Hmm, is my bike wrong for me ?
Discussion
Well had my boardman team carbon fitted to me and still getting some upper thoracic stiffness after rides of around an hour, bike is great but after speaking to the bike fitter about it, he did mention that the boardman has slightly more aggressive geometry compared to say a Spesh Roubaix or Giant Defy.
So do I just suck it up or nuclear option get a new frameset, I've already got the wheels and 105 5800 groupset on the bike so there would not be much to buy to get a new bike.
Trouble is finding a new frameset that is "better" than the boardman frame, specialized don't sell the Roubaix frame separately (well they do but only the S-works) and can't find if giant, trek or scott do either.
So do I just suck it up or nuclear option get a new frameset, I've already got the wheels and 105 5800 groupset on the bike so there would not be much to buy to get a new bike.
Trouble is finding a new frameset that is "better" than the boardman frame, specialized don't sell the Roubaix frame separately (well they do but only the S-works) and can't find if giant, trek or scott do either.
Its not that aggressive, surely the fitter could have suggested a pathway to make it more comfy and easier on your back? Or have you already got it as "sit up as possible"
Is your bike the right size for you?
Have you been riding road bikes long?
Considered dedicated stretching or exercises to help problem area?
For starters I would ensure the stem is on the top of all the spacers and flipped so is as high as possible, I would also ensure you aren't over-reaching and the drops aren't too low for you, consider shallower drop bars etc...
Is your bike the right size for you?
Have you been riding road bikes long?
Considered dedicated stretching or exercises to help problem area?
For starters I would ensure the stem is on the top of all the spacers and flipped so is as high as possible, I would also ensure you aren't over-reaching and the drops aren't too low for you, consider shallower drop bars etc...
Bike or fit wrong?
I'm not an expert but it sounds like the fitter hasn't fitted the bike to you. Bikes can be made less aggressive if necessary with different angled stems, bar rotation, stack height, etc, and he should be working around any physical problems you are having.
Surely it's the fitter's job (assuming this was a proper pro bike fit) to make it fit you and your intended riding? Unless it's not the right size in which case he would have made this clear.
ETA A photo of the bike might help.
I'm not an expert but it sounds like the fitter hasn't fitted the bike to you. Bikes can be made less aggressive if necessary with different angled stems, bar rotation, stack height, etc, and he should be working around any physical problems you are having.
Surely it's the fitter's job (assuming this was a proper pro bike fit) to make it fit you and your intended riding? Unless it's not the right size in which case he would have made this clear.
ETA A photo of the bike might help.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Its not that aggressive, surely the fitter could have suggested a pathway to make it more comfy and easier on your back? Or have you already got it as "sit up as possible"
Is your bike the right size for you?
Have you been riding road bikes long?
Considered dedicated stretching or exercises to help problem area?
For starters I would ensure the stem is on the top of all the spacers and flipped so is as high as possible, I would also ensure you aren't over-reaching and the drops aren't too low for you, consider shallower drop bars etc...
The bike is the right size and the fitter has done everything to the front end, you have suggested.Is your bike the right size for you?
Have you been riding road bikes long?
Considered dedicated stretching or exercises to help problem area?
For starters I would ensure the stem is on the top of all the spacers and flipped so is as high as possible, I would also ensure you aren't over-reaching and the drops aren't too low for you, consider shallower drop bars etc...
I have done about 450km since start of June after the bike fit and before that not much !
I've always suffered from tight hamstrings and I think this is what is causing the problems, as after about an hour of moderate cycling (16mph avg) I start to get a tight lower back, I have started a stretching program for the legs and some core exercises when I remember !
The problem is I've got the stamina for a good 100km ride now but my lower back is letting me down.
The comments about the Boardman being 'aggressive' was compared say to a Spesh Roubaix, which I think has about 1-2cms in the head tube over the Boardman. They did have a lightly used sworks sl4 frameset half price in the shop but is too big for me.
I got into road cycling at the end of last year after a lifetime of mountain biking. I had similar back and shoulder issues to you when I first started riding my roadie, despite it fitting me well. Started doing a simple 10 minute core strength workout with a few different exercises and stretches 3 times a week. Now I'm fine with spending longer amounts of time in the drops and don't feel like it's my back letting me down towards the end of long rides.
rs4al said:
Thanks, unfortunately too big, prob fit a 54cm, I guess !
