had a road bike 'fitting' - which suggested i ride a 58cm frame, with a 120mm stem.The thing was an absolute gate, truly massive. i'm 185cm / 6'2". i could barely reach the handlebars. twas horrible. ended up with a 54cm frame and nice 90mm stem, it's very comfy.
Are you sure your 6'2"? You sound like a 5'8" contender to me
Stem is as high as it will go and flipped up so 6 deg positive rise, saddle is nearly as far forward as it will go.
Saddle forward would give you hand pain. Saddle back and lower, bars rotated backwards...?
Btw road bikes are much longer than your MTBs. If you get on one after being used to MTBs it will feel ridiculously long. My road bike is borderline too small (compact 53cm, I'm 5'11) and it still feels unnaturally long after I've been riding the Orange 5 for a while.
had a road bike 'fitting' - which suggested i ride a 58cm frame, with a 120mm stem.
The thing was an absolute gate, truly massive. i'm 185cm / 6'2". i could barely reach the handlebars. twas horrible. ended up with a 54cm frame and nice 90mm stem, it's very comfy.
I'm 6'3" and ride a 60cm with a 120 stem (actually one of my road bikes has a 130mm) and it's perfect. Depends on the make as one manufacturers 58cm will be another ones 56cm. From the sounds of things you're still on the wrong size - a 54cm is usually suitable for people about 5'6", just based on the info about your height (and without seeing you) I'd have said 58cm as well.
Are you sure your 6'2"? You sound like a 5'8" contender to me
+1 - a 54 is something that's only just too big for me, and I'm 5'7"..! Sounds like the shop had it just right.
Mountain bikers..... 
There is loads of fitting advice available for free on the net, or from your local library, and far more consensus exists regarding road bike fit than for mountain bike fit...
...and that's why bike fitting is considered by some to be a waste; you are paying out for someones opinion plus a series of well documented measurements, plus as noted above; bike fit is a dynamic thing. It changes as you change over time.
Do things in order;
1. Set your saddle height.
Stand against a wall in underpants and socks, push a book up into your crotch as if you were sitting on your bikes top tube, then get someone to measure the distance from the book to the floor.
This is your cycling inseam measurement.
Then multiply this by 0.885.
Then use this figure to set your saddle height FROM THE CENTRE OF THE BB TO the saddle top.
2. Saddle setback.
If you are tall, push the saddle backwards past it's mid point on the seatpost; you can fanny about with this later.
Sort these two things out first, then try to LEAVE THEM ALONE.
3. Put your bars as high as you can; the aim is to get them down as you get used to riding.
4. Stem length; When in the hoods, the front axle should be obscured from view by the handle bars, choose stem length accordingly.
That's about it, apart from tweaking things bit by bit.
You've got sore hands and neck and arms because you have too much weight on your hands, because you have shuffled your saddle forwards to compensate for being weak. Put it back.
Sounds to me like you're too stretched out. As already mentioned numb hands suggests too much weight on the front, I'd try a shorter stem or saddleforwardsbackwards
If you have too much weight on your hands move the saddle backwards so your arse acts as a counter-balance. Get the saddle position correct first, then find where your hands naturally fall and put your bars there.
See the "Saddle Front/Back Positioning" section on Sheldon here.
That's what worked for me and for my wife, anyway. There was a better web-page than Sheldon's but I can't remember where, but it gives the general impression.
the guys in the shop were pretty incredulous aswell, what can i say?
i'm not scared of big bikes - i ride a 20" blue pig. i'm 6'2" and have a 36" inside leg. i've always needed big bikes. my old pro-flex 857 even came with a 'WAAY Big' sticker instead of the usual 'XL'
i've got a Hemlock, i wanted an XL, but Cy only makes a 'L' - so i need a 420mm seat post to get good leg extension.
my specialized allez has a 350mm seatpost - it's not set at the limit, but i get good leg extension when i pedal.
i have to reach a little to get to the hoods, the drops aren't too far away.
it's very comfy.
it's lots of fun.
54cm = 21" (yes, i've measured it)
roadies are weird (a friend of mine has refused to join me on a ride until i turn my 6degree rise stem the 'right way up' (down))
5'7 on a 54cm with a 90mm stem here.
Can't imagine anyone over 6' being comfortable on mine!
my roadbike, a surky lht, fitted with flat bars, barends and a brooks saddle, is as comfy as a nice old comfy sofa............ 
That's all well and good crikey, for a standard sizing guide but takes no account for the fact that humans are all different. A good bike fit studio will take into account differences between people in regards to biomechanics, flexibility and riding style.
A prescribed fitting technique will work for the majority but when people have a fit issue this is precisely the time a good bike fitting consultation will help.
There's a load of shit spouted on here :o)
A friend of ours does the Specialized Bike Fit thing (she's a physio) where she looks for any areas that might be causing issues - sometimes a wonky leg might mean a cleat needs moving or a long back might mean a longer stem is needed.
I don't road ride much but my 2010 Allez is really comfy with no hand issues or backache. Something isn't right on yours. Leg burn is fine, aches and pains other than that aren't IMO.
john_l - MemberThere's a load of shit spouted on here :o)
Has anyone actually asked if the saddle is still on? Would hurt if it wasn't
I'd advise a bike fitting too just make sure you tell them what you want - more confort not more "speed".
I'd add that you could add some under the tape gel to you bars since this will add some confort plus go for a 25mm front tyre and only run it at 90-95psi. All these should reduce the harshness of a stiff frame like the planet X.
Although it may just be taking you a while to get use to the new position.
I'd advise a bike fitting too just make sure you tell them what you want - more comfort not more "speed".
I'd suugest that you could add some under the tape gel to you bars since this will add some comfort plus go for a 25mm front tyre and only run it at 90-95psi. All these should reduce the harshness of a stiff frame like the planet X.
Although it may just be taking you a while to get use to the new position.
This topic has been closed to new replies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
