Question about fit
08-03-12 | 01:07 PM
#26
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Not really. Pain should not be ultimate determinant of proper fit, optimized comfort and speed should be. Of course pain is worse case scenario if fit is way off. My personal view is your fit is off. You may like it and not feel pain which is good but you join probably the 50%or more roadbikers with bad fit. Fit affects form as it were and not the other way around. A cramped cockpit for example promotes a hump back and bad posture for the simple reason that elongating the back and rotating the pelvis forward properly will make an already short cockpit unbearable. That is the predominant reason you see such bad posture on cramped cockpit bikes. By constrast on longer cockpit bikes you have room to stretch your back and ride with better posture.
I would say 80% of the advice coming out of local bike shops when it comes to fit is bogus. Further at least 50% of bike shops can't tune a bike properly. So what are bike shops good for? Selling bikes and equipment. There is no shortcut to getting good at anything. It generally takes more effort than people are willing to put in and why average is just that.
I would say 80% of the advice coming out of local bike shops when it comes to fit is bogus. Further at least 50% of bike shops can't tune a bike properly. So what are bike shops good for? Selling bikes and equipment. There is no shortcut to getting good at anything. It generally takes more effort than people are willing to put in and why average is just that.
Last edited by UCIMBZ; 08-04-12 at 12:20 PM.
08-07-12 | 09:18 AM
#29
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08-07-12 | 09:24 AM
#30
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Respectfully disagree. I ride with Deda Elementi Newton Deep bars, which have a very long reach, (compared to most other bars). That necessitates a 100mm or 110mm stem where other bars would indeed use a 120mm stem.
08-07-12 | 09:44 AM
#31
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In the end, all of us chase our tail a bit when it comes to fit. The great Eddie Merckx who used to have different frames built by the mm rode deep bars as well with 130mm stem throughout his career. Drapes have to match the curtains. I agree with UC, if you ride a road bike with a 100mm stem, you are riding a size too big. If going smaller creates too much drop, buy a bike with a longer head tube...or do what the masses do and ride compact bars.
08-07-12 | 09:56 AM
#32
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With all due respect, what you did is called compromise.
08-07-12 | 10:05 AM
#35
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08-07-12 | 10:11 AM
#36
You blink and it's gone.
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From: Dundas, Ontario
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Absolutely. There is no reasons for an adult but medical for a 100mm (even 110) or shorter stems on a road bikes. If your lbs recommends a short stem to fit the frame, they sold you too big of a frame. I know some people are going to jump out on how about for some one who has a short torso, I say BS. Get a smaller frame and raise the seatpost. If you are craving an upright position, get a flatbar.
BTW each person is different, so what is good for one is not always good for the other...
Some of you guys crack me up...I think some people need to ride a bit more and post a bit less
08-07-12 | 10:52 AM
#38
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From: Dundas, Ontario
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Good one...Nice advice...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
Last edited by rbart4506; 08-07-12 at 10:55 AM.
08-07-12 | 10:56 AM
#39
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So let me get this straight - everyone should fit on a bike with a 120-130mm stem. I suppose it needs to be slammed, too. If you can't get a good fit with that size stem, and no spacers, you need a custom frame, or just forget about getting a road bike altogether. All the various sized stems sold by multiple manufacturers are produced for the sole purpose of fitting people to bikes that are not sized correctly for them in the first place. Do I have that correct? By the way, what angle should that stem be?
08-07-12 | 11:14 AM
#40
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Good one...Nice advice...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
So let me get this straight - everyone should fit on a bike with a 120-130mm stem. I suppose it needs to be slammed, too. If you can't get a good fit with that size stem, and no spacers, you need a custom frame, or just forget about getting a road bike altogether. All the various sized stems sold by multiple manufacturers are produced for the sole purpose of fitting people to bikes that are not sized correctly for them in the first place. Do I have that correct? By the way, what angle should that stem be?
08-07-12 | 11:25 AM
#41
soon to be gsteinc...
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From: Nayr497's BFF
Good one...Nice advice...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
Don't think that would have helped me at the Tour of Catskills...
You see, I race and like the short cockpit....Makes for a quicker handling bike...
There's more to bike fit then arbitrary numbers such as 'if you ride a 100mm stem your bike is too big'...The real scary part is guys spouting that off and then newbs reading it and believing it...
