Comfort.....

cyberknight

NGale wrote:

I can never seem to get a bike that is totally right for me fit wise. I have horribly long legs compared to my body length so I need the seat fairly high but then the reach is all wrong causing a strain on my back.

My current trek is about as good as it gets although I could do with the reach being just a little shorter so I am a bit more up right.:

My problem too , i always end up with a shorter flipped stem,

I am 5 foot 7 with a 31 " inside leg

Blue Meanie

Friend of mine is an accomplished Time-Trialer, always rides with same measurements between seat and handlebar, seat and BB, same Q angle. This way, every mile is training his body to be used to the position. A day a Glentress on a MTB would leave him all wobbly, hurting in funny places. Strength in a specific position or all round?

Mrs Meanie and I will be cycling Ed-St Andrews come June on our hack bikes (hers - 18yr old Merlin, mine 40yr old BSA), it's about 95 miles all in once we've cycled to the start line, and home after the bus (you try convincing her that the extra 5 miles to break the ton is worth it!). Why use the hack bikes and shun our dura ace equipped road bikes? Mainly cos we can, and it's not a race, and cos it's a fun day.

I'd recommend having your hack bike (having all your bikes) still set up correctly even if you never intend going futher than 10 miles, I'd also recommend regulary riding in different positions/styles for all round strength unless your training for a specific event.

Sailorchick

I always thought my commuter (Carerra Subway) was set up comfortably for me till cycling round the Isle of Wight (on the wettest 2 days in august last year!). Ended up with hip pain by about third of the way round. Lowering saddle seemed to help. Previous longest journey on that bike was about 12 miles and had been fine.

My specialised is set up for me and it is noticeable different feel to the carrera. Much more comfortable on the longer rides.

soundninjauk

Pretty sure I need to put the seat up on my commuter, but it's held in by two allen bolts so I can never be bothered. Apart from that it's comfy as, whether riding 6 miles to work (puny I know) or 30 miles around London looking for filming spots.

My MTB is pretty damn comfy, although I noticed when I was riding it to work in the snow that I've actually grown to prefer the more streamlined, less padded saddle on my commuter.