I think my bike is too big - Any way to help?
Discussion
So I've done a bit of reading, and it looks like my bike is too big for me.
I changed from a smaller bike, and riding my current bike always feels like I'm sat on top of the bike with very little control. I had put this down to the bike being much lighter than my old one, but coupled with the fact my hands hurt when riding the bike (from putting so much weight on my hands) and having such an angle to my back, I reckon the bike is probably too big.
The bike is a Cannondale SL3 (MTB), if that helps. I'm 6-foot and it's a large.
Are there adjustments I could/should make, or should I sell up and find a smaller bike?
I changed from a smaller bike, and riding my current bike always feels like I'm sat on top of the bike with very little control. I had put this down to the bike being much lighter than my old one, but coupled with the fact my hands hurt when riding the bike (from putting so much weight on my hands) and having such an angle to my back, I reckon the bike is probably too big.
The bike is a Cannondale SL3 (MTB), if that helps. I'm 6-foot and it's a large.
Are there adjustments I could/should make, or should I sell up and find a smaller bike?
Did you buy it online or in a LBS? Either way, call your LBS and ask if they do fitting, they'll soon tell you if you're on the wrong size.
There's not much you can do without buying more parts; you're limited to saddle height, saddle tilt, saddle forward/backward.
You can get different stem lengths, a LBS may have an adjustable one you can use for a fitting to find a good position.
Unless you've got very short legs I'd be surprised if it was completely the wrong size, how does it compare to your old bike when stood together?
There's not much you can do without buying more parts; you're limited to saddle height, saddle tilt, saddle forward/backward.
You can get different stem lengths, a LBS may have an adjustable one you can use for a fitting to find a good position.
Unless you've got very short legs I'd be surprised if it was completely the wrong size, how does it compare to your old bike when stood together?
If your hands are hurting, it sounds like your saddle is higher / too high compared with your bar height, not necessarily that your bike is too big?
Maybe a stem with a steeper rise angle, or some riser bars might solve the problem?
Maybe it's not a problem as such, and just different geometry to your last bike and you need to get used to it?
Maybe it's just a case of getting some new gloves with a bit of extra padding?
If the bike was too big, you'd have potential clearance problems when standing over the frame, your seat post would be slammed to be touching the crossbar?
Difficult to say really. Sounds like a trip back to the LBS for a spot of advice?
Maybe a stem with a steeper rise angle, or some riser bars might solve the problem?
Maybe it's not a problem as such, and just different geometry to your last bike and you need to get used to it?
Maybe it's just a case of getting some new gloves with a bit of extra padding?
If the bike was too big, you'd have potential clearance problems when standing over the frame, your seat post would be slammed to be touching the crossbar?
Difficult to say really. Sounds like a trip back to the LBS for a spot of advice?
Thanks everyone so far.
greggers said:
Did you buy it online or in a LBS?
how does it compare to your old bike when stood together?
I bought it off someone on here, so neither, but it was brand new.how does it compare to your old bike when stood together?
Smartboy said:
If your hands are hurting, it sounds like your saddle is higher / too high compared with your bar height, not necessarily that your bike is too big?
Maybe a stem with a steeper rise angle, or some riser bars might solve the problem?
Maybe it's not a problem as such, and just different geometry to your last bike and you need to get used to it?
Maybe it's just a case of getting some new gloves with a bit of extra padding?
If the bike was too big, you'd have potential clearance problems when standing over the frame, your seat post would be slammed to be touching the crossbar?
Difficult to say really. Sounds like a trip back to the LBS for a spot of advice?
I have no clearance problems and have a 33" inside leg. The seat post could go even further up if I'm honest, but didn't like it too high. It's alright quite high, so I think you have a point; however...Maybe a stem with a steeper rise angle, or some riser bars might solve the problem?
Maybe it's not a problem as such, and just different geometry to your last bike and you need to get used to it?
Maybe it's just a case of getting some new gloves with a bit of extra padding?
If the bike was too big, you'd have potential clearance problems when standing over the frame, your seat post would be slammed to be touching the crossbar?
Difficult to say really. Sounds like a trip back to the LBS for a spot of advice?
d8mok said:
Im 6ft and my cannondale flash is a large. They do have a long top tube though which makes you have weight forward.
This is what I think may be the problem, after this suggestion.IME what makes a bike feel overly large is the cockpit area, two friends both have wide 44cm (I think) bars and they feel huge! Combined with Shimano levers with external cabling and the sensation is very much of a front end that is overly large, by comparison my 42cm bars with integrated cables feel a lot more compact.
I'm 6'1 and would ride a 56cm/Large frame.
I'm 6'1 and would ride a 56cm/Large frame.
i am 6`1" and have a medium ibis mojo 17" and i find it really comfortable. i first had an xl mojo which felt a bit precarious and my centre of gravity felt much too high. i then happened to have an ibis mojo large and a medium and tried them both and still ended up with the medium, which really surprised me.
when the frame is smaller, you may have to put the seat stem up higher to give you the correct leg length. if you raise the saddle on a bike with a raking towards the rear seat stem then it puts more of your weight over the rear shock and lightens the front shock, and that might not be so good
when the frame is smaller, you may have to put the seat stem up higher to give you the correct leg length. if you raise the saddle on a bike with a raking towards the rear seat stem then it puts more of your weight over the rear shock and lightens the front shock, and that might not be so good
Could look into a seat post without a layback, will bring you forward slightly to reduce size of cockpit and allow you off the back easier on the large down hills.
The shorter stem is another option and combined would make the cockpit much smaller, will mean you need adjust on climbs to avoid wheelies though.
The shorter stem is another option and combined would make the cockpit much smaller, will mean you need adjust on climbs to avoid wheelies though.
G0ldfysh said:
Could look into a seat post without a layback, will bring you forward slightly to reduce size of cockpit and allow you off the back easier on the large down hills.
The shorter stem is another option and combined would make the cockpit much smaller, will mean you need adjust on climbs to avoid wheelies though.
Good point - I'll take a look round for a seatpost, as that would make things quite a lot better I think.The shorter stem is another option and combined would make the cockpit much smaller, will mean you need adjust on climbs to avoid wheelies though.
So, I guess something like this would suit? It's the same dimensions as my current one, so should be fine?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RITCHEY-COMP-ZERO-OFFSET...
Or, do I spend a little more and get a carbon one? That way, I'm reducing weight whilst replacing a part?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RITCHEY-COMP-ZERO-OFFSET...
Or, do I spend a little more and get a carbon one? That way, I'm reducing weight whilst replacing a part?
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