Quote:
> I am looking at getting back into biking and have been looking at new
> road bikes and I am looking for advice. I am looking to ride for
> fitness and distance riding (centuries, etc).
> I own a '93 Specialized Sirrus Cro-Moly bike - I have never felt
> comfortable with it - which is the main reason I quit riding - I felt
> "beat" up by the bike - numb hands, sore rear, etc. I have had it
> adjusted many times with no relief. Also, the Suntour components have
> been a pain...
> I have been looking at the newer comfort bikes like the Specialized
> Sequoia Comp and the Trek 1800C(04) / 2200C(03). I was also looking
> at the Specialized Roubaix - more into the performance end but the
> sales guy said that it would probably be more comfortable than my old
> Sirrus....
> Are the newer comfort bikes all that they promise? Or is it better to
> go into a lower end performance bike? Also, any other brands/models
> that I should look at? I started with Specialized and Trek because I
> am the most familiar with them.
> Thanks
> Mike
If you're planning on doing centuries, you're probably going to end up being
more comfortable, in the end, on a racing-style road bike. But you need to
have someone who knows what they're doing help you out with getting the bike
fit properly. And it's a little like a golf swing. What actually works
best may not feel quite right to you the first few times.
Go to www.coloradocyclist.com and carefully read the section on their
website about bike fit. If you didn't follow these guidelines in setting up
your old bike, it's probably got a lot to do with why you were never
comfortable on it. Also, keep in mind that proper fit is so important that
serious, high-mileage cyclists and racers can tell if they get their bike
back from the shop and, say for example, the saddle is 1/4 inch too low or
the bars are tilted up 1/4" too much.
You have three contact points on the bike ... your hands, your feet and your
butt. Proper fit will balance the weight distribution between them so you
don't get numb hands or a numb ***and so that your knees don't take a
beating as well. Most "comfort" bikes will have you too upright. They'll
be comfortable for 10 or 20 miles. They absolutely won't be comfortable for
100 miles.
Bob C.