Changing a stem and possibly bars

[vickster]

I have a feeling I may have suggested this elsewhere...

Are the bars too low or too far? Is the saddle at the correct height and position, could shift it forwards (within the limits of the rails) rather than going to a short twitchy stem - if going from a 100mm stem to an 80mm, you should have got the smaller bike perhaps? How tall are you and what sized frame is it?

Or it might be the right size and you just need to get used to it. Madone is race oriented, Domane is the more relaxed Trek range. Do you stretch and work your core?

 

[vickster]

No. They measured inside leg & I'll be honest, I wish they'd have done more. I just assumed given their reputation & my Dad's recommendation, that they'd be better - particularly as I went to the Evans in Reading recently and it was like going to a B&Q where the attendants were all in their teens and seemed really uninterested in me at all.

Ah yes but they do let you ride the bikes outside for as long as you want. You need to avoid Evans at peak times, i.e. weekends

 

[livpoksoc]

I have a feeling I may have suggested this elsewhere...

Are the bars too low or too far? Is the saddle at the correct height and position, could shift it forwards (within the limits of the rails) rather than going to a short twitchy stem - if going from a 100mm stem to an 80mm, you should have got the smaller bike perhaps? How tall are you and what sized frame is it?

Or it might be the right size and you just need to get used to it. Madone is race oriented, Domane is the more relaxed Trek range. Do you stretch and work your core?

They set the saddle at the right height based on the inside leg they took. I was considering shuffling the saddle forward to try that out.

I am 5ft 10.5" & it's a 56cm frame size. My spesh was 54, but I was at the top pf that size.

I am overweight & don't necessarily stretch/work my core though I should be.

 

[vickster]

Have you compared the geometries?

By what measurement did you establish you were at the top of the Specialized range for a 54cm? What length stem etc? Does it feel too small, do you get aches and pains as a result?

I'd leave the 90mm stem on the Trek, which is also quite short, search for bike set up tips and try to acclimatise.

 

[livpoksoc]

Have you compared the geometries?

By what measurement did you establish you were at the top of the Specialized range for a 54cm? What length stem etc? Does it feel too small, do you get aches and pains as a result?

I'd leave the 90mm stem on the Trek, which is also quite short, search for bike set up tips and try to acclimatise.

When I bought the spesh, they said it was one size too small & looking at various manufacturers sizing guides, I'm right between the two.

The current bike size doesn't give me massive issues except in the neck and back where the saddle is sat quite high vs the top tube & I can't raise the bars any higher up the steerer tube because it's at the top of the spacers. I can't flip it as that stem isn't designed to be flipped (though I suppose it could be replaced for one that can).

Would i actually need a torque wrench to change the stem on either?

As for the mech on my old one, why didn't I replace it - because I'd already spent £150+ on fixing it and was getting fed up of paying out this sort of money so as suggested by other posters, consider getting a second bike & learning some maintenance on the older.

The whole issue was timing - I could take out finance to fund a new bike, but not really afford to keep patching up the older bike. My lbs couldn't repair my older bike quick enough for me to fit in my urgent training plan for the pru ride & the lbs which I bought the new bike couldn't size me up perfectly on Saturday. I was up sh*t creek without a bike

 

[cyberknight]

I would measure your set up on the old bike 1st
saddle height
saddle setback from BB
reach to hoods / centre of bars .
drop from saddle tip to bars
And then compare the measurements to your new bike, if they are widely different look at a riser /shorter stem to replicate the fit.
I would not move the saddle about unless i was replicating the height/drop so it was the same as the old bike assuming it was set right 1st and it gave uou no issues(?) as you could be leaving yourself open to other problems.
I recently built a commuter up that was 1 size bigger than my other bike and i used the above data to set it up and i needed a 2 cm shorter stem.

 

[slowmotion]

I've found this clip to be useful. Once you have set up the saddle height and the saddle fore-aft position, try a stem length that makes the bars obscure the wheel hub.
[media]
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAl_5e7bIHk
[/media]

 

[livpoksoc]

I would measure your set up on the old bike 1st
saddle height
saddle setback from BB
reach to hoods / centre of bars .
drop from saddle tip to bars
And then compare the measurements to your new bike, if they are widely different look at a riser /shorter stem to replicate the fit.
I would not move the saddle about unless i was replicating the height/drop so it was the same as the old bike assuming it was set right 1st and it gave uou no issues(?) as you could be leaving yourself open to other problems.
I recently built a commuter up that was 1 size bigger than my other bike and i used the above data to set it up and i needed a 2 cm shorter stem.

Previous bike saddle gave me some serious chaffing & numbness, so I recently bought a wider one. This was put straight on the new bike & as far as chaffing & numbness goes - much better.

As for the rest of the measurements, I can take those tonight & see what the overall difference is.

As I say, my problem was that my chain went over the top of the big ring on the back wheel & into the spokes two weeks ago. My actual local lbs did a repair, but did a real half arsed job with it - they replaced the wheel, but I had to take it back to have the gears indexed despite them charging me for it as part of the repair. Then they said that I would always get slipping on one gear because the mech was bent, but not enough to warrant replacing - something I wish that now I had pushed for.

This left me losing a weekend of training & in urgent need to make a decision on what to do. I couldn't really afford to keep taking my bike to a shop that didn't impress me, especially when their opening hours didn't make jt easy for me to get the bike in to them. I appreciate all bike shops will be busy at the moment, but to fob me off with the excuse they did really hacked me off.

