Bike changes that won't break me!

brandyleigh35 said:

I posted this on the womens board but apparently nobody wants to help me.
Dh and I have been biking for about 8 weeks now religiously. He was trying to be a sweetie and bought me a specialized expedition. He got the upright handle bars (because he likes them and thought they would be more comfortable for me) with disc brakes. This bike has a huge seat on it that has like chamois or something on it so I'm always sticking to the seat! The tires are hybrids I guess, road or mountain and I'm really hating this bike!

What do I need to do to make this bike more comfortable. We do a lot of hill climbing and hilly trails. I find myself constantly leaning over all the time wanting for lower handlebars, and for a smoother more comfortable seat. Everytime I go out in my bike shorts this seat is just miserable. I cannot find a spot that is comfortable It is just too wide/big. What would y"all suggest to modify this bike to make it more user friendly for me? I like biking a lot and can tell I'm getting much stronger. I will eventually probably get a road bike, but for now I just want to be more comfortable and not hurt my DH feelings. Oh and not spend a mint either. Any Suggestions?

Brandy

Plenty of saddles around,but since they are personal,you have to try them yourself.Maybe LBS can help there. Bars are usually easy enough to change or lower,but not knowing your exact setup,it would just be a lame guess.Again,the LBS is the default.None of this has to cost alot even at a bike shop.The two changes can make it like having a whole new bike.

Try a local bike shop or the place where you got the bike. Sounds like a saddle change and lower stem would make the bike more comfortable until you get a road bike. There are many different saddles out there and everyone has a different feel. Try a couple out - if the shop is willing to let you. A saddle and stem should cost you less than $50-60 for generic parts.

brandyleigh35 said:

I posted this on the womens board but apparently nobody wants to help me.
Dh and I have been biking for about 8 weeks now religiously. He was trying to be a sweetie and bought me a specialized expedition. He got the upright handle bars (because he likes them and thought they would be more comfortable for me) with disc brakes. This bike has a huge seat on it that has like chamois or something on it so I'm always sticking to the seat! The tires are hybrids I guess, road or mountain and I'm really hating this bike!

What do I need to do to make this bike more comfortable. We do a lot of hill climbing and hilly trails. I find myself constantly leaning over all the time wanting for lower handlebars, and for a smoother more comfortable seat. Everytime I go out in my bike shorts this seat is just miserable. I cannot find a spot that is comfortable It is just too wide/big. What would y"all suggest to modify this bike to make it more user friendly for me? I like biking a lot and can tell I'm getting much stronger. I will eventually probably get a road bike, but for now I just want to be more comfortable and not hurt my DH feelings. Oh and not spend a mint either. Any Suggestions?

Brandy

Well, start with a new saddle. If at all possible, try out your friends bikes and find out which saddle suits you best, otherwise take a risk, after all you now know what you don't like.
Hybrid tyres are OK on road if you pump them up hard. Very knobbley tires should be replaced if not used off-road.
It ought to be possible to lower the handlebars without having to change them, or else you might be lucky and get something back for the bars or stem from the shop where you replace them. Will the current bars accept bar-ends?

Thanks Guys,
I think I may have found a seat that I'm gonna swap out. The handle bars are not like mountain bike handle bars, they are the ones like on old lady bikes (sorry but I couldn't find another way to describe it.) They are the ones where you sit uprite on the seat and the handlebars are more curved around like this type in the pick below ( I feel like I should have a basket on the back an a little tinkly bell on the front. It is so not me!

I have disc brakes on mine and was wondering if they would be able to swap them out for something different. I guess I just need to take it back to the store we bought it at and see if they can do anything for me. Its less than 30 days old so maybe we can swap them out ot something! Thanks for your help.

Brandy

auctionitnj.comross 2.JPGOpen ↗

Sounds like you've got the saddle sorted. As for the bar problem, have you considered swapping them for road bars? There's a whole subject on it at - cyclingforums.comt273172 drop bars and aero on a hybrid done.htmlOpen ↗

Bill.

Thanks Bill!
That is exactly what I'm looking for, AND my darling husband saw it and said he would like to do that to his bike also. We are off to the bike shop tomorrow, (with these pictures in hand) to see if our bikes can be transformed ! Thanks again!

Brandy

brandyleigh35 said:

Thanks Bill!
That is exactly what I'm looking for, AND my darling husband saw it and said he would like to do that to his bike also. We are off to the bike shop tomorrow, (with these pictures in hand) to see if our bikes can be transformed ! Thanks again!

Brandy

You should be thanking 'huhenio' really. He's the nut job that started the whole crazy thing. 😄

Bill.

brandyleigh35 said:

Thanks Bill!
That is exactly what I'm looking for, AND my darling husband saw it and said he would like to do that to his bike also. We are off to the bike shop tomorrow, (with these pictures in hand) to see if our bikes can be transformed ! Thanks again!

Brandy

Well, that has got to be the freakinist mess I ever saw.MTB shifters don't go on road bars without being reamed out or forced due to different diameters.Drop bar ends can be added to flat bars alot easier....And actually the posters bars,really aren't the old lady type as pictured in her link....Not to rain on the parade, but that specialized is just the wrong bike for anything but a short ride around the neighborhood or on a flat bike path.Doing anything other than changing the saddle and bar is just throwing good money after bad.

