Patrick: When I went to the first fitter and he moved my saddle forward, I was totally shocked. I had been moving my saddle back, in small adjustments, over the six or so months since I had first had my bike. If anything, I thought it could have moved further back or that I was getting close to the range needed. I must admit, I wasn't uncomfortable with the fitting I received w/ the first fitter, at least not when it came to the pressure on my hands, numbness/tingling in hands and feet, and sore butt. We just were not able to make my upper body feel good. That's why I decided to try another fitter and they seem to have put me back to where I started in everything except my saddle fore/aft position.
I responded to Steve's post and described my ride today. I think I'll just try to focus on my saddle and my cleats for now and see how that goes. I was super focused on my upper body after the initial fitting, because all the other issues seemed to have been solved. I'm feeling a little better about things having gone for a ride today, but getting out for a 90 km (56 mile) ride will be the real yardstick. Thanks for your suggestions. I'll definitely keep them in mind. On May 21, 6:25 am, PATRICK MOORE <bertin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Zaelia: I'm sorry to hear about the confusion. Can you post a photo or two of > > 1) a profile of you on the hoods, > 2) in the hooks, > 3) Of your camera-side leg at full pedal extension? > > I know that this will be hard to do, but if these photos could be > taken while you are pedaling at a normal rate and torque, that would > help. > > At least photos of you sitting as above and supported by a wall or friend. > > I know that different people have different needs, but I have been so > successful myself in creating a comfortable bar by putting my saddle > far back that, again, I wonder if your saddle is simply too far > foward? > > In my own case, my bars stay resolutely fixed -- I hardly ever adjust > them once I get them right; it is my saddle and cleats that I am > continually adjusting. > > FWIW, I am 56 and while generally fit do little in the way of upper > body exercise. > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 1:29 AM, Zaelia <caddic...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Over the past week I have been consciously paying attention to my body > > and reminding myself to relax. Thanks to those on this list who made > > that suggestion. I do believe this has helped. I was doing this, but I > > don't think I was really doing it well. I was focusing on some parts > > of my body but not focusing on others. > > > I have also come to accept the fact that my general fitness, > > flexibility and strength, or lack thereof, are likely contributing > > factors. I will be looking into this in more detail. > > > A week ago, I returned to the first fitter to see about the final > > pieces of my fit. Again, his suggestion was a longer stem and/or a > > handlebar with a longer reach and medium to shallow drop because I was > > bunched up up top. Without telling the whole story, he also raised my > > handlebar height (due to my handlebars too easily being put out of > > alignment). This put everything out of whack and I was back to having > > pain almost everywhere. I think I'm done with that fitter. > > > Today, I went to a new LBS and had a new fitting. They reversed > > everything the previous fitter had done! He had raised my saddle, they > > lowered it (by 1/2 to 1 inch). They said my cleats were both too far > > forward on my shoes and were uneven (set up by previous fitter), and > > they lowered my handlebars. Riding the indoor trainer during the fit, > > I immediately felt some soreness in my knees, weight on my hands and > > arms, and tingling in my toes (I had only ever felt this after 3-5 > > hours of riding in the saddle, not from 5 minutes of stationary > > pedalling). For the soreness in my knees and the weight on my hands, > > they talked about the body's memory and how it may take time to > > adjust. I feel a little apprehensive, since it felt like I was back to > > where I was before the first fitting, but I'll ride with this setup > > and make assessments and adjustments as I go. For the tingling in the > > toes it was suggested I get better shoes. Admittedly, the shoes I was > > wearing were ill-fitting and not very stiff, so I'll see how the new > > shoes fare, but they did say that it's possible I may still feel this > > tingling with the new shoes. Maybe it's time to see a podiatrist? > > > Interestingly, they disagreed with the previous fitter about my stem/ > > handlebar setup. They said I should not be getting a longer stem/bars > > with longer reach but should keep my stem (or its relative length) and > > get bars with a shallower reach. I was flummoxed. Such differing > > results. They said I was in no way bunched up up top, but that > > everything looked really good. The were completely unconcerned about > > the drops. > > > So, I feel like I'm just going in circles, and I feel deflated and > > frustrated and ready to give up. I have some big rides coming up, and > > I was hoping to have the bike in good shape long before that. That's > > why I started the fitting back in the fall. But this is where I find > > myself, so we'll see what happens. > > > Thanks for reading and for letting me know your experiences and > > thoughts. > > > Hope you have a great weekend, riding your bike?, wherever you are. > > Zaelia > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- > Patrick Moore > Albuquerque, NM > For professional resumes, contact > Patrick Moore, ACRW > patrickmo...@resumespecialties.com > > A billion stars go spinning through the night > Blazing high above your head; > But in you is the Presence that will be > When all the stars are dead. > (Rilke, Buddha in Glory) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
