Sizing service

How long is your frame's current (effective) Top Tube ...

And, how long is your stem?

What TYPE of handlebar does your bike have ...

And, how wide is it?

Plus, what is the differential between the top of the saddle & the stem?

Do you feel too cramped OR too stretched out?

Only moderately related, what is the crankarm length that you are using?

How far back is your saddle set?

Post a picture (taken from the side -- 90º to the bike's central plane) of your bike's current setup if you have the opportunity.

Hi Alfeng, thanks for the reply, here's the info you asked for:

How long is your frame's current (effective) Top Tube: C-C 57mm

And, how long is your stem? C-C 140mm

What TYPE of handlebar does your bike have? Ritchey Comp

And, how wide is it? Ext 42.5mm

Plus, what is the differential between the top of the saddle & the stem? 105mm difference

Do you feel too cramped OR too stretched out? Feels a bit stretched but ive tried a shorter stem and suffered the same saddle pain.

Only moderately related, what is the crank arm length that you are using? C-C 170mm

How far back is your saddle set? Currently midway, ive tried fully back and forward too.

Here's a pic of said machine....

Regards
John
[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by jaybeex2 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

... here's the info you asked for:

How long is your frame's current (effective) Top Tube: C-C 57mm

And, how long is your stem? C-C 140mm

What TYPE of handlebar does your bike have? Ritchey Comp

And, how wide is it? Ext 42.5mm

Plus, what is the differential between the top of the saddle & the stem? 105mm difference

Do you feel too cramped OR too stretched out? Feels a bit stretched but ive tried a shorter stem and suffered the same saddle pain.

Only moderately related, what is the crank arm length that you are using? C-C 170mm

How far back is your saddle set? Currently midway, ive tried fully back and forward too.

Here's a pic of said machine....

[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

Thanks for the info + posting a picture of how your bike is set up ...

HMMmmm. At 6'4", regardless of whether-or-not the bike may be too small for you ...

IF your saddle is uncomfortable, it could be because it is the wrong saddle ...

• there is a HUGE aftermarket for saddles because many people are on a never ending quest for a more comfortable saddle ...
  

BUT, I will tell you (and, others may-or-will disagree) that the problem which people have had with their saddles may be attributable to HOW they are sitting on the saddle ...

• with an equestrian saddle, how you sit in the "pocket" does matter
  
• but, IMO, you don't want to sit in the region of the saddle which would be comparable (i.e., the middle) because the result is akin to straddling a 2x4 equally uncomfortable will be a saddle which has a slightly convex top
  

[*] in other words, you want your sit bones to be on-or-near the widest part of the saddle which means that ultimately a portion of your butt will appear to be hanging off the back of the saddle

Now, sit bones do matter, and a larger individual will more-than-likely need a wider saddle ...

• if the saddle is too narrow, it will be like straddling the fore mentioned 2x4 ...
  

The "standard" BROOKS B17 saddle is wider than the typical "plastic" saddle which "Pro" riders typically use ...

• I have stated it before, the width of the rear of a saddle probably can't be too wide other than how it looks the nose on some wide saddles ARE too wide due to an apparent sense of a need for some proportionality on the part of the manufacturer
  

[*] OTHERWISE, people couldn't sit on chairs, couches, the ground ...

A Brooks B67 is really wide ... and, sprung ... weighs a couple of pounds ... its double-railed predecessor (B66) was a popular choice amongst the earliest MTB riders.

FYI. Some once very popular "plastic" saddles which many (shorter than your height) people found to be comfortable in the past (if you can find them) are the Selle Italia TURBO (and, copies ... yes, it was considered to be so comfortable that there were clones), Selle Italia FLITE, San Marco ROLLS, and the original San Marco CONCOR ... all would probably be considered to be obsolete, but you should be able to find them on eBay.

FWIW. IMO, the BIG mistake many people who should know better have apparently made when trying a Brooks-or-equivalent saddle is that they apparently do not account for the greater rail-to-top-of-saddle height and end up thinking that the saddle is uncomfortable because it is subsequently set about 1/4" (?) too high relative to the ideal saddle height for the rider ...

• the short term disadvantage of a "leather" saddle is that it will be pretty stiff when new ... some saddle shaping is required
  

[*] the long term disadvantage of "leather" saddles is that periodic maintenance is required

Regardless, you may want to cant the saddle's nose on YOUR bike downward by a few degrees ...

Start with the tip of the nose [really, the portion above the front of the leading edge of the rails BEFORE the top curves downward] about 3mm (?) lower than the rear of the saddle ... maybe, mroe.

• IMO, the only reason to have the nose of the saddle masochistically higher than the rear of the saddle is if the bike is set up for descending ...
  
• a perfectly level saddle will typically place pressure on parts of your body which you don't want pressure placed on
  

As far as how your bike is currently set up ...

• you could certainly use 44cm-or-46cm wide handlebars ...
  
• longer cranks
  
• set the saddle all the way back BUT lowered by ~1/2" +/-
  
• eventually, a frame with a longer top tube (really ... possibly, about 2" longer!) but, with possibly a slightly shorter stem (e.g., 120mm)
  

Thanks for the info!
Some food for thought there!

Ive noticed i do sit at the front of the seat, and have moved it fully forward meaning a sit nearer the rear, ive also raised the bars 1/2" and have to say it does feel better (on the rollers at least)..

Im starting to think the longer bar stem is maybe too long, time to go on the road for a full test....

Thanks again

When your on the bike hands on the hoods and look down at the bars, where does the front wheel spindle sit? I've heard it should be obscured by the bars as mine is. Just wondering how everyone has theirs set.

Hey thanks....