Modifying bikes to make them fit nonstandard people

[beatlejuice]

I would like to start a thread to find out about good bike shops that help people with injuries and disabilities get their bike to fit them properly. Since buying my Specialized Sirrus Elite some 2 years ago I found I couldn't ride it for any length of time. An old elbow injury started to play up due to the weight on my arms. I realised that I needed to raise my handlebars. After trying various attempts I have finally got it right. If I had gone to my LBS and got their advice I would have got a more useable bike sooner however I didn't feel very confident of either of my two local ones. As anyone found a bike shop that is particularly good at suggesting modifications for people like me?

 

[ian turner]

cyclemagic in Leicester probably

 

[Globalti]

An old elbow injury started to play up due to the weight on my arms.

Because your saddle is tilted forwards, throwing your weight onto your arms!

The saddle should be flat or even tilted up at the nose by a degree or two, this will put your weight on the sit bones at the bottom of your pelvis rather than throwing it forward onto your arms. Go out for a ride, take an Allen key and experiment until you find the right position. Your weight should be mostly on your sit bones with a little weight shared by the perineum, which is the soft bit between your legs.

 

[Hilldodger]

cyclemagic in Leicester probably

Ta

We do a lot of this kind of work and people travel from all over the country to us for help.

We go a lot futher that just adding adaptions, we'll cut and reweld frames if need be.

 

[numbnuts]

Thorn Bikes do all the sizes, but you can also get different sizes of top tubes as well so you can have a more sit up potion with drops bars, I have this as I have spinal damage

 

[beatlejuice]

Thanks Globalti, I will fiddle about with my sit angle! I do remember that I put it down in its present position because my 'bits' were getting numb. This time I will adjust it in small amounts. Since my elbow injury my left arm no longer straightens like the right. I then put my weight on the right one which causes my right hand to go numb. Some ten years ago I rode a Bianchi and yes it was amazing. I would love to be able to ride one again in comfort.