Ocean

i was given a XL Fastback Schwinn not long ago. Unfortunately it's way too big for me especially the size of the frame. It's not too high but too long. When I rest my palms on top of the brake levers instead of the touring part, my wrists and palms hurt. I guessed it must be coming from the length which is too long, made me put much of my weight on the handle bars instead of the pedals and saddle as it is in an attacking position. Besides that, my groin hurts too. I used to be a mountain biker. Never had any experience with road bikes. I associated everything bout MBs to RBs. Guess I'm doing bad. It doesn't feel comfortable at all with pains everywhere. I changed the aheadstem to a shorter one. Do you think it helps? And because of that too, the spacers are unusable because it leaves some gaps. So basically should I use the spacers or should I just cut the stem into the right length for that particular aheadstem? How do you measure the right height for the aheadstem and the handlebar? How do you measure the height of the saddle? Is it the same as MBs? By using only the heel on the pedal and as the crank parallel to the seat tube, the whole leg should be stretched? The question is how strectched? An inch I guess would create pain. So can someone please help me to adjust my roadie so it can be perfect? I always dreamt to have a road bike.

Ocean

There's another problem with my transmission. It's 24 speed which makes it 3 in front. When I am using the smallest sprocket in front with the smallest cassette at the back, the chain rubs the second sprocket in front. It's the same when I'm using the second in front and the smallest at the back, it rubs the third sprocket in front. It gives out an annoying sound. Is there a way to solve it? Maybe there's a thinner and narrow chain that will avoid the rubbing? or does removing the smallest sprocket helps? And regarding the first topic, does the aheadstem being shorter the better for my case?

Duke of Kent

If you're in your smallest ring up front, you shouldn't be using your small sprocket in the back. Move to your middle chainring. What you're doing is call cross chaining. Basically you're making the chain rub because it's at an angle that makes it rub the chainring next to it, or the front derailleur. The same gear ratio can more than likely be achieve using your middle ring, and moving up to a slightly bigger sprocket in the back.

Not sure if you're too stretched out, or if your body just isn't used to the bike yet. You would have to post a picture for us to have any clue.

Ocean

How do you measure the the right height for the saddle and the height of the handle bar? And most importantly how do you get the right size of bike? An XL sure sounds too big. So all I know is to change into shorter ahead stem. Is there any other way? I really need a full guidance from anything to everything.

kchrist

wrenchscience.com is a good starting point for fit

dtrain

Honestly, I think you need to get into a bike shop. The bike might be useable for you with a shorter stem and correct height setting on the steerer. Perhaps rotating the bars up and/or moving the brifters higher would help as well. OR the bike might simply be too big.

On the shifting: you are cross-chaining. Don't go removing cogs. You shouldn't try to run the smallest cog with the smallest chainring nor should you run the largest with the largest. There's a chance you've strecthed the chain and might need to replace it to get the shifting back to normal. Again, I'd suggest going into a bike shop and have them go through things with you.

Ocean

The problem is I'm living in Malaysia, somewhere in the east where bicycle shops only exist about 3 in my city. One is the much to business, the other is much to bike care but only MBs. The other is much to recreational bikes. So I can't just get into a bike shop and get help. I couldn't get one. I went there but there tried all their best and they can't anymore. I believe there's something that I can fix to make the bike suit me. That's why I'm here.

dtrain

Use the search function then. Look for bike fit threads. Do one of the online fit calculators. Read up on proper shifting. Etc.

shakeNbake

Yeah, you're pretty much starting form zero here.

Read up on bike fitting:

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Here's a very good article on proper gear shifting (you shouldn't be cross-chaining):

https://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

oilman_15106

At least you did not pay for the wrong size frame.