Did I make a mistake..?
 

Hey,

Yesterday I purchased a Giant Escape 3. The initial test ride felt great compared to my old clunky comfort hybrid. I took the new bike out on my usual bike patch which is approx a 14 mile round-trip ride. I have done this ride many times with my old bike and today my whole body hurts. My hips, legs arms and shoulders hurts badly. I am wondering if this is a good fitting bike - the people from the LBS seemed to think it was a good fit reason I went forward with purchase. I am 5 ft tall female on the small frame. Reason i swayed away from the female bikes in this category it had the step through frame and I don't like it and there was one other bike I believe that had the top bar and being it was women specific it was 100$ more than the bike I purchased. Like I said I am in a great deal of pain and I am not a new rider I usually ride 10+miles 4x a week with no kind of pain. I don't know if bikes styles between the two is what is causing the pain - the old bike has upright handlebars opposed to the flat bar of the new one. Maybe I need to just get used to it?? Bring it back in to make sure it is fit properly? Idk :(

You might try setting up the saddle height, fore/aft and bar height as close as possible to your old bike.

I'm thinking "maybe you jut got to used to it," but I know that's a lame response (pun intended). It IS a different kind of ride than you're used to, so maybe you want to embrace the change?

The old bike had full suspension and the handlebars are in an upright position - The new bike has no suspension and I feel every little bump I roll over and the handlebars are flatbar so I am leaned over more. That could be causing the discomfort. i really do love the bike and will take some time to get used to. Going to bring it into the shop tomorrow to see what seat/steam adjustments could help. Old Bike http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=398676and the new onehttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=398677

It looks like the new bike has the saddle higher than the old bike, a longer reach from saddle to bar, and bar about the same height as the saddle instead of higher than the saddle. You might want to check that with a measuring tape.

Not being able to see you on either bike, we can't say which bike fits you or if either does. The old bike looks like it was set up for a smaller person than the new bike, and for a slower, more upright riding position.

A significant change in fit can certainly cause strain and pain if you go right out and do a long ride in the new position. Even if the new fit is actually the better one in the long run. It is possible to get "used to" a bad fit. You need to give yourself time to adjust. I would not go changing bar or stem or bike right away. Give yourself a couple weeks of shorter rides. While you are adjusting, pay attention to exactly what is straining or uncomfortable, aching shoulders tell a different story than sore knees for example.

There are some very basic fit guidelines that you can check. When you are on the saddle with pedal at the lowest position, your knee should be bent a little, somewhere around 25-30 degrees. When you pedaling, your hips should stay pretty stable, without rocking a lot right and left. When your hands are on the bars, and you then briefly lift your hands off the grips, you should be able to hold your torso in the original position without straining hard. When the crank is horizontal and pointing forward, the front of your knee should be generally somewhere over the pedal, though doesn't need to be exactly over the pedal spindle.

The bikes are different, which may be affecting you. The old bike is a "comfort bike" meant for a rider who sits heavy in the saddle, relying on the suspension to absorb bumps, and rides slowly, in an upright and inefficient position. The new bike is a little more of a performance bike, the rider uses her anticipation and her legs to absorb bumps and is expected to be riding faster, in a more sporty manner. You can probably tell which bike I prefer, which makes no difference to which bike you should prefer . . . But the point is, you will have to do a little bit of adjusting when going from one bike to the other.

I phoned the bike store yesterday and explained how i was feeling and the person I talked to said the bike was a poor fit for me. They said no matter how much we tweak anything it will never be a good fit because of my height and it being a guys bike. They said i could exchange it for something more fitting in a women's bike. 1st choice was an Alight 3 which I didn't care for bc it had the step thru frame. Then they showed me the Alight 2 had the top bar. That one cost a tad bit more but I liked it. I took it out for a test ride and felt so much better on that bike the handlebars were so much closer. The guy took some measurements and tweaked the saddle and handlebars into an even more fitting position. I am very happy with the purchase of the Alight 2 =) I plan on taking it easy on the bike and kind of pace myself so I can adapt it being it is way different than my old comfort bike. Thx all =)

I'm glad your LBS seems to be taking responsibility and working to get you on the right bike.

I have had the chance to take the bike out on two rides and both times I am getting incredible amounts of pain top of my right thigh area and behind my thigh on same leg. I stretched after each ride. Can this be the adjustment to newer bike still or still not a perfect fit?? I don't want to pay a few hundred for a fitting this is silly :( Last time I was in at the shop they said the bike looks good on me. I dont want to keep going back and forth and enduring pain. I just want to ride my bike!!! Say for example if I get them to take the bike back and go through another LBS I am interested in the Trek 7.2 FX WSD (actually this was my 2nd choice bike) are the components on par or better than what I have now?

Alight 2
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...specifications

Trek
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...fx/7_2_fx_wsd/

The component set looks roughly equivalent to me, but I'm not super knowledgeable about details of product lines. Anyone?

So are you having this right thigh (quad and ham?) pain with the original bike? Or with the Alight 2? No pain on the left? Are your right and left legs identical? (Not a trick question, sometimes legs are different lengths, or there is an injury history, etc). Saddle is straight? Any chance of picture of you on the bike, with pedal nearest the camera at lowest position?

I never had that kind of pain with my original bike. Just with the Alight 2. No pain what so ever on my left side. I am not bowlegged (sp??) Think my legs are pretty equal. No pictures to post. One thing I wanted to throw out there to that may of contributed to the pain is when I was pedaling I was losing my footing on the right side its like my foot couldn't find the pedal. Maybe that could of cause the injury?? Idk I returned the bike today - after frustration at the LBS. They briefly glanced at me the bike but never made any adjustments to the saddle said it looked good. I said well my leg doesn't feel good. The guy showed me some other bikes that were out of my price range and I really didn't like any of them. I felt like I was getting the run around. I mean how hard is it to tweak the damn seat??? They were going to have me pay a 20% restocking fee but I got them down to 10% after all the issues I had. basically I ate the taxes I paid on the bike :(

I am looking into the Trek 7.2 FX WSD and a Specialized Vita. I am leaning more so towards the Vita being they include a fitting with the purchase of the bike. Going to research these two some more before I make the purchase.

That is frustrating. I think it is time for in-person help. Find the bike shop in your area that is known for fittings. They probably won't be the cheapest, but you've been grappling with this for awhile - it will be money well spent.

I think size S is too big for your height, XS is about right size. Unfortunately Giant USA doesn't have XS.