Francois Du Rand Posted November 9, 2016 Share Good Day everybody, I come seeking wisdom from the clever folks at the bikehub .I have been cycling for just over a year now (road bike). However as soon as I started passing the 40km mark, I started getting serious lower back pains. So somebody suggested I go for a bike fit. I went for a bike fit at cycle fit, where I got excellent service. However the back pain persisted, I went back, they made some more adjustments free of charge, still no difference (cycle fit still rocks, as their service is great). Then I read they said your core is too weak, so I started doing core exercise for about 6 months now. Planks, sit ups, reverse crunches, cross over situps the works...... Still no difference. Which brought me to the last thing I can think of, my bike might be too big for me. I am currently riding a 55cm road bike. I am 1.71m tall, and have a inseam length of 74cm. According to the Merida, Giant and Scott website I should be riding a small to medium, or 49cm. Do you guys think this can possibly be my problem? As I rode the Value Logistics Fast One route this weekend, and was in agony from 60km up to 96km. If anybody can shed some light it would help, as I am looking to get another bike, but I don't know if I am just an idiot. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usxorf Posted November 9, 2016 Share I ride a 55cm and I'm 1.83. So yeah, probably too big for you. It wouldnt hurt to see a biokineticist as well, you could have weak glutes or pelvic tilt or some other weakness in the posterior/anterior chain - causing your back to do more work than it should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Wheel Base Posted November 9, 2016 Share If your bike was too big then surely the guys doing the fit would have informed you?Post a pic of your bike, Is your saddle post really low and your stem really high? That would be a sign of wrong size frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy Posted November 9, 2016 Share I think that if it was a bike sizing matter that Cyclefit would have pointed it our to you. They can normally work around minor differences but can only do so much with the stem length. 56 does seem a bit big to me. They have all your details on file so give them a call and they will answer your question definitively. Cycle_Fit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankie99 Posted November 9, 2016 Share 55cm is way to big for you and is def the problem. Not sure how cycle fit didn't pick that up and advise you on your 1st visit? No matter what size stem and how many spacers they fit for you the 55cm frame will always be to big for you. Get a 50 or 52cm frame and all your problems should be resolved. Riding the wrong size frame is the biggest injustice you can do to yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchelicious Posted November 9, 2016 Share CycleFit usually gives good advice. Did they say anything to you about your bike size?When they did the fit, what parts did they change on the bike? Handlebars, Stem...? Edit: Just a side quesdtion, who sold you a 55cm frame? Edit Edit: What bike is it? I am a 55cm and am looking for a bike for CPT. I have a 49cm bike in my house that is not being used....... Edited November 9, 2016 by Patchelicious Bankie99 and Cycle_Fit 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CogitoErgoSum Posted November 9, 2016 Share Brilliant bike fit yet they cannot be bothered to size the bike for you? Not so brilliant then. Problem is, there is something like "training yourself into an injury". Having the wrong running shoes can result in chronic knee/hip/ankle injuries. Same with cycling - wrong sized bike, wrong saddle/general fit can cause chronic problems. Go to a bio and have your glutes and hip flexor checked. And get onto a bike that fits Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Du Rand Posted November 9, 2016 Share The guys at cycle fit said the frame is a little bit too big, but they said they can adjust it for me.I will try and post photos of my bike once i get home from work.The put the shortest stem on they had because I was getting numb hands from leaning to heavily on the handle bars. they also changed the handle bars. Cycle_Fit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Du Rand Posted November 9, 2016 Share CycleFit usually gives good advice. Did they say anything to you about your bike size?When they did the fit, what parts did they change on the bike? Handlebars, Stem...? Edit: Just a side quesdtion, who sold you a 55cm frame?It was an old bicycle lying in an old lady's garage. Got it for R1200 at the time, I didn't know much about cycling back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Du Rand Posted November 9, 2016 Share CycleFit usually gives good advice. Did they say anything to you about your bike size?When they did the fit, what parts did they change on the bike? Handlebars, Stem...? Edit: Just a side quesdtion, who sold you a 55cm frame? Edit Edit: What bike is it? I am a 55cm and am looking for a bike for CPT. I have a 49cm bike in my house that is not being used.......Patcheliciuous, It is marked as a Benino Ironman, an old Chorme molly frame, I have tricked it out in the meantime with a full Shimano 105 groupset, except for the brake calipers, which is Shimano SLS still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_hond Posted November 9, 2016 Share Do you have back problems off the bike? If not, then I'd think that something on the bike is causing problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francois Du Rand Posted November 9, 2016 Share Do you have back problems off the bike? If not, then I'd think that something on the bike is causing problems No, I've never had any back problems before. The pain goes away as soon as I get off the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanievb Posted November 9, 2016 Share fwiw I'm 1.72 with 79 inseam and I'm on a 54cm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidCharlemagne Posted November 9, 2016 Share 55cm is way too big for your diminutive stature. It is unfortunate that ittook you more than a year to figure out this bit of information. Any bike fit worth it's salt should give you a print out of your ideal set up. Like, frame size, saddle height, stem length, drop, etc. Now, go sort that out and enjoy your pain free riding. Bankie99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKK Posted November 9, 2016 Share I also started road cycling on a bike found in a tannie's garage, an old Hansom that must have been a 61cm frame. I am 1.88m and it was slightly too big for me but I rode it anyway which was very uncomfortable. My next bike was a 56cm which ended up being slightly too small also resulting in pain across the body as I was too crunched up. Now I ride a 58cm frame which is a perfect fit and I have no pain other than my legs crying for me to stop pedalling. I would suggest you go to a bike shop and ride a 50/52/54 and see which feels the most comfortable. Also remember that as nothing in this world is as it seems, don't expect a 54cm Giant to feel the same as a 54cm Scott Spoke101 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardSteele Posted November 9, 2016 Share Sorry to hear you are suffering but looks like you are now a committed biker...The fist rule of bike club....You don't need an excuse to buy a new bikeProper fitting bike could save you all the other expenses(fitting,physio,chiro)Shop around as mentioned Manufactures frames differ in size and go to a reputable bike dealer.Hope your aches disappear soon. Edited November 9, 2016 by howardsteele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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