Oh and to the OP, that just happens sometimes...My wife has that issue and she is not carrying a spare tire
She's just really flexible and when she get in the drops she will at times hit her stomach with her thighs...No biggie...
FWIW I am 5'11", ride a 54cm BMW with a 55.5cm tt and 130 mm stem slammed to the headset (gives me a significant drop), seat about 3/4 the way back on the rails and I am good for +5 hour training rides. A lot of fit issues are going to come from lack of flexibility, core strength and overall conditioning.
And rb I took the hint about ride more, post less...
08-07-12 | 11:48 AM
#42
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From: Dundas, Ontario
Bikes: Race bike, training bike, go fast bike and a trainer slave.
Hehehehe
FWIW I am 5'11", ride a 54cm BMW with a 55.5cm tt and 130 mm stem slammed to the headset (gives me a significant drop), seat about 3/4 the way back on the rails and I am good for +5 hour training rides. A lot of fit issues are going to come from lack of flexibility, core strength and overall conditioning.
And rb I took the hint about ride more, post less...
FWIW I am 5'11", ride a 54cm BMW with a 55.5cm tt and 130 mm stem slammed to the headset (gives me a significant drop), seat about 3/4 the way back on the rails and I am good for +5 hour training rides. A lot of fit issues are going to come from lack of flexibility, core strength and overall conditioning.
And rb I took the hint about ride more, post less...
08-07-12 | 11:58 AM
#44
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From: St. Paul, MN
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.
I'm 5'6" and all my bikes have around a 53.5 effective top tube.
Oh, and your saddle looks too high. Which means you're probably rocking your pelvis to compensate, which will add to the problems you have described.
Oh, and your saddle looks too high. Which means you're probably rocking your pelvis to compensate, which will add to the problems you have described.
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Good night...and good luck
08-07-12 | 12:03 PM
#45
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From: St. Paul, MN
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.
Beyond that, stem size varies proportionally with frame size, generally speaking. I.e. there's an "acceptable" range for a given size of rider.
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Good night...and good luck
08-07-12 | 12:05 PM
#46
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From: Someplace trying to figure it out
Bikes: Cannondale EVO, CAAD9, Giant cross bike.
K
How is this different than anything else out here? Its a laugh riot.
I love it, we are now doing internet bike fits with no information other than a poster who says he is comfortable for 100km rides and HALF a photo. We really are getting impressive now. Ask an innocent question about knees touching a clearly overweight belly (only slightly no offence) and leave needing a new stem for that perfect 'Lance' fit
Splendid
so longer stem, lower seat and more setback - yes absolutely that will cure the knees hitting the belly, no doubt at all, honest gov. Who knows you may even turn that painless 100km into something much less enjoyable too Result!
Anyway enough sillyness...
Nassa are those the shoes you normally ride in? Only that could effect the seat height appearance, also were you riding with any effort in those photos as that will effect it too - along with the rest of your stance on the bike...
Splendid
so longer stem, lower seat and more setback - yes absolutely that will cure the knees hitting the belly, no doubt at all, honest gov. Who knows you may even turn that painless 100km into something much less enjoyable too
Result!Anyway enough sillyness...
Nassa are those the shoes you normally ride in? Only that could effect the seat height appearance, also were you riding with any effort in those photos as that will effect it too - along with the rest of your stance on the bike...
08-07-12 | 12:07 PM
#47
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From: Someplace trying to figure it out
Bikes: Cannondale EVO, CAAD9, Giant cross bike.
So let me get this straight - everyone should fit on a bike with a 120-130mm stem. I suppose it needs to be slammed, too. If you can't get a good fit with that size stem, and no spacers, you need a custom frame, or just forget about getting a road bike altogether. All the various sized stems sold by multiple manufacturers are produced for the sole purpose of fitting people to bikes that are not sized correctly for them in the first place. Do I have that correct? By the way, what angle should that stem be?
08-07-12 | 01:06 PM
#49
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You are welcome!
Last edited by UCIMBZ; 08-07-12 at 01:13 PM.
08-07-12 | 02:48 PM
#50
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From: Haunchyville
So if you already have a frame this whole discussion becomes moot. You just have to get the stem that fits the frame properly for your proportions. No one can tell but your fitter and your body. Now if you were to start from a scratch and plan things wisely, I’d say get a frame that when everything is said and done, it’ll fit you with a 120mm stem or longer preferably in red so your sensitive feelings don’t get hurt.
You are welcome!
You are welcome!
Which saddle should I get?