Fitting question - Overall Reach
 

Hey guys, i measured myself with the help of my lovely wife. :love: using the www.wrenchscience.com fit calculator.

It seems i've been riding with a short stem.
My frame is 53.7'' long and my stem 100mm

here's what wrench science had to say about it

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...r/IMG_1878.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...r/IMG_1875.jpg

if my measures are correct i need a 130mm!! thats ridiculous!!...

i know my torso/arms are long for my inseam 31.20".

When i first bought my bike the LBS fitted me between 52 or 54, the guy told me my reach was perfect for 54, and my legs for a 52. To make a long story short i got a 54, and then downsized to a 52. I felt better on the 52, ride a lot more on the drops than before, and simply feel its comfortable.

a few weeks ago while chatting with a friend about getting a fitting session at an LBS (around $100 bucks). He recommended measuring myself first and find out a bit more about basic fit doing research.

Im guessing my overall reach could be off a bit...so maybe the math isnt a 130, could be more like a 120 mm...after lowering measures a bit the math ended up being 118mm still pretty near 120mm.

It's a bit disconcerting , my current stem/bar is deda m35, expensive and not versatile, so id have to buy another expensive stem and sell my current one. try that stem and see how i like it. (also the deda m35 stem has red details that i want to rub off, since my bike is black yellow and green!)

my current bike position could be more extended, but my performance is great and developing, better fit can only help...

help me with fitting.

by the way, this thread is anothe excuse to post a pic http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...r/IMG_1908.jpg
(im yet to slam that stem, and color coordinate)

Try 3 or 4 different cheapo stems on a long climb. You never know until you try.

I agree. But these calculators are designed to try and get someone who is uncomfortable, comfortable. If you are happy as you are, why change. I have never got any sense out of a calculator, but i sure as hell know what feels right. Go with what feels right, and i bet it wont be a 120mm stem

Are you comfortable as it is right now though? 'cause if you are, then why fix something that isn't broken?

truth.
The only bother ive been having is my upper back (behind the shoulders) has been hurting a bit. But overall im very happy comfort wise.

Id like to be more efficient, and basic fit seemed like a logical path to take.

The way I see it, upper back pain could be caused by you leaning too far forward on the bike, and therefore have to support your torso with your arms more, which translates to using your back muscles as well - muscles between and around your shoulder blades.

If I was having back pain, the last thing I would think to do is get a longer stem lol. I think you should adjust saddle height by very small increments and if you have a trainer, get on the it and see how you feel When I got my bike, I didn't even think of fitting it. I just went home, rode it and adjusted the factors according to what felt bad to me, and eventually found a satisfactory position :D That may not be the most efficient/accurate way of getting fitted on a bike, but it worked okay for me. By the way, adjusting saddle height is just what I would do if I were in your situation, this is not an expert's opinion by any stretch of the imagination :P

you will probably disagree but go to a professional fitter and get re-measured. I did and got some very different measurements than the ones I took with my cycling teammate. Worth every penny. You may not like his / her fitting but at least you should walk out with your body measurements.

thanx guys i appreciate your input on this.

Its been a while since ive even checked saddle hight~

Fitter - ive been back and forth on this issue. but theres no arguing, presice measurements will help in the future.

Fit calculators are almost worthless. That reach value does not take into account the handlebar reach or brake hood reach. You do have legs on the shorter side, so your torso is a little long. Your stem might be a tad short, but it's not 30mm too short. Try moving the saddle back, no more than 5mm at a time. That increases the reach and may take some weight off your hands. If your saddle setback was adjusted by KOP, moving the saddle back 1-2cm won't hurt a thing.