cycle geometry problems?

In article <[email hidden]>,

curt said:

I am adding bike riding to my run and swim and started working out on my roller trainer. I have
been spinning on a stationary for a little while and have not had any problems with my hands
bothering me. I am keeping my elbows bent and not gripping hard at all.and was wondering if there
is something wrong with my bike geometry? Is there a site that goes over if you have a part of
your body bothering you it could be this or that? Back and neck are not that comfortable either.
Stem too low compared to seat?

Go to a good bike shop and get a "fit kit" done. It should run about $50-60. Make sure they have all
of the funky measuring equipment (to do things like measure your femur length); a place that "eyes
you up" probably isn't worth it.

Also, a good pair of bike gloves can make a world of difference here.

Good luck!

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

Thanks Harold. That is a lot of money for me and I was hoping to try and do some things on my own
before spending that kind of money. Unemployed right now. 🙁 I think I will move the stem up a bit
to make myself more upright at this time, to see if that helps.

If anyone has any other suggestions to try that would be great. I may have to go to the bike shop. I
just hate the thought of spending so much when I need to buy a helmet as well.

Curt

"Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:no_one_knows-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

I am adding bike riding to my run and swim and started working out on my roller trainer. I have
been spinning on a stationary for a little while

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have not had any problems with my hands bothering me. I am keeping my elbows bent

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not gripping hard at all.and was wondering if there is something wrong with my bike geometry? Is

there a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

site that goes over if you have a part of your body bothering you it

could

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be this or that? Back and neck are not that comfortable either. Stem

too

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

low compared to seat?

Go to a good bike shop and get a "fit kit" done. It should run about $50-60. Make sure they have
all of the funky measuring equipment (to do things like measure your femur length); a place that
"eyes you up" probably isn't worth it.

Also, a good pair of bike gloves can make a world of difference here.

Good luck!

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

If you do not need a stylish model, a helmet at Costco/Price Club/KMart/Walmart might suffice. I
remember getting one for $16. Some of the latest cost $50-$100.

If you belong to a bicycle club, you can get advice on your geometry. Even a fit kit serves only
as a first approximation. For me, I prefer less distance between saddle and bar and a slightly
smaller frame.

"curt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks Harold. That is a lot of money for me and I was hoping to try and

do

Quoted message said:

some things on my own before spending that kind of money. Unemployed

right

Quoted message said:

now. 🙁 I think I will move the stem up a bit to make myself more upright at this time, to see if
that helps.

If anyone has any other suggestions to try that would be great. I may

have

Quoted message said:

to go to the bike shop. I just hate the thought of spending so much when

I

Quoted message said:

need to buy a helmet as well.

Curt

"Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:no_one_knows-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

I am adding bike riding to my run and swim and started working out on

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

roller trainer. I have been spinning on a stationary for a little

while

Quoted message said:

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have not had any problems with my hands bothering me. I am keeping my elbows bent

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not gripping hard at all.and was wondering if there is something wrong with my bike
geometry? Is

there a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

site that goes over if you have a part of your body bothering you it

could

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be this or that? Back and neck are not that comfortable either.

Stem

Quoted message said:

too

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

low compared to seat?

Go to a good bike shop and get a "fit kit" done. It should run about $50-60. Make sure they have
all of the funky measuring equipment (to do things like measure your femur length); a place that
"eyes you up" probably isn't worth it.

Also, a good pair of bike gloves can make a world of difference here.

Good luck!

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

Your friendly bike shop set you up for free, at least they do here in Perth, West Australia.

Other than that, all I can suggest is the same setup I use:

Seat height: Align the crank with seat tube. The distance from the top of your pedal to the top of
your saddle should be 1.15 times your inside leg length (measured whilst barefoot)

Stem length and height: Sitting on your saddle and gripping your handle bars in the position where
they will be for the longest part of your ride, bend the elbow by as much as possible in this
position so that the pivot point of your elbow next to the pivot point of your knee at the point
where your knee is bent and closest to the handlebars and inside you elbow (hope this makes sense?!)
Adjust the height of the stem as high as practicable to maintain this position and comfort; make
sure you heve the right length stem first, OK?

Hope this helps....

P.S. Is you bike bent? Try riding no-hands as fast as you can and as slow as you can. If it is
difficlult or impossible to do this then your frame may be twisted, making you steer using your
hands more than you should be. (Make sure you buy your helmet before attempting this one!)

curt said:

I am adding bike riding to my run and swim and started working out on my roller trainer. I have
been spinning on a stationary for a little while and have not had any problems with my hands
bothering me. I am keeping my elbows bent and not gripping hard at all.and was wondering if there
is something wrong with my bike geometry? Is there a site that goes over if you have a part of
your body bothering you it could be this or that? Back and neck are not that comfortable either.
Stem too low compared to seat?

Thanks, Curt