j.foster

Howdy,

I ride a Marin Kentfield, one of these odd bikes: https://www.marin.co.uk/marin-2004/bi...php?ModNo=2450 i dunno what you call it but i brought it because it has skinny wheels. I went into the shop looking for a road bike but the guy said that for my budget of £300 not to get a racer as the wheels would be rubbish etc. So he said these had the benefits of the thin tyres but have the more upright riding position so i brought it.

I have been riding it to work since February, 6 miles each way and takes about 25 mins because the roads are nice and easy. Recently i've started to get real pains here there and everywhere from riding. I have a horrible ache in my lower back, sometimes my hands go numb and tingly and my little finger starts to hurt. I also get shoulder pains round the back and also from longer rides a pain in the goolies which can't be too good. And my neck too starts to hurt as if its bending the wrong way (upwards) the whole time.

I don't want to stop riding as it's my only means of keeping active and if i stop i will turn into a fat blob so does anyone have any advice on how i can set it up to sort these nasty pains out before the injuries turn into anything more serious and permanent? I'm about 6ft i've forgotten the frame size but i'll find out if you think it's relevant. So if anyone can tell me where to find out how to setup this bike properly so it's a comfort to ride i would really appreciate it.

Cheers All

Jon

MichaelW

This is a tricky one without seeing your riding position.
Most of the advice on bike fit is aimed at racing cyclists who want to be aerodynamic. There is some good advice for regular commuter/touring riders at:
www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

You <may> be suffering from a position which is too upright, when your body is trying to get down a bit. This is usually evident by a crouch in the upper back, and hunched shoulders. Check out your form as you pass a large glass shop window. Ideally, you should be riding with a back which is straight, at an angle which is comfortable, with relaxed shoulders, flexed elbows and relaxed hands and wrists in a neutral position.
Your back angle may vary from a horizontal stance for racing style, to about 45 degrees for touring, to more upright for city riding. The touring style is usually a good place to start for commuting.

shaq-d

give us the size of your bike, it's absolutely important, with your inseam.

anyway, it sounds like your stem is too low. raise it. this should help your back, your shoulders, and your hand pain. a stem that's too low makes you bend over more and places weight on your hands. the result is usually the symptoms you describe.

secondly, you need to consciously adjust your form. straighten out your back, and _relax_ your shoulders and arms and hands. don't grip the handlebar tightly. just hold it firmly and gently.

sd

holicow

Hmmmm... so you're either too upright, or not upright enough. I guess that would cover it.

Do you have good gloves?

And what are "goolies"? I think I probably know, but just want to make sure.

smeghead

The testicles. Originates from the Indian army during the 1800s and the Hindi goli, meaning a pellet or ball.

leconkie

This bike looks very similar to my Merida Freeway 9300, which is just under the 300pound mark ($550). I've had no problems riding it. I'd take some time to sit on the bike at a stop, no hands on the bars, and then naturally drop down into a riding position IRRESPCTIVE of the bike's positioning and see where you end up. If there's a big gap, then you've got the wrong bike

j.foster

Ok thanks for the replies guys. I have checked out that site MichaelW and done a basic setup which has improved my back its now a bit straighter (not perfect) but my hands still hurt even though i'm bending my elbows. I may be able to get some pics of the way i sit if any of you think you can help from this. For the meantime i have taken some measurements, see if you can spot anything wrong if you have a minute to spair:

My Bike:
Frame: 17inch
Downtube: 22inch
Crossbar: 20inch
Pedal to bottom of saddle: 33inch (saddle is 2 inches deep)
Saddle to Handlebars: 26inch
Cranks are 190mm
Floor to center of handlebars: 36inch (bars curve up towards the edge)
Saddle to floor: 38inch

Me:
Height: 6ft
Weight: 10st6 (126lbs)
Inside leg: 30inch
Right arm:21inch and left 20?


Ok i know i took loads and some may be irrelevant but im desperate to get on with some painfree riding. If you think you could help if i take some more let me now.

Ta Muchly

Jon

edit: i don't wear gloves i will get some if it's likely to help but there is definetly something wrong with the way i sit as there is loads of weight on my hands.

CRSO

Sort of why I call it a Spaniel. See if you can figure it out.

shaq-d

you can raise your handlebar/stem by 2 inches, so that it's level with your saddle height. so saddle height=38inches, handlebar height from floor=38 inches too. this is what most tourists like to do, and will help the hands for sure.

sd

j.foster

if i raise the bars 2 inches will i need to adjust my gears?

shaq-d

not at all, unless your cable housings are too tight, which is unlikely. raise it! you won't regret it.

sd

j.foster

thanks loads shag-d your a genius, now i have adjusted my handlebars my bike is a much more pleasurable beast to ride, not perfect but significantly better. I'm gonna go down to the shop i brought it and get them to help me perfect my position. Does anyone else think it is ridicoulous that a shop would sell me a bike like this with completely factory adjustments, absolutely no attempt to tailor it to my size and so i've spent the last few months causing myself harm by sitting funny. is this the shops fault or mine for not knowing about these things?

demoncyclist

IMHO, the shop should have set you on the bike and made sure that you were relatively comfortable before sending you on your way. That being sadi, it seems like you have eliminated most of the problems with the adjustments you have already made. My suggestion to take more weight off of your hands is to do some core training (pilates, power yoga, abs classes, Reebok CoreBoard, etc.)- these workouts will strengthen your midsection, allowing it to stabilize itself without you leaning on the bars so much. On top of that, you might try some cushier grips and some cycling gloves, along with keeping your grip light. You actually have more control if you don't have a death grip on the bars.

shaq-d

wow, something i said actually helped.. lol . anyway you weren't exactly riding in a "wrong" position, just one not fit for _you_ specifically. usually the shop does a fitting, and then after a couple days/weeks (whenever you get uncomfortable) you go back to the shop and they re-fit you free of charge, fine tuning things.

but i'm glad things have improved; biking at the distance you're going should be virtually pain-free at a normal effort.

sd