The common size, so there will be lots of competition for framnes and bikes in that size on Ebay. You will be able ti find frames on Ebay. I've seen Giant TCRs/Defys all on ebay as frameset only. You need to be prepared to travel and maybe take a punt on an unseen frame.
Check the stack height on the Planet X Pro Carbon. They have their frames advertised for £300, but you'll have to wait till they come back into stock.
I had the previous generation Team Carbon (2013) in Large. (im 5'10-5'11) The stem was crazy long, about 120mm if i remember right. After getting back ache i swapped it for a shorter Deda stem - i think that was ~90mm. Really improved things for me.
(That bike got written off, i now have the current Pro SLR, which is a much more aggressive geometry i think. Now have it in medium)
Its not an exact test, but in your standard cruising position (hands on hoods i expect) is the front axle obscured by the handlebar, or is it visible in front or behind?
(That bike got written off, i now have the current Pro SLR, which is a much more aggressive geometry i think. Now have it in medium)
Its not an exact test, but in your standard cruising position (hands on hoods i expect) is the front axle obscured by the handlebar, or is it visible in front or behind?
Shorter stem?
I had a bike fit when I bought my bike - it was fine for shorter rides but I had a similar problem to you on longer rides. I felt too stretched out and was really starting to ache on longer rides. I bought a 20mm shorter stem and that seems to have helped enormously.
The problem with bike fit (and I'm happy to be put straight on this if I'm talking nonsense) is that it looks at what's right when you're fresh in the saddle, not what's right a couple of hours later when you're tired.
I had a bike fit when I bought my bike - it was fine for shorter rides but I had a similar problem to you on longer rides. I felt too stretched out and was really starting to ache on longer rides. I bought a 20mm shorter stem and that seems to have helped enormously.
The problem with bike fit (and I'm happy to be put straight on this if I'm talking nonsense) is that it looks at what's right when you're fresh in the saddle, not what's right a couple of hours later when you're tired.
I have had 40 years of back pain following a spectacular crash in a Mini as a teenager that twisted a lower vertebrae, what I suspect you are getting is the lower muscles get irritated and then spasm, once they have done that the pain builds and the only way to stop it is to do something to turn the muscles off again.
If you don't mind looking like your doing a dead fly impression then the exercise that I have found is most effective is very simple: lie on your back, pull your feet up to your bottom, keeping your knees together slowly drop your knees to the left and then back through vertical and over to the right, repeat as many times as you like and you should find it gets easier. Be careful getting back up as you can easily undo the good work!! This is also a good exercise for loosening up those muscles before you ride. If you get a lot of pain doing it then stop!
Hope this helps, there is nothing more miserable than back pain
If you don't mind looking like your doing a dead fly impression then the exercise that I have found is most effective is very simple: lie on your back, pull your feet up to your bottom, keeping your knees together slowly drop your knees to the left and then back through vertical and over to the right, repeat as many times as you like and you should find it gets easier. Be careful getting back up as you can easily undo the good work!! This is also a good exercise for loosening up those muscles before you ride. If you get a lot of pain doing it then stop!
Hope this helps, there is nothing more miserable than back pain
rs4al said:
Well had my boardman team carbon fitted to me and still getting some upper thoracic stiffness after rides of around an hour, bike is great but after speaking to the bike fitter about it, he did mention that the boardman has slightly more aggressive geometry compared to say a Spesh Roubaix or Giant Defy.
So do I just suck it up or nuclear option get a new frameset, I've already got the wheels and 105 5800 groupset on the bike so there would not be much to buy to get a new bike.
Trouble is finding a new frameset that is "better" than the boardman frame, specialized don't sell the Roubaix frame separately (well they do but only the S-works) and can't find if giant, trek or scott do either.
Post a photo and we can all opine on whether it looks odd or notSo do I just suck it up or nuclear option get a new frameset, I've already got the wheels and 105 5800 groupset on the bike so there would not be much to buy to get a new bike.
Trouble is finding a new frameset that is "better" than the boardman frame, specialized don't sell the Roubaix frame separately (well they do but only the S-works) and can't find if giant, trek or scott do either.
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