Another Newb Mistake

apprent1ce

Mid life crisis and wanting a hobby, I decided that cycling appealed.

Never having owned a road bike, I did some research online over a few months and produced a shortlist of models. I eventually bought a second hand supersix ultegra. I was aware that sizing is an important issue and that cannondales can come up large but I thought at 5ft 10ins the 56cm would be okay as this seemed to fall reasonably within the size guideline boundaries. I know the advice is to get fitted but as a newbie I really didn't appreciate how fine the tolerances can be for correct sizing of body shape and I was also uneasy about visiting the LBS to try bikes knowing that I was not going to purchase from them.

Test riding the bike seemed fine. I loved it and wanted to ride at every opportunity. I had a crude fit from one LBS who sorted out a wheel for me, however, after a couple of 20 mile rides I started to experience perineum pain and also some numbness in my left hand. At this point I took the bike to a specialist LBS for a proper fit and was told the frame is too large. We played around about with shorter bar stem and extended saddle fully forwards etc, but this hasn't improved things. I have since done a 60 mile sponsored event and a few more 20s (about 300 miles in total) but am now resigned to the fact I need to change things as the geometry will not fit. I invested what I had into this bike so I either need to sell it and start again or possibly look for a smaller frame set and sell the 56cm frame?

I would be grateful for any advice on the best option?

Cheers

MisterMuncher

It would depend how mechanically competent you are, or how readily you can get help from people who are. There's nothing hugely difficult in stripping and rebuilding a bike if you can find a suitable frame, and SuperSix frames are always in demand so you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it. By your height, you're probably after a 54cm frame. While these are pretty abundant, they do tend to go for slightly higher prices on eBay simply because it's a size much in demand, being a good fit for the average height man.

Perhaps you need to find the guy who's made your mistake in reverse?

defride

I'd have thought if you bought the bike s/h you're unlikely to lose a great deal should you ultimately decide to sell it on.

If you're just starting out I'd guess it's going to take some time on the bike to build the muscles required to keep you comfortable on any well set up road bike no matter how fit from other activities.

MisterMuncher

Only two things are infinite, and I'm not sure about the Universe.

apprent1ce

Many thanks for the responses.

Finding the guy with the reverse problem sounds the ideal solution!

With regard to rebuilding, I'm not sure I'm competent enough, or have the tools, to do this at this stage, what roughly would a bike shop charge for doing this?

Cheers

slowbike

If you don't think you can do it all - then how about getting the LBS to do the difficult bits or the bits you don't have tools for ...

bobones

I don't think a 56 is way off for 5'10 especially if you have normal proportions or a longish torso. Try to get a saddle that is more suited to you to fix the perineum pain, regularly change your hand positions while riding, but keep riding and your body will adjust and the pains should eventually vanish.

chris_bass

Where are you based?

I have built a bike for my dad and one for myself, would be happy to sort yours for you, just for the love of it really

littledove44

I am a gnats whisker shorter than you and also have 56 bikes. As a newb this year I had similar issues and I have no unusual anatomical features (so I am told). I changed saddles, fiddled around with saddle position, contemplated changing stems etc.

Eventually, I went for a proper bike fitting. The guys told me the 56 was fine but they adjusted several things into positions I had never considered. All I can say is that getting it fitted properly helped me a lot.

Mileage has made a big difference. I have now done about 1200 miles since June and the bike feels very comfortable. Did my first four hour ride last weekend and no problems.

Good bar tape and padded gloves sorted my hand numbing issues. Proper saddle position and good cycle shorts sorted the crotch pain.

I am not saying you are wrong, but perhaps a little more mileage and fitness and you may have a different view.

Even if you do well your current bike you should still have a proper fitting for the new one. Sizing varies by manufacturer and one mans 56 is not necessarily the same as another's.

unixnerd

At 5'10" I'd have thought a 56 Cannondale would be spot on for you. Set the saddle height to be ideal for yourself and then maybe try a 20mm shorter stem (likely a 90mm) to see if that fixes it.

apprent1ce

Many thanks for the replies.

