did notice as I was tiring toward the 20 mile mark my posture felt weak...less core reliance and I would think more slouch and weight tossed on the arms and wrist. Which are linked to the elbows. My triceps feel like I have been shoveling but no soreness. My ass feels ok but if I drop it on the saddle (i did just this) I feel like a few miles is all I could do....say 4 max before i'd be saying uncle.

I don't know if these descriptions help...I'm only throwing it out there to help with the answers. I figure you've all been there and know the difference when the pain or discomfort is described.

From the charts, I should be a ok with the 56. Trek has my height, 5.9 and a half where i could fit the Domane in a 54 but it would the toward the small end but the 56 would seem, by their chart anyway, just about right. My legs, arms, and torso pretty in line with a guy about 5'10". I'm big, broad, and heavy. Think linebacker. My arm span is 6ft 1 or 2" (can't remember exactly). I'm really thinking the 42 wide bars need to be a little wider. If I hold the tops (not hoods) my shoulders feel squished.

BTW: You roadies with fit!! Damn this sux. I'm considering pure blasphemy...780mm wide flat bars with flats for pedals and a 50mm stem :love:

Consciously try to stay loose and relaxed, from your grip to your elbows and biceps/triceps, into your shouilders and neck. I catch myself tensing and have to remind myself to get loose again multiple times during a long ride. The more I increase my awareness of muscle tension the longer I seem to go without tensing up again. It takes practice. It's a combination of getting looser in the shoulder-hand range and simultaneously remembering to focus on using your core muscles in opposition. It's hard (at least for me) but it is a behavior that can be learned.

If you were reaching (over reaching) you would likely be unbalanced in front placing greater weight on your hands. Since this does not seem to be the case I'd say your fit is right on or close.

You would do better on a 58cm. You are essentially six feet tall. Maybe on a track bike but for a road bike you should ride a 58cm.