I just got an expedition and I like it so far, I didn't get the comp model because of those bloody disc brakes. And I changed the seat and angle to better fit me. So far I haven't had any problems. Like every bikes takes a bit of time to grow into it but you'll learn to like it.

boudreaux said:

well, that has got to be the freakinist mess I ever saw.MTB shifters don't go on road bars without being reamed out or forced due to different diameters.Drop bar ends can be added to flat bars alot easier.

Maybe so. But it's been done successfully and according to huhenio, it works. Personally, I wasn't too keen on the shifter/brake lever setup and used the STI's from my old road bike. But that's another story.

Bill.

shannons dad said:

Maybe so. But it's been done successfully and according to huhenio, it works.

Wel, the successful part could certanly be questioned.Some people ride without helmuts too.

boudreaux said:

Wel, the successful part could certanly be questioned.Some people ride without helmuts too.

Well, no. It can't be questioned. Looks like you're wrong, again. Getting to be a habit of yours isn't it? Huhenio quite clearly said the guys at his LBS had no problems with the change over and that it works perfectly well in fact. You spelt 'certanly' wrong by the way, it's 'certainly'. Not sure what 'helmuts' have to do with this thread, which you also spelt wrong. It's 'helmets'. Whether a rider wears one or not is down to personal choice and either choice doesn't make it right or wrong. Sometimes I wear one, sometimes I don't. It depends on any particular day whether I want to or not despite the risks involved. Many would agree with me. It doesn't make me any less a 'successful' rider than anyone else. Grey matter? As if you'd even know what it was.:p

Bill.

I dont know Helmut, but I have a friend called Inga.

My helmet is lined with tin foil too ...😄

Go to the topomaps, check the chester springs and west chester area in pennsylvania and tell me that you can average 15 miles and hour in a 30 pound hybrid bike.

Some people ....

I am happy with my setup, it was cheap and effective. Next year I will build me a budget road bike so I can climb faster.

Today I commuted to the West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 47 minutes and change. That is 13 miles of fairly hilly terrain (famous PA rolling hills) and It is quite satisfactory for me.

If you dont like my bike I could not care less, it works for me - I am 200 pounds and I stand 6f 1 inches. I have to carry at least 20 more pounds of books and stuff in less than perfect roads.

Internet tough guys ... pfffft.

boudreaux said:

Some people ride without helmuts too.

Or a brain for that matter (no pun intended).

huhenio said:

I dont know Helmut, but I have a friend called Inga.

My helmet is lined with tin foil too ...😄

Go to the topomaps, check the chester springs and west chester area in pennsylvania and tell me that you can average 15 miles and hour in a 30 pound hybrid bike.

Some people ....

I am happy with my setup, it was cheap and effective. Next year I will build me a budget road bike so I can climb faster.

Today I commuted to the West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 47 minutes and change. That is 13 miles of fairly hilly terrain (famous PA rolling hills) and It is quite satisfactory for me.

If you dont like my bike I could not care less, it works for me - I am 200 pounds and I stand 6f 1 inches. I have to carry at least 20 more pounds of books and stuff in less than perfect roads.

Internet tough guys ... pfffft.

Cheers buddy! I've been arguing with this girlie for a few days now on different subjects. Have a look and you'll see what I mean.🙂

Bill.

huhenio, FWIW I admire what you've done with that bike. I like creativity and anything different, and that bike shows a bit of both.

If you like the way it rides, it's irrelevant what anyone else thinks, because it's not their butt on the seat!

Ride and enjoy!

Thank you bill and cydewaze!

Bill .... how is your bike feeling with the handlebars over time?

Is your neck hurting or you got used to the position?

Is your back hurting at all?

Argumenting over the internet is like special olympics.
Win or loose, you are still retarded

huhenio said:

Thank you bill and cydewaze!

Bill .... how is your bike feeling with the handlebars over time?

Is your neck hurting or you got used to the position?

Is your back hurting at all?

Argumenting over the internet is like special olympics.
Win or loose, you are still retarded

Hey bud, the bike's been OK. Still have that front mech problem though. LBS says a roadie mech might fix it except my rig has top-tube cables and roadie mechs use bottom run cables. I'll have to look into that. I've gotten used to more stretched position. Haven't had any back problems though, why, have you? Not sure how to take the [censored] thing. You have a point though. I guess I'll give up while I'm ahead. I've no doubt boudreaux will come back with some other [censored]-poor response to this post.
What about your bike? How's she runnin'?

Bill.

huhenio,
I agree with Bill and the others. Its YOUR bike, if it works for you and you like it. Who the heck cares what anyone else thinks! 🙄 I think its awesome looking and so did my DH. I too don't want a road bike for the same reasons as you. We ride a lot (mostly) on the roads but I'm in Alaska. The roads are often not great or have a lot of that chip seal stuff that can be dangerous on them. We also do a lot of steep hill climbing and the hybrid tires seem to work better for both of us. I love the way my bike rides, just not the way the handle bars are set up, and my dh was just saying yesterday that he wanted to add some type of bars out front on his (aerobars.) In fact we were at the bike shop looking for some options just yesterday afternoon. When we saw your pick last night we were both like OMG! :eek: That is it! 😄
I think your creativity was great and those that don't agree can read another post! :p

Have you ever had any problems getting to the brakes in time while riding in the aerobars? That was the only question I had when looking at your set up! My brakes are disc brakes so I'm not sure they will be able to change it, but I'm certainly gonna see if they can do something similar.

Brandy