Going to start riding the mountain bike

[vickster]

Is your leg straight when on the pedal at the bottom of the revolution and is there some bend in your arms when holding the hoods or are your elbows locked?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Andy, it sounds a bit like you're used to the more upright position and your body isn't so used to the comparatively flat and stretched out position that you get on a road bike. Provided there are no physical complaints that last it might just be letting your body get used to it. It probably won't do any harm in any case to turn the stem upside down and put any spacers there might be on below the stem. It might help to get your bars a little bit higher and help the transition.

 

[Simmer]

try some common pointers for bike setup and take it from there. Set the seat height so your heel just falls on the pedal. Next set the seat position, with a pedal in the 3'oclock position drop a plumb line from your knee. (I used a piece of string with a spanner on the end). the line should fall somewhere in conjunction with the pedal spindle. Move the seat back/forward to get the required result.

With the seat position set, lean onto the bars like you would when cycling. Are your arms outstretched or do they have a bend in them, do you feel like you are having to reach out, or do you feel bunched up ? Do you feel like you are leaning over too much ? stems will flip. that is, when you turn them upside down the angle will raise them slightly. For me this made a huge difference coming from a hybrid and not used to leaning over. If you feel like you are being stretched after flipping. try a shorter stem.

Next check your cleats if you use them, are they lined up with your foot, or are you twisting on the pedal to feel comfortable. I had mine set in the middle but taking a shoe size up this made them too far forward for me. I dropped them back towards the heel by 10mm and it feels much better.

Once you set these, mark where everything is. then adjust 1 thing at a time until it feels right for you.

 

[Andy clarke]

try some common pointers for bike setup and take it from there. Set the seat height so your heel just falls on the pedal. Next set the seat position, with a pedal in the 3'oclock position drop a plumb line from your knee. (I used a piece of string with a spanner on the end). the line should fall somewhere in conjunction with the pedal spindle. Move the seat back/forward to get the required result.

With the seat position set, lean onto the bars like you would when cycling. Are your arms outstretched or do they have a bend in them, do you feel like you are having to reach out, or do you feel bunched up ? Do you feel like you are leaning over too much ? stems will flip. that is, when you turn them upside down the angle will raise them slightly. For me this made a huge difference coming from a hybrid and not used to leaning over. If you feel like you are being stretched after flipping. try a shorter stem.

Next check your cleats if you use them, are they lined up with your foot, or are you twisting on the pedal to feel comfortable. I had mine set in the middle but taking a shoe size up this made them too far forward for me. I dropped them back towards the heel by 10mm and it feels much better.

Once you set these, mark where everything is. then adjust 1 thing at a time until it feels right for you.

My arms have only a slight bend in them I find I have to straighten my back out at the bottom also you see I've read and been told that when the heel is on the pedal you still need a very slight bend I'm so lost with it all il put a shorter stem on tonight I'm taking the MTb until I get the bike back hopefully later when a mate of mine returns it after checking it over again plus the roads are getting badly mudded up

 

[Andy clarke]

My arms have only a slight bend in them I find I have to straighten my back out at the bottom also you see I've read and been told that when the heel is on the pedal you still need a very slight bend I'm so lost with it all il put a shorter stem on tonight I'm taking the MTb until I get the bike back hopefully later when a mate of mine returns it after checking it over again plus the roads are getting badly mudded up

Thanks

 

[Andy clarke]

Is your leg straight when on the pedal at the bottom of the revolution and is there some bend in your arms when holding the hoods or are your elbows locked?

No looked either very nearly straight or a slight bend

 

[vickster]

Sounds like you might need a shorter stem if arms locked out, how long is yours? You sound over stretched. You could also flip the stem and angle the bars slightly towards you

 

[Andy clarke]

I'm not locked out arms slightly bent the stem is 120mm before the lbs wouldn't help me I had a different shorter stem he said to change it back to my longer one this is why I'm getting confused

 

[vickster]

120mm is quite long

Did you actually ride the bike with the shorter stem? Why only listen to the shop, bike fit has a degree of trial and error. Your arms should be bent beyond slightly IME. I rode a bike too big for me and ended up with chronic tennis elbow and two operations, so being over stretched is not good. Also if getting back ache, try some stretches after riding to loosen everything up and look at core strength as above

By the way, some punctuation in your posts would make them easier to read and understand Even if you are posting on a phone

 

[Linford]

You should be able to go miles in comfort if the bike is set up properly, if it is wrong, you will be lucky to get to the end of the road.

 

[Andy clarke]

I did not try the bike with a shorter stem, I will take it home with me tonight. I've come in on the mountain bike today.
I must admit my knee is better my back still ached, I guess I will have to get the core up to scratch.

 

[Andy clarke]

I a

You should be able to go miles in comfort if the bike is set up properly, if it is wrong, you will be lucky to get to the end of the road.

i agree

 

[vickster]

I did not try the bike with a shorter stem, I will take it home with me tonight. I've come in on the mountain bike today.
I must admit my knee is better my back still ached, I guess I will have to get the core up to scratch.

And sort out the reach. The knee will be due to saddle height, back the reach

 

[Linford]

I a

i agree

If you are 5'11" and the bikes frame is large, then a 120 stem will be a real reach. I never ride with my hands on the lower bars. The reach to the hoods should feel like a very natural position to be in...no stretching, no pulling on the lower back. I am wondering if the frame is a bit big and you need to drop right back to a 90 stem...are you sitting on the seat properly also ?

It takes a bit of tiem to adjust also. I had an enforced break from cycling and only really came back into it in July ... 5 mile rides were enough on relatively flat ground. Now a few months in and I can comfortably do 30 miles with some hill climbing without really feeling the effects after the ride.
It takes time to acquire cycle fitness. You need to keep at it, and build it up as you go. The cycling has helped my general suppleness also as I spend the day in a chair staring at a screen

 

[Andy clarke]

I have a 100-105 which il try thanks for the help guys !!