Lumbar Spine & Robaix Size

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

Quoted message said:

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

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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

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bike feels. So, my question is, by having a shorter bike (centre-to-top

of

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450mm vs. 470mm for the 56cm; top tube length of 548mm vs 565mm) am I

likely

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to be putting undue strain on my spine? Would I be better off with a

larger

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one?

The dealer seemed to think that the shorter/smaller one would better for

my

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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

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

bike possible" may not be the best for YOUR particular need. Here are a

few

Quoted message said:

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

Glm said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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.