The starting point is to get the geometry of another bike set up to be as close as possible to the comfortable position on the old bike. The contact points - feet on pedals, hands on top of the drop handle bars and butt on saddle should be about the same relatively as before. (I'm assuming here that her current position is basically sound with the correct saddle height. If not search the web for advice on bike/rider fit.) You should be able to adjust handlebars so that the upper is at least level with saddle. From what you have said, you can't do this so the road bike is probably too small. When ready to assume a more aerodynamic position for racing, the handlebars can be lowered, say a half inch at a time, progressively over the season as the body adapts to slightly changed positions. It takes time. Competitive riders often start the season with a more relaxed handle bar height and drop them lower progressively ending up in a pretty radical position for racing.
If acquiring a larger bike, go to any of the retail shops listed in the OBC newsletter and ask that your daughter be measured and fitted. Cyclo Bertrand, Peccos, and others have the expertise to do it this. If the helmet is affecting her line of sight, it is either improperly adjusted or too big for her. Hedley, Phil wrote: > My 15 year old daughter has taken up an interest in road cycling (not > racing) and I bought a second hand touring/racing style bike to see how > she gets on. > > In the past she has always ridden mountain bikes and now she feels > uncomfortable when riding the bike I bought. The main problem seems to > be that she feels as though her shoulders are hunched and she gets a > neck ache. The helmet she wears makes things worse since she has to hold > up her head further to avoid seeing the rim of the helmet. I know from > personal experience that I've had neck ache on both road and mountain > bike and I've thought that it is part of cycling and you just live with > it. Now I'm not too sure. > > On my daughter's bike I've adjusted the seat height to what she feels > comfortable with, it's also in the forward position so that the reach to > the handlebars is as short as possible. I've also lifted up the > handlebars to compensate for the seat height. However, at the moment the > height of the seat and handlebars are at the maximum, but the handlebars > are lower than the seat which may be the reason for the neck ache. > > I'm starting to wonder if I should exchange the bike for a bigger frame, > whereby the seat and handlebar height can be set so that the handlebars > are not so low, but with a bigger frame would the reach from seat to > handlebar be increased resulting in the same problem of neck ache? > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Phil Hedley > > > ------ Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
