"Old Guy" frames-recs & experience

OK, I'm 49, looking to build up a new bike and need good recs for framesets with more 'slack' geometry. My old frame was a Tarmac Comp which was a bit aggressive for these old bones. Now, after a three disc neck fusion, that frame definitely won't do. I've been looking at the Specialized Roubaix and the Cannondale Synapse. I'd love to get some experienced info on them, or on other frames that have served well. Of course, this all assumes my surgeon will even let me get back on a bike at all. I am always hopeful and if anyone has stories about getting back on the bike after such surgery, I'd love to hear them.

Many thanks, John

Hi,

My wife just bought me a Fuji Professional 3.0 which is classified by Fuji as a Carbon Comfort and I will turn 47 in a couple months and I am very comfy on it, I feel more stretched out on it.

Just thought I’d let you know…. The Specialized Roubaix you are looking at actually has a little longer wheel base than the Fuji…

Hey, Fujiman

Thanks for the response. I've looked at the Fuji rides a couple of times at our local Performance shop. They look very nice and I'll check'em out again.

Regards,

John

fwiw, I've been riding a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 for about a year-and-a-half now, and while I *love* the bike, I do not think it is especially "relaxed" or necessarily any more comfortable than most other road bikes out there. Yes, it has a slightly taller headtube than some more race-oriented geometries, so I suppose you can get your bars a bit higher than, say, a CAAD8. But I would wager that Cannondale's characterizing the Synapse as a "comfort" bike has more to do with the ride quality than with the position the rider winds up in.

In short A) I can get myself in as aggressive a position as necessary to compete with the fastest roadies I ever encounter in non-professional competition; and B) my neck & shoulders *still* hurt after riding the Synapse for several hours! Synapse != old guy bike

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Originally Posted by Don Quijote
You have an attitude that rubs me very bad, I do not like you, and I also wish you to banish from my thread.

I wish you would not have titled this thread "Old Guy" frames. I just turned 49 and all of my riding buddies are asking when I'm going to trade in my trusty Raleigh for a slack geometry bike. I really don't think I'm that old. Although my body is 49, it is still in very good condition and I can keep up with, and beat most of the young "whipper snappers" that I ride with. I have yet to feel any need for a less aggressive bike and hope I never do feel it .

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One life, one chance. Don't waste it!

Try out a few standard geometry frames and one that is a size bigger then your Specialized. What you want to do is get the spine angle less like a dog over a football , and a larger frame will do that for you by giving less drop from the saddle to the bars. Start with saddle = bar height and see how that feels.
Eddy Merckx has some nice "relaxed geometry frames".

Have you considered a specialist builder and having a bespoke frame built to your specifications? Steel or better still titanium, you could speak to the fabricator and have the size and style built into your bike to get precisely what you want.

Have you looked at the 2008 Giant OCRs. They supposed to be rider "friendly".

I'm 49 next month and had an L4/5 fusion 2 years ago. At the time I'd been playing around on a mountain bike but was keen to try a roadie. Went to the LBS and told them I wanted something light (easy to lift, not weight weenie OCP) and comfortable. They recommended a flat bar road bike but I was pretty keen on drops so ended up with a 2005 Giant OCR1 (105 groupset) and they flipped the stem so I was a bit more upright.

Early on it was a bit sore on the back but I think it was just the body getting used to both the new ride and the new back hardware. Over time it's gotten to the extent where it doesn't bother me much at all - other than a mild stiffness after a couple of hours. I just sit up and stretch out whilst riding - and I've seen plenty of people younger than me doing that The OCR's are considered 'relaxed' I believe so I don't know how I would have gone with one of their other frames (I don't know enough about geometry differences to comment).

My surgeon was happy for me to be riding again after a few months. He very much pushed me to continue swimming which I'd been doing for a year (I'd had a laminectomy 12 months before the fusion). I fear a bad fall but I feel strong and my back is solid so I 'just do it' and be as careful as possible. FWIW, I'm doing my first triathlon next weekend - figured I was already swimming and cycling so thought 'how hard can it be?'. The run training has been way harder than any riding.

Having said all that, a neck fusion may be a different kettle of fish, but hopefully once it's fused your doc will give you the OK.

//k

I totally get where you're coming from regarding title and, apart from my surgery, I'm loath to bear the 'Old Guy' moniker. If you can still take the whippersnappers, that's great! I think my general fitness is good and I was looking forward to a good late season before my discs put in their two cents. And as I said, I'm still hopeful.

Thanks for the reply.

I'll be 66 in October and ride an Orbea Onix in 54. Feels great. I'm 5'8" (have shrunk in height over the last 20 years).

If bending is a problem and a more upright posture is your goal, I'll agree with the post that said to get a decent bike and up the size. Stem angle also could be changed to adjust a bike to your needs.

I searched for a 73 degree head angle frame for some time, Scott & Look make frames like this. Sometimes in the larger frame sizes the head angle steepens so watch for that. I find the 74 degree bikes (regardless of fork rake) to be too quick in the turns and descents... I can ride them fine but its not a relaxing ride.

happy hunting~!


curby

Hey, thanks for the response. Congratulations on getting back on your bike! The Giant OCR should have been on my list, so I'll take a look at the geometry.

The real encouraging news is that your back riding.

My wife let me buy a Felt FC5 for my 55th birthday--very low headtube. But seriously, the Giant OCR range is very nice.

A custom frame would definitely be the best solution for getting fit and position exactly right. I may have to start saving my pennies and look at that option.