Back pain and a new bike

sdawson0
sdawson0 Posts: 8
edited August 2019 in Road buying advice
Just bought a Giant TCR advanced 2.

Took it out for a spin over the weekend, but I really struggled with lower back pain and pain in my forearms/hands too.

Since then I've flipped the stem. The all spacers were already all under the stem.

Beyond this is there anything else I can do? Could I add more spacers?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Comments

  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    sdawson0 wrote:
    Just bought a Giant TCR advanced 2.

    Took it out for a spin over the weekend, but I really struggled with lower back pain and pain in my forearms/hands too.

    Since then I've flipped the stem. The all spacers were already all under the stem.

    Beyond this is there anything else I can do? Could I add more spacers?

    Any advice greatly appreciated!

    Bit more info ? - crucially did you have a bike that you were comfortable on ? - if so try to replicate that position on the TCR.

    if you are totally new to cycling - it might be just getting used to the position and not do to much too soon.

    Where abouts are you based ? - are there any good bike fitters nearby ?
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    I had a defy 3 for 6 years (ml) and that was ok. I do the odd triathlon and wanted to get something a little more racy, but it seems the tcr is a bit too much for me.

    I'm in Taipei. The shop I got the bike from was supposed to do fitting, but that turned out to be just measuring my in seam and arm length. I'm loathe to return to the shop to ask for help - first run out on the bike and the handle bars suddenly dropped on me when I hit a bump. They hadn't tighten the bolts on the stem properly... :x
  • hadoken
    hadoken Posts: 29
    Do you feel like you're too stretched out? I had lower back pain and pain in my shoulders for a couple of years! I had a bike fit and was advised to buy a shorter stem, pain gone.
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    If you don't want to take it back to the shop and there isn't bike fitting service local - you need to educate yourself on bike fitting - a quick google should throw up some good results.

    I went for a bike last week - the fitter demonstrated the importance of position of the brake levers on the bars - said said a lot of fitters just rotate the bars - but this then makes it harder to get down on the drops.
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    HaDoKen wrote:
    Do you feel like you're too stretched out? I had lower back pain and pain in my shoulders for a couple of years! I had a bike fit and was advised to buy a shorter stem, pain gone.

    I did when the stem was pointing down. Reversing doesn't feel to bad for that. I've got an old 100mm stem that I can try on it instead of the 110mm the bikes come.with. Might even have a look for an 80mm and see if that helps
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    kingrollo wrote:
    If you don't want to take it back to the shop and there isn't bike fitting service local - you need to educate yourself on bike fitting - a quick google should throw up some good results.

    I went for a bike last week - the fitter demonstrated the importance of position of the brake levers on the bars - said said a lot of fitters just rotate the bars - but this then makes it harder to get down on the drops.

    There's one place I know that does fitting. Its 120 quid which seems a lot! My worry is that perhaps I fit the bike but my back is knackered and no amount of tweaking will solve that.

    Ill try a smaller stem first and see how that helps
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    sdawson0 wrote:
    kingrollo wrote:
    If you don't want to take it back to the shop and there isn't bike fitting service local - you need to educate yourself on bike fitting - a quick google should throw up some good results.

    I went for a bike last week - the fitter demonstrated the importance of position of the brake levers on the bars - said said a lot of fitters just rotate the bars - but this then makes it harder to get down on the drops.

    There's one place I know that does fitting. Its 120 quid which seems a lot! My worry is that perhaps I fit the bike but my back is knackered and no amount of tweaking will solve that.

    Ill try a smaller stem first and see how that helps

    No you can't cure it. I have bulging discs and oa in my back. But my fitter is aware of this and can usually sort me out.I pay £110. It keeps me cycling
  • vortice
    vortice Posts: 244
    Recheck your seat height to make sure it isn’t too high. Also check crank arm lengths are the same as previous bike. If they are longer, reduce seat height.
  • frisbee
    frisbee Posts: 691
    Ride it a bit, build up the distance gradually. There is a good chance you'll get used to the new position.
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    frisbee wrote:
    Ride it a bit, build up the distance gradually. There is a good chance you'll get used to the new position.
    I'm hoping that's true. Did a 90km last.weekend and it felt a lot better. I concentrated a lot on keeping my elbows bent which seems to have helped a lot.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Fatter tyres and lower pressure will make for a comfier ride but my TCR had a lovely ride anyway. Floated over bumps.

    I'd also find a good Pilates instructor and get your body sorted.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    How tall are you and what is the top tube length.?
    this sounds like the same problem I had with a lappiere Xelius .
    regrds
    ILG
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    ilovegrace wrote:
    How tall are you and what is the top tube length.?
    this sounds like the same problem I had with a lappiere Xelius .
    regrds
    I'm 185cm. Top tube is 57cm.
  • sdawson0
    sdawson0 Posts: 8
    ilovegrace wrote:
    How tall are you and what is the top tube length.?
    this sounds like the same problem I had with a lappiere Xelius .
    regrds
    I'm 185cm. Top tube is 57cm.

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