Struggling With Set-up / Fit - Is My Bike Too Big?
Comments
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Secteur wrote:Despite everything, I now feel very comfortable on the bike, other than my sore elbows if I lock out my arms too much and a bit of a niggling knee which I think is new cleat related.
I dont get back ache and the bike feels generally comfortable and "right" in the broadest terms.
I feel there are a few little niggles, but in my non-expert and non-expereinced mind the overall size feels ok.
what were you worried about then?!ARTHUR
"Hello oh great one"
LARRY
"Are you talking to me or my ass?"0 -
Dunno - overall it feels right, but I just feel like it's far from perfect, but I cant just put my finger on what it is - hence the need for a fit, I suppose...0
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ignorance is bliss, again, what were you worried about if you already know the answers to your questions?0
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Looks fine to me [the bike size].
Push the saddle back a little and make the effort to bend. You'll probably feel really stretched at first, but stick with it...VO2 Max - 79 ml/kg/min
W/kg - 4.90 -
Have you ridden MTBs at all? You seem to be making the same posture mistake I made when I switched from MTBs to road bikes a few weeks ago, trying to sit up straight like on the mtb. Push the saddle a bit farther back and try to lean down a bit more, should also help a bit with power transfer.0
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To the OP: It looks to me like that frame is the smallest size that would work for you.
You do look very upright though on the hoods, it seems that you have slid the seat right forward and are stretching your arms out to get your torso more upright. By comparison, the drops pic looks closer to a normal hoods position - if your hands were higher you'd have the normal elbow bend I'd expect to see.--
"Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."0 -
I haven't ridden MTBs for many years, but I often default to riding on the flats, exactly like a MTB.
I think I need to work on my flexibility, run the saddle back a bit and learn to stretch out more.
Will probably make me more aero, if nothing else!!0 -
More aero and more comfortable is the goal
I reckong a bit more practice and you should be sorted, especially with stretching yourself out a bit more.0 -
From those photos your body postion looks very compact and upright and even if you 'think' you may be able to get the power down as it is, im postive after a fit you'd feel a big difference. I also dont think you have a problem with reach. If anything you need a longer stem so you can flatten yourself out a bit and get some bend in your elbows.
Depends on what you want out of the bike though doesn't it. If its just commuting to work or leisurely rides at the weekends and the current set up is comfortable then don't mess with it.0 -
Not much more to say, except that I agree with a couple of other posters - you shouldn't be able to stay seated and get a foot on the floor when at rest. It's not a motorbike. You need a cm-in of clearance on the crossbar (should have plenty with your bike's sloping bar); stay clipped in on one side (motorcyclists will tell you the safest is to stay clipped into the right, and unclip your left, as it keeps your stray leg out of traffic), unclip the other and straddle the bar until it's time to go again.
I'm 5'9, riding a 54 - the 56's I tried were a little stretched. I'm still not quite set up on my new bike; I'm leaning too heavily on my hands, and might need to raise the stem a little, if I don't adjust. As others say, before I do that, I'd get a pro set up done to make sure I get it right.0 -
Secteur, as some others said, the frame looks too short in the top tube to me. Because its a small frame you have quite a large seat to handlebar drop. A larger frame would give a taller head tube and longer top tube and your position could be better, though as you say you are stretching to the bars, again as others have suggested I think you are aiming for the wrong position. I agree with everyone about the bike fit, Paul Hewitt in Leyland has a great reputation for bike fitting (hate to suggest it, but maybe a px might be worthwhile).
Note that some bars can have significantly longer reach than others (though yours don't look particularly long).0 -
I can't see anything wrong with the reach position. If anything you look a little cramped. Have you tried raising the headset - not sure if that is the right term - raising the bars a couple of cm?
I would say that your seat appears quite low though.
From what I have read, and learnt, your leg is meant to be very nearly straight on the "downstroke".
The fact that you aren't getting any pain in lower back etc says that you are nearly there. If you have £80 - £100 to spare for a bike fit - do it. Otherwise experiment a bit with what you have and I am sure you will get there.
HTH0 -
Well I put the saddle 2cm back, raised it very slightly so my leg is just right on the down-stroke and did a 27 mile run tonight.
I was conscious to keep lower & more flexed / relaxed and it went really well.
My hands got sore as I felt like I was putting a lot of weight through them on the drops.
Overall, with a lot of relaxation and keep reminding myself to keep down, it felt much better.
I will get a proper fit done - I promise!0 -
Secteur wrote:Well I put the saddle 2cm back, raised it very slightly so my leg is just right on the down-stroke and did a 27 mile run tonight.
I was conscious to keep lower & more flexed / relaxed and it went really well.
My hands got sore as I felt like I was putting a lot of weight through them on the drops.
Overall, with a lot of relaxation and keep reminding myself to keep down, it felt much better.
I will get a proper fit done - I promise!
I take it you were wearing gloves? If you can afford £80 - 100 for a fit then do it.
However it sounds like you are almost there if the only pain you felt was "sore hands".
The majority of the time when I ride I am in the hoods.
Anyway, best of luck0
