XzEn54321

Ok, this being my first road bike the new position was weird at first but now I just love it. That being said I think I have the fit round where is needs to be, but a few problems remain...

1. I am sliding up on the saddle to the point where my sit bones overlap off the sides, and if i slide back my arms are too stretched out. I have an adjustable stem and have increased its angle to about 74˚ and removed several spacers to compensate and it is still a issue. Also I have moved the saddle to its foremost position.
2. My spin feels weird, I cant pinpoint why yet, it just feels unnatural. Probably a result of the extreme fore position of the saddle.
3. What is the lowest section of the drops commonly used for?

Please comment with any knowledge or thoughts, Thank you.
~X-Zen~

LordOpie

how old is your bike? Can you exchange it? Sounds like the top-tube might be too long.

JBar

Oh, boy! I get to be the first one to say "You need to go to your local bike shop and get a proper fit." Hopefully, you'll find that your frame size is ok, but just need some tweeking to fit properly. It will make the differerence as to whether you continue ride the bike. A bad fit just takes the fun out of it.

pablo27

there's a lot of information available on fitting a bike on the web.

you should educate yourself on the general points and then visit your LBS to see if this bike is too big.

XzEn54321

Yea, I have allredy fit it to guides on the internet. Should I reduce the reach some more?
FYI: I am 5'7" and the bike is a 56cm.

LordOpie

If you don't mind me asking, where and when did ya get the bike?

XzEn54321

1 1/2 week ago at performance (mistake?)

LordOpie

Mistake? NO! Thank goodness. (Granted, a good shop would've sold you the right bike to begin with, but at least Performance stands behind their guarantee)

Take the bike back


Those idiots put me on a bike too big and I took it back a week later.

I'm 5'10" and ride a 54cm, FWIW.


I'm no pro and hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in on this... I think a 56cm bike is too big for ANYONE 5'7". If that's true, not only should Performance exchange bikes with a smile. They should compensate you for selling a bike that's obviously not for you. Be polite, but complain to the manager. Assuming they actually helped you pick out a bike.

pablo27

56 cm sounds like a large frame for you at 5' 7"

you should do the whole accurate inseam measurement thing plus stack height of your shoes/pedal/clip and compare to a fit chart for that frame maker

jslopez

Damn, I'd replace the bike or get my money back.

I'm 5'7 and ride a 48-52 depending on the bike brand. Anything beyond that is beyond me...

XzEn54321

Thanks , yea I will exchange or get a refund and grab something that fits. This time I'll have done the research BEFORE getting it <hits self on head>

Patriot

This is one where it definitely seems you have too large a frame. I got my wife a 650c frame, that is about 49cm with a 51.5cm top tube, and she is 5'3". I would rather end up with a bike that is 1 or 2 cm small, than a frame that is too big.

My guess is you should be on a 52cm frame, 54cm max.

Another way to see if your saddle is set up right, is to sit on the saddle, and take a string with a bolt or something heavy tied to one end. With your foot clipped in, and straight out front with the crank level to the groud, hang the string off your knee with the bolt dangling.

The string off your kneecap should be pointing straight down to the pedal spindle. If it is forward of the spindle, then your saddle may be too far forward, and vice versa. This is not an absolute rule however, but is a good place to start when adjusting your saddle for your bike.

But, first, go back and tell them you think your bike seems a bit too big.

LordOpie

nah, you paid for not only a product, but a service. If you went to a pharmacist and asked what to take for a cold and he gave your wart cream, you'd be annoyed. If an LBS employee doesn't know what they're doing, the manager should be fired.

XzEn54321

KOTP works but the saddle is ALL the way foward and the reatch is still to far.

Patriot

Then your frame is obviously waaaayyyyy to big. Your KOTP should be with a standard seatpost, and your saddle rails in mid-position.

jslopez

Don't be too hard with yourself. Shopping for a new bike for me was also shopping for a new bike shop (at least it was for me).

As a beginner, you never really know if something "fits" and while there are some generalizations (say I'm 5'7 and I ride a 51 bike) there's a lot of differences in body structure, general health, and riding preference that should be considered.

Just from how the LBS sold you the bike though I'd be a bit wary from getting anything from them as service looks supect.

XzEn54321

Thanks, I'm working on that being hard on myself thing.