As for Evans, as preciously described - their store in Reading, I went to on a week day evening & got served by two kids. Sure a manager of more senior member of staff may have been more helpful but none approached me to offer assistance as they just wandered about the store so if left me with the impression tht they were victims of success in that their staff weren't necessarily top notch, so wanted to go to a bike shop that got good reviews. Having been to this store before for a makntenance class, I knew they were passionate & knowledgeable and in all fairness have tried to help me when I was in a bind, but I've ended up with a rather expensive bike that I wish had been fitted - ok my need for shortening of time is one thing, but given that Saturday was a wet day & they hardly had any customers meant they could have feasibly taken 30 minutes to measure my arms & reach. If they felt the bike was too big when I was sat on it, they could have protested and advised me not to bother.

I know, I know woe is me...anyway. It sounds like I need to get the tape measure out & figure out what might work.

 

[vickster]

That's what makes it racier I assume, shorter headtube

I don't think missing a weekend of riding will make much difference to ride 100

 

[livpoksoc]

That's what makes it racier I assume, shorter headtube

I don't think missing a weekend of riding will make much difference to ride 100

It is if I wasn't able to train until end of May & subsequently had a back spasm. I'm a crock at 27!

 

[vickster]

Ah, I had to I'll out as once I started to try to train in April I did myself more damage, ah well I shall enjoy it next year...you can still do the same if you aren't ready,get an automatic pass into 2015 as long as a ballot not charity place. Do have to pay again though

Back spasm from the new bike? Or before? It may be that the bike is actually fine but your back isn't!

 

[livpoksoc]

Ah, I had to I'll out as once I started to try to train in April I did myself more damage, ah well I shall enjoy it next year...you can still do the same if you aren't ready,get an automatic pass into 2015 as long as a ballot not charity place. Do have to pay again though

Back spasm from the new bike? Or before? It may be that the bike is actually fine but your back isn't!

On a charity place sadly. I was under the impression both could defer though.

The back spasm was from hoovering, I'm being seen for it but the bike wasn't really giving me any problems, more the shoulder/neck pain after having to get accustomed to long distance again.

It's been a tragically expensive summer. We saved up to do some decorating & home improvements, then my back went & my bike the week after. Ahh sigh, goodbye ISA.

 

[livpoksoc]

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/adjustable-os-aheadset-bike-stem-id_8272094.html

Just checked and it's a 90mm stem on the new bike, it was a 100mm on the old. The bars are the same width, so no issue there, I think it's the reach.

I will check the saddle position (up, down & fwd/back) tomorrow with the plumb line trick.

If it's none of these, given the stem is at the top of the steerer tube, is there any value in the above adjustable stem, to raise the bars? And similarly is there any value in a stem riser? For either, is there any issue that the forks are cadbon & the stem/riser isn't?

 

[vickster]

On a charity place sadly. I was under the impression both could defer though.

Unfortunately not http://www.prudentialridelondon.co....RideLondon-Surrey_100/Entries.htm#Withdrawing

Providing you adhere to the dates below and pay the 2015 entry fee, you will be accepted for the 2015 event unless your entry was received via a charity or sponsor.

And you are now committed to riding for that charity, although if you can't they'll understand. I was due to raise some money for Wateraid, but on a ballot place, so they were cool about it. And I withdrew in mid June so not raised anything. To be honest, I knew before I was told not to do it, that I probably couldn't

I can't help on the whole stem thing, but I do fear you've bought too aggressive a geometry if you have back issues. I'd start doing pilates and swimming etc to get the core and back sorted. Are you seeing a physio, they should give you a proper exercise programme, also make sure you stretch after riding. Someone posted some really good images of stretches for cyclists, give them a go

 

[livpoksoc]

Unfortunately not http://www.prudentialridelondon.co....RideLondon-Surrey_100/Entries.htm#Withdrawing

Providing you adhere to the dates below and pay the 2015 entry fee, you will be accepted for the 2015 event unless your entry was received via a charity or sponsor.

And you are now committed to riding for that charity, although if you can't they'll understand. I was due to raise some money for Wateraid, but on a ballot place, so they were cool about it. And I withdrew in mid June so not raised anything. To be honest, I knew before I was told not to do it, that I probably couldn't

I can't help on the whole stem thing, but I do fear you've bought too aggressive a geometry if you have back issues. I'd start doing pilates and swimming etc to get the core and back sorted. Are you seeing a physio, they should give you a proper exercise programme, also make sure you stretch after riding. Someone posted some really good images of stretches for cyclists, give them a go

I've had physio in the past as i've had back problems for 10+ years, but it comes and goes. Through the NHS I've had a combination of 'you're overweight', "here have some pills" & "sorry it's too expensive, go do some physio in 6 weeks time by which your symptoms may have faded".

A promotion at work earlier this year allowed me to get private medical insurance so I've had a referral after my latest flare up a few weeks ago where I was seriously considering withdrawing & offering to complete my own 100 mile ride later in the year. I have had an MRI & due for a follow up consultation on Monday, so hopefully from a medical POV I'll be able to understand what my back troubles really are.

Since the flare up, my symptoms faded again, but the bike broke so my hand has sort of been forced in that respect.

I'm going to pick up one of those adjustable stems. If it helps then great, if not then I can changeit back & no real difference to my circumstances and I'll have to manage my back over the day. Given the weather I suspect I won't be the only one taking the diversions around Leith Hill.

If I can't finish, then I can't finish. I can always say to Clic & my sponsors that I will aim to complete something else before the end of the year as I ran a small work sportive from Bristol to Soton last year which was near enough 100 miles.