Falling Over

[rayw1604]

This isn't a question , just an observation of what difficulties can arise if you don't get the details right when buying a new bicycle.

I bought a Ridgeback Horizon in April of 2010, as an upgrade to my Orbit hybrid, because I wanted to get into distance cycling and audaxes/sportives/charity rides. I have used the bike a lot (though maybe not as much as I should) and have participated in a couple of 100km events. I am now continuing training towards doing the Warwick 100 (miles) for Action Medical Research next April.

I love the Ridgeback and it is now set up just about correctly for my requirements, as far as it goes, and I do get very comfortable rides over several miles. But there is something I cannot change which I know I got wrong, and which has unfortunate consequences - the bike is too big for me as a whole. I bought a 56cm and I think I should have had a 54cm. Ok, I could have changed it in the early days, but I bought it on the Internet and, to be honest, i didn't realise at the time, nor for a good while, that I had chosen wrongly. My feet don't sufficiently touch the ground. I am too high up! Suspicions have arisen due to a few unseemly habits, like not getting my leg over to mount very well, or finding it hard to stop at a junction, especially if it's facing downhill to my right - I tend to panic when trying to get a proper foothold on the ground and teeter very clumsily. In normal circumstances, things are fine, but I have never been the most confident cyclist, I am not one of those who can jump on a bike with ease or weave through stationary traffic, for instance. A couple of weeks ago, I was coming to a junction going on to Cleeve Hill, wanting to turn right and down back towards Cheltenham, when a large lorry in front suddenly stopped - I knew I wouldn't be able to stop and get my foot down easily on the slope, so had to veer off to the left and the safety of the verge. I then took several attempts to get out of the junction, it unnerved me badly.

Another time recently, I had to stop to open a gate, and because the camber of the path dropped away quite a bit, I toppled over heavily to the right, luckily on to some grass, but it was not until I was nearly home that I noticed my right brake hood was bent in. This I managed to fix easily enough but the episode itself and my panic at what looked worse than actually was, didn't do anything to increase that shaky confidence.

I will keep plodding on and will not be deterred by this, but I just feel a bit of a numpty after all this time that I never realised the mistake I had made, and decided to post this as a warning to any newbies considering a new purchase.

Ray

 

[biggs682]

oh dear , 2 cm is 2 cm after all

 

[HLaB]

For me (5 foot 9&1/4 inch) a 56cm is ideal according to a bike fit (perfect efficiency) but I actually ride 54cm and 55cm bikes as the next model up in both was 57cm (which is too big for me). My saddle height is set up according to the bike fit and non-cyclists sometimes comment that it is quite high and you won't be able to reach the ground. But I think however over time you naturally develop sliding forward off the saddle when necessary. Hopefully 56cm wont actually be too big for you, the quick test is standing forward off the saddle and if you crown jewels aren't touching the toptube (I think an inch is recommended) its not too big and you'll just need time to adjust, best of luck

 

[Tyres23]

I'm 5-11 and was looking at a slightly cheaper Internet purchase how glad was I when I went in my lbs and not using the charts for sizing found out I have short a??e legs and only needed a 54

 

[the snail]

the quick test is standing forward off the saddle and if you crown jewels aren't touching the toptube (I think an inch is recommended)

Yeah, if it fails this test then I think it would be best to change to a smaller size. That said, even with the correct size frame, with the seat adjusted properly, you won't get much more than a toe to the ground, and stopping on a slope can be tricky so you're probably best getting off the saddle and/or leaning the bike over. If I'm next to a kerb I usually put my foot on that. If you can't get on with the bike, you might be able to find someone who wants to swap the 56 for a 54?

 

[lulubel]

I always slide forward off the saddle when I need to put a foot down.

I spent my early cycling days riding with the saddle too low so I could get a foot on the ground while still in the saddle, and wondering why I was suffering from painful knees. It took effort and practice to teach myself to slide off the saddle every time, but now that it's automatic, I couldn't imagine not doing it.

 

[Broughtonblue]

As a non technical, weekend leisure rider can someone please explain how 2 cm is so critical when sizing a bike frame, surely you can gain/lose this with the seat stem adjustment? Not trying to be controversial by the way, just curious

 

[numbnuts]

I always slide forward off the saddle when I need to put a foot down
+1

 

[rayw1604]

To be honest, having read all the replies here so far, I'm not now sure I did make a mistake - I seem to be no different from anybody else(for instance, having no more than my toe on the ground at rest), except I haven't learnt to slide off the saddle, which I will now do. All my other adjustments seem to be ideal for me. 2 centimetres may not be critical, I was just quoting the next size down, having put it in my head that I was definitely wrong somehow. My lack of confidence doesn't help in certain situations, but the answer to that is keep cycling. Thanks for the replies.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I ride clipped in so sliding off the saddle isn't an option, unless I want to uncle both feet everytime. The 'correct' position should have you only just brushing the floor with your toes, it's just about getting confidence, and knowing that your bike will have to tip and lean a little for you to put your foot down.

 

[jig-sore]

setting your saddle height so your feet touch the floor is for kids !!! and won't give you the correct position.

set the height correctly (pedal to saddle) and if you find you can't touch the floor then learn to slide out of the saddle, or stop at a kerb, or a railing etc.

your situation is perfectly normal

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

As a non technical, weekend leisure rider can someone please explain how 2 cm is so critical when sizing a bike frame, surely you can gain/lose this with the seat stem adjustment? Not trying to be controversial by the way, just curious

As a general rule, it's because the whole frame gets scaled up proportionally so you have a longer top tube as well and that 2cm for the legs becomes another ~2cm for the trunk and arms. It can make the difference between feeling like you're on the bike instead of perched somewhere over it.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I ride clipped in so sliding off the saddle isn't an option, unless I want to uncle both feet everytime. The 'correct' position should have you only just brushing the floor with your toes, it's just about getting confidence, and knowing that your bike will have to tip and lean a little for you to put your foot down.

I ride clipped in most of the time but I slide off the saddle and unclip on one side - so that the foot still clipped in is in the right position to pedal off and lift yourself back onto the saddle at the same time. You do have to make sure you're in the right gear though - if the pedal goes down too fast, you can end up moving back onto the saddle at the wrong height and rearranging your ventilation tube.

 

[HLaB]

I ride clipped in so sliding off the saddle isn't an option, unless I want to uncle both feet everytime. The 'correct' position should have you only just brushing the floor with your toes, it's just about getting confidence, and knowing that your bike will have to tip and lean a little for you to put your foot down.

I always ride clipped in and it isn't a problem, in fact I say its easier, just unclip one foot just before a stop and you can position the other easily to assist you and its consistent, after a while you don't even think about it.

 

[Broughtonblue]

As a general rule, it's because the whole frame gets scaled up proportionally so you have a longer top tube as well and that 2cm for the legs becomes another ~2cm for the trunk and arms. It can make the difference between feeling like you're on the bike instead of perched somewhere over it.

Aah thanks, I can see where the problem could arise then, I was just thinking it was your bum height!