I rode streets a solid frame, solid fork moutain bike with fat slick tires. I had the handlebars dropped way down. When getting back into cycling on this bike my wrists hurt and my rear side too. I tried padded gloves and a gel seat. Big waste of money. After a month or less all the pains lessened on the non-gel seat. Then I later got a Lemond Poprad cyclocross bike. I didn't set it up with a major seat handlebar drop - maybe only 1" - to the tops of handlebars and kept the stock seat. It is far more comfortable and rides far smoother on the roads that the fat tire bike. There is not much weight on my hands in drops or hoods, I can kind of float over them if I want. The lesson is that a good fitting bike and fit for the purpose (i.e. not racing) with some body fitness is more important than shocks and gel.

Al

Lowracer,

Cool bikes, but how are they riding in traffic? Do you feel that cars can see you ok? How is your visibility in terms of seeing what is going on around you? Are they legal for the street?

Nothing is more important than keeping the bars at or above the saddle level.

It depends on the sanctioning body. UCI has outlawed them completely. For USCF, they're legal but in a separate class, which means that if the organizers don't provide a separate category, the participant is out of luck. A *very* few races don't care. In short, they're very comfortable (which I think was the reason for Lowracer's post) and scarey-fast, but they're in a separate category for a reason, so if you have visions of a triathlon 'career' then stick with a bike like everyone else is riding.

Visibility....... can you see me here from this distance? The yellow jacket the other guy is wearing would be a definate plus. I'm thinking about that bright yellow on the back of my next tailbox, although Ive never had any problems with traffic or cars seeing me. I'm usually traveling at a higher velocity, so it does take cars a tad bit longer to pass, so they generally have enough time to see me. If they don't see me, then they aren't going to see anybody else either and thats just the way it is.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9361


Given the original posters condition with the wrists, I don't think doing triathlons would be very comfortable for him. Also the comment about the ankles would probably discourage him from running.

The way I see it, if he wan'ts extreme comfort and speed and be able to do pack tours, then a lowracer is the way to go.