Please help a newbie (sort of) in pain

[TheThing]

Hi all, I sold both my bikes just before covid and regretted it instantly. Had a go on a mates Btwin and it gave me the itch to get another road bike.

I've purchased a second hand Specialized Allez Elite and can't seem to get comfortable on it. I'm getting lower back pain and some glute pain. It's seems to be worse when on a climb. I'm 6ft 1 inch tall and the bike is a 58cm frame. I'm just riding flat pedals at the moment.

One of the bikes I sold was a Boardman Team carbon and although it would rattle your fillings out on my local roads I could pretty much ride it all day with no discomfort. The frame on that was 55.5cm.

I dont really want to shell out on a bike fit at this stage. Have I bought the wrong sized bike or does anyone have any tips to help resolve the problem? Thanks in advance.

[CharlieCrocodile]

I'm the same height as you and have a 58cm Specialized frame without any pain issues.

Take a look at this video and see if it offers you any help with a DIY fit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYhyppWTDc

[TheThing]

CharlieCrocodile said:

I'm the same height as you and have a 58cm Specialized frame without any pain issues.

Take a look at this video and see if it offers you any help with a DIY fit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYhyppWTDc

Thanks for the reply. I've seen that video before and given it a go but unfortunately to no avail.

I forgot to mention that when cycling I'm getting noticeably more of a burn in my right quad compared to my left. This is obviously because of my right leg being the dominant one.

I was speaking to a chap at work today who is well into his cycling and he reckons that this could be forcing me to sit on the saddle a bit wonky without noticing and this is what's causing the pain. It is frustrating as I want to start cycling to work before the weather turns nasty but this is putting me off.

[JayRidesBikes]

It could be that your saddle it set too high, causing in imbalance when pedalling. Try lowering your saddle a touch and see if the pain persists.

[bigdom]

Try https://www.bikegeocalc.com/

Stick both bike dimensions in, and you might find the issue as it will provide base dimensions. Is it the same type of saddle, your flexibility makes a huge difference. Saddle to bar height, saddle to hoods etc.

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/how...

https://www.fizik.com/uk_en/saddle-finder.html

If you think you are leaning, whilst a little uncomfortable, you can tape something line a tampon in the middle back of the saddle. Obvs it should be right up the crack.

I had a bike and saddle fit probably about 8 yrs ago now, personally I felt money well spent, and far cheaper than more physio!

[stargazer30]

I'm just shy of 6ft 2" and both my gravels are 57.5cm frame (XL). I have a damaged L5S1 so back pain and sciatica are a daily thing for me. I can manage 50mile rides without serve pain afterwards now. My solution was...

Suntour NCX seat post to adsorb most the road/gravel chatter and minor bumps
Adjusted my saddle angle to flatten my lower back
and more recently I went tubeless which has had an unexpected side effect of increasing comfort a fair bit too. Its like have a 2" tyre on the bike now and my tyres are only 38c.

[TheThing]

Thanks for the replies. I will give some of these suggestions a go. Forgot to mention that my knees have been giving me grief as well since riding this bike although it does seem to be the right size. It's obviously a problem with the set up I've got. It is frustrating though as it's putting me off getting out.

[TheThing]

Thanks for all your suggestions. It still doesn't seem to matter what I do, the discomfort is still there. My plan now is to go clipless and get a bike fit. The plan is to eventually cycle to work. Journey is 15.5 miles so it should be money well spent. The question is whether to go for SPD or SPD-SL. I've got a bit of a walk to and from the bike and will be clipping in and out quite frequently as the traffic is horrendous. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[jesusbuiltmycar]

For ease if use go SPD

[irc]

Good bike fit article from 531Colin former Spa Cycles wheelbuilder. A pdf at the bottom of this post.


https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?p=654871...

Rather than thinking on frame size it is about getting the contact points in the correct place. The same position can be replicated on different sized frames to some extent.

1 Saddle at correct height and correct distance behind the bottom bracket.
2 Bars at correct height and distance from saddle.
Also saddle angle and bar angle for drop bars but getting the saddle and bars in the right place comes first.

Correct varies of course depending on what you are using the bike for. 531Colin is a tourer and Rough Stuff rider (gravel before it was fashionable).