One of the changes the LBS made was to change the bar stem for a 90mm. From what I have read, the general advice seems to be not to go much shorter than this for bar response reasons?

The LBS also mentioned the possibility of an offset seatpost, but would this then affect leg/knee position over pedal (or is that a whole new debate?)

Most pain I'm not concerned about and appreciate that body muscle strength will improve over time. However, the perineum issue is a bit more concerning!

With regard to getting a proper bit fit done, can anyone recommend a good place in East Anglia?

Cheers

unixnerd

I have a 70mm on one of my bikes and it's OK. Bought a used Cannondale CAAD5 size 54 then realised I could have done with a 52, such a nice frame I just put a smaller stem on.

kajjal

It is hard work making a bike that is too big for you fit. I would sell the bike and buy another that does fit you. With the experience you now have you will know exactly what to look for. Also you will feel less frustrated and be able to concentrate on riding a bike that does fit you.

The size boundaries are only an average and few people are average sized. My bike is 62cm Trek and I am over 6ft6 which puts me outside the size boundary. The trick with road bikes is an accurate setup which generally most people can do themselves unless they have a very specific need through injury etc.

northpole

I wonder if the pain you have experienced is solely down to frame size. If it were possible to get a test ride on a 54 frame with same saddle fitted, you may find the same discomfort issues. I'd suggest it's imperative to be 100% sure about this before chucking good money after bad. Saddles are the bane of my life, having bought so many of the things (maybe it's me who needs a new frame!!). Something like the Spesh Toupe or Romin or SMP Forma are worth trying out with a decent pair of bib shorts to see if pain in the nether regions can be reduced/ eliminated.

I recently asked a shop in central London about swapping over everything to a new frame and was quoted £150. May well be cheaper in the regions.

Peter

How Far is too Far

I am 5'11" and ride a 56cm SuperSix, for upto 7 hours none stop. I doubt the frame size is your problem. Have a look on Cannondales website at the geometry to see what the difference is between a 54 and a 56. I Ride a 54CM SuperX Cross bike and this does not feel much if any difference to the 56CM road bike.

apprent1ce

Really appreciate all the feedback.

I've done another couple of thirties and regular movement has to a degree sorted out hand numbness but the soft tissue problem remains. That aside, the ride is great and remain keen to get out.

Looking at the advice, I think the way forward is to get a proper fitting and take it from there. If the 56cm looks viable, try alternative saddles and continue to put the miles in.

Does anyone know of a good place to get a fitting done in East Anglia, Cambridge area?

Cheers

skyeflyguy

bobones wrote:

I don't think a 56 is way off for 5'10 especially if you have normal proportions or a longish torso. Try to get a saddle that is more suited to you to fix the perineum pain, regularly change your hand positions while riding, but keep riding and your body will adjust and the pains should eventually vanish.

Me too! Im 5 8 and got a supersix 54. I was torn by the fact that Id got a frame too big, but have the short leg and long torso/arms. Trying to put some endurance miles in and finding aches and pains that I didn't have 20 years ago, but riding through it hoping that its just getting my body used to "that" kind of cycling again. If anything feel I could be a wee bit more stretched out. Someone on a previous quoted that getting a good position was a "DARK ART" I know exactly what he means.

Anonymous

I am 6'1" with a 32" inside leg and find a 56cm Cannondale very big.

Some people seem to think that it's not too big for the OP but I think it would be hard to say that a 54cm would be too small.

People often seem happier to buy a bigger bike and change bits to make it fit when they finally accept it is too big, rather than just buying the smaller one plus the bits to make it fit in the first place.

Lanterne_Rogue

Have you tried varying the angle of the saddle slightly as well as the forward/back aspect? I had the same pains for ages until I tried this, and it only took a small change to remove it. In my case, it didn't help that the seatpost itself made adjusting the angle rather tedious, as it tended to slip back into a different angle as the clamp tightened. Don't get too hung up over where your knee is in relation to the cranks - from what I've read enough people dissent from this advice to suggest that it's not automatically the best way to set up a bike, even if it provides a good starting point (which it may not - I suspect it's just an easier starting point to measure!).