Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
I’m getting old and having trouble with my back/hip – more tests to come but the orthopaedic surgeon only wants me to cycle on the flat and doesn’t want me hunched over.
Currently I have a 54cm Pompino (I’m 5’ 11”) and I feel like I’m sat on top of the bike and consequently very hunched over – I do like a lot of seatpost extension but obviously I’m going to have to change things around to keep cycling.
Any suggestions?
I use the same bike for 15 mile each way commute on mainly country lanes, popping to the pub, up to 200km sportives a coupla times a year and towing the kids.
A bigger pompino, shorter stem flat/riser bars and away you go. 😀
I'm in the Church of the Fast Hybrid, they tend to be built a little taller and less stretched but the whole ride position/concept is different. I'm very stiff through the back and hip due to injuries and I'm just done with drops, it makes far less difference to riding than I thought (tbh if I'd known this I'd have gone flat a long time easlier)
I've never done a 200km ride on mine to be fair (not a limitation; I just cannot be bothered to ride for that long on tarmac, life's too short) and I'd guess that's where a lack of hand positions becomes more of a thing. I thought I'd miss the drops sometimes but up to the furthest I've ridden it it's just more comfortable for me- it has one very comfy, hours-long riding position, instead of the 3 less comfy riding positions drops always give me.
Obviously it means tucking into a headwind is harder but then I imagine scrunching on the drops is probably worst for you anyway?
OTOH- 54cm sounds small for you?
I actually have bingo bars on the pompino (a bit like bull bars) - quite narrow and no drops, so I've no problem with flats.
Was pretty sure 54cm was fit for my size when looked BITD - just had another look and they recommend it for 5-9 to 6-1 so I'm bang in the middle.
A new larger frame is kinda tempting but it's another stretch (maybe run a much shorter stem), wonder if there is anything similar but with a lower BB compared to the headtube?
I had a Land Rover flat bar hybrid for a while, not that it was a brilliant bike, but with 25c tyres, flat bars, mtb like position, bar ends, it was ace for covering miles fast, and all whilst pretty upright.
Something of that ilk should suit?
What about a recumbent
Before you go thinking about buying new parts/frames/components etc I'd advise finding someone who could offer you a full Retul Muve bike fit so that your entire muscular and skeletal needs can be taken into account to find an ideal position that will enable you to continue cycling without discomfort.
It took me two years of messing about with my Tripster before i settled on it's current incarnation fitted with Jones bars, some say i have uglified a stunning bike 😀 but as long as it fits my shape and fulfils my needs then that's all that matters - the bike may be odd looking but place the odd looking owner (me) on it and the weirdness of the bike disappears.
O-O london road in a size up and flat bars is looking promising.
Much more relaxed geometry, higher handlebars and I quite like the flurometallic green (fondly reminds me of an old carrera I used to have) plus I can still do everything I want to do, except front panniers which isn't the end of the world.
I'd love a recumbent but there is no room for one unless I dump a coupla mtbs (hopefully I won't have to).
I'll bikefit it after building I think - I need a fundamentally different position on the bike and there a few places up in dublin that have good ratings for that kind of thing.
Ever ridden a dutch bike, proper sit up and beg? Completely different experience, no need to lean forward at all, handlebars are swept back to where you are. Headwinds are a bit harder, but hey-ho. You can still have as much gearing as you want too.
Looking at the geometry of a pompino it appears to be long and low. A 54" is the seat tube size and is like a 56 top tube.
Have you tried flipping the stem over to lift the front?
Dutch bike is on the list for after this try, think i'll drop my distance/speed quite a bit but if that's what it takes I will.
I've a 12 degree rise on the pomps current set up - and it's still grinding my hip.
I figure it's just too small for what I want
The pompino has a short head tube. Just whack a big rise stem on it, itll look goofy but save buying another bike which might not fit either.
+1 on seeing a specialist
You don't say where you are but NJD Sports might be a good option...
http://www.njdsportsinjuries.co.uk/Therapists.htm
Hope you can keep riding.
Salsa Fargo looks to have nice raised front, sit up style geometry.