Lumbar Spine & Robaix Size

[Glm]

Just bought a Specialized Robaix Elite after a break of some
17 years from semi-serious cycling. During that time I
managed to sustain 3 herniated discs in my lumbar spine;
hence the interest in a 'comfortable' bike.

I'm 5'11" and my inseam is about 33.5". Based on my
understaning of folklore I was thinking that I needed a 56cm
machine. The dealer - a reputable store in New York - was,
however, fairly insistent that I purchase a 54cm model;
which I duly did. They spent some time adjusting it for me,
making sure the knee angles were correct, etc.

After such an absence from riding it's hard for me to tell
how 'right' this bike feels. So, my question is, by having a
shorter bike (centre-to-top of 450mm vs. 470mm for the 56cm;
top tube length of 548mm vs 565mm) am I likely to be putting
undue strain on my spine? Would I be better off with a
larger one?

The dealer seemed to think that the shorter/smaller one
would better for my lumbar region, but I am not sure - in
terms of disc pressure it seems like swings and roundabouts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you ever so much.

Glm

[Bfd]

"Glm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:j9MHc.51868$MT5.13522@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> Just bought a Specialized Robaix Elite after a break of
> some 17 years from semi-serious cycling. During that time
> I managed to sustain 3 herniated discs in my lumbar spine;
> hence the interest in a 'comfortable' bike.
>
> I'm 5'11" and my inseam is about 33.5". Based on my
> understaning of folklore I was thinking that I needed a
> 56cm machine. The dealer - a reputable store in New York -
> was, however, fairly insistent that I
purchase
> a 54cm model; which I duly did. They spent some time
> adjusting it for me, making sure the knee angles were
> correct, etc.
>
> After such an absence from riding it's hard for me to tell
> how 'right'
this
> bike feels. So, my question is, by having a shorter bike
> (centre-to-top
of
> 450mm vs. 470mm for the 56cm; top tube length of 548mm vs
> 565mm) am I
likely
> to be putting undue strain on my spine? Would I be better
> off with a
larger
> one?
>
> The dealer seemed to think that the shorter/smaller one
> would better for
my
> lumbar region, but I am not sure - in terms of disc
> pressure it seems like swings and roundabouts.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you ever so much.
>
>
You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
fitting - e.g., one that will take into consideration your
back problems. Getting the "smallest bike possible" may not
be the best for YOUR particular need. Here are a few
articles that you ought to read:

http://www.rivbike.com/html/bikes_framesize.html

http://www.rivbike.com/html/rr_comfposition.html

http://www.rivbike.com/html/rr_raisestem.html

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html

[Glm]

"bfd" <bfd853@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vOXHc.11268$R36.6589@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
> fitting - e.g., one that will take into consideration your
> back problems. Getting the
"smallest
> bike possible" may not be the best for YOUR particular
> need. Here are a
few
> articles that you ought to read:
>
> http://www.rivbike.com/html/bikes_framesize.html
>
> http://www.rivbike.com/html/rr_comfposition.html
>
> http://www.rivbike.com/html/rr_raisestem.html
>
> http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
>
> http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html
>
>

bfd

Thank you for the response; and for the links.

I did have the fitting; and I believe that it was reasonably
comprehensive (especially considering that I have not ridden
for so long and was, therefore, not in a position to give
specific instructions). My concern is really economics -
from a sales chap's perspective it may be easier to fit me
to for 54-cm in-stock nike than persuade me to place a back
order for a 56-cm which isn't in the store-room. Possibly I
am being over-cynical.

I just took the bike out on a 30-mile, leisurely (around
15mph) ride. Some ache in my lumbar region and pain in the
palms. Other than that, not too bad - the legs and knees
seem fine (well, until tomorrow).

What I am trying to determine is whether having more or
less top-bar length would reduce the strain in my lower
spine. I can understand that a longer bar results in more
sock absorption, but the Robaix seems pretty good in this
regard anyway.

At the end of the day, I can adjust the machine ad nauseam;
what I cannot do is magically increase the length of the top-
bar by 17mm!

I recognise that there is no hard and fast rule (or none
that applies in all cases at any rate); if anyone is willing
to share experiences, therefore, I'd be most grateful.

Thank you.

Glm

[S O R N I]

Glm wrote:
> "bfd" <bfd853@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:vOXHc.1126-
> 8$R36.6589@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
>> fitting -
>> e.g., one that will take into consideration your back
>> problems. Getting the "smallest bike possible" may
>> not be the best for YOUR particular need. Here are a
>> few articles that you ought to read:

snip

> Thank you for the response; and for the links.
>
> I did have the fitting; and I believe that it was
> reasonably comprehensive (especially considering that I
> have not ridden for so long and was, therefore, not in a
> position to give specific instructions). My concern is
> really economics - from a sales chap's perspective it may
> be easier to fit me to for 54-cm in-stock nike than
> persuade me to place a back order for a 56-cm which isn't
> in the store-room. Possibly I am being over-cynical.

Ding-ding-ding! If you included this in your OP, I missed
it. Unless the bike has unusual geometry (a la Lemond?), a
54 /seems/ rather small for someone 5-11, IMO (hardly
expert, however). I'm 5-10 at most, and ride a 55 Klein
(compact). Did you consider shopping around before buying?

Anyway, you've got the bike now, so tweak things so it's
comfortable and ride the hell out of it.

Bill "who knows, might be perfect for you" S.