Edited by irc on Saturday 6th August 21:19

Edited by irc on Saturday 6th August 21:20

[TheThing]

Thanks for that, that is very helpful. When I get some shoes, pedals and cleats sorted will use it to set the bike up again. Hopefully it will save me £150!

ETA think I've settled on Shimano XC3 shoes, and Shimano M520 pedals.

Edited by TheThing on Sunday 7th August 16:30

[CharlieCrocodile]

TheThing said:

Thanks for that, that is very helpful. When I get some shoes, pedals and cleats sorted will use it to set the bike up again. Hopefully it will save me £150!

ETA think I've settled on Shimano XC3 shoes, and Shimano M520 pedals.

Edited by TheThing on Sunday 7th August 16:30

I've got those pedals on my bike, they're really good. One thing that I use to get the leg position right is to sit on the bike against a wall the raise your seat so that when your heel is on a pedal your leg is more or less straight. So when you clip in your leg will be bent. This also works with normal flat pedals too.
I've used this method for all 3 of my bikes since 2015. Never experienced leg pain apart from when my seat post wasn't tight enough and it gradually slipped down.

[dodgyviper]

Whereabouts in the knee does it hurt?

I was getting pain at the front of my knees just below the patella.

Caused by the seat post slipping down without me noticing. Did CharlieCrocodile's thing with the heel and it sorted it.

Loads of websites give guidance - a couple below

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-train...

https://bodytonicclinic.co.uk/common-cycling-injur...

[TheDrownedApe]

recently done 100 miles a day for 9 days. On day 3 i got some horrendous pain on the outside of my left knee after about 70 miles. Took it very easy for the rest of the day and it was alright.

About day 7 the patella pain started but i was expecting this. Then day 8 with 10 miles to go the side pain came back but i couldn't even turn the pedal using my good leg without the agonising pain. walked/rested for an hour and made it to the hotel.

Last day i strapped my knee up tight and the pain only came back with 15 miles to go. thankfully not as bad and i soldiered on.

No idea what caused it and i haven't felt it since but then only cycling 30ish miles now.

IMO knee pain could be anything and happen anytime.

[TheThing]

I forgot about this thread! Thanks for the replies guys. I've now ordered two pairs of shimano XC3 shoes in different sizes including wide fit and they are way to narrow for me. Can anyone recommend some spd shoes for wide feet? I was thinking DHB troika or dorica. Is there any downsides to having laces?

[benny.c]

Shimano always seem narrow to me. I’ve found Northwave to be relatively wide compared to others.

[sociopath]

TheThing said:

I forgot about this thread! Thanks for the replies guys. I've now ordered two pairs of shimano XC3 shoes in different sizes including wide fit and they are way to narrow for me. Can anyone recommend some spd shoes for wide feet? I was thinking DHB troika or dorica. Is there any downsides to having laces?

I don't want to be that guy but...

Go to a local bike shop, try some shoes on, find some that fit, get a bike fit while you're there.

No more pain, gear that works and when you need a repair the shop will be there to help.

Hth

[TheThing]

benny.c said:

Shimano always seem narrow to me. I’ve found Northwave to be relatively wide compared to others.

Thanks I'll have a look.

[TheThing]

sociopath said:

TheThing said:

I forgot about this thread! Thanks for the replies guys. I've now ordered two pairs of shimano XC3 shoes in different sizes including wide fit and they are way to narrow for me. Can anyone recommend some spd shoes for wide feet? I was thinking DHB troika or dorica. Is there any downsides to having laces?

I don't want to be that guy but...

Go to a local bike shop, try some shoes on, find some that fit, get a bike fit while you're there.

No more pain, gear that works and when you need a repair the shop will be there to help.

Hth

I totally agree with you. Trouble is there doesn't seem to be any shops local to me that stock a big range of reasonably priced shoes that will also do a bike fit. If anyone can recommend a shop in the south east that would be great.

[defblade]

TheThing said:

Is there any downsides to having laces?

1) It's not easy to change their tightness while riding or at a very quick stop. You pretty much have to stop, get off, sort out, get back on.

2) If one of the ends comes loose from wherever they are tucked, it'll go tap-tap-tap as you ride.

3) Tiny chance of them getting caught up in chain on the drive side... I always tie them to the outside just in case.

I prefer plain old laces to all the other systems, but there's a flame war available on the choice