Lumbar Spine & Robaix Size

"Glm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just bought a Specialized Robaix Elite after a break of
some 17 years from semi-serious cycling. During that time
I managed to sustain 3 herniated discs in my lumbar spine;
hence the interest in a 'comfortable' bike.

I'm 5'11" and my inseam is about 33.5". Based on my
understaning of folklore I was thinking that I needed a
56cm machine. The dealer - a reputable store in New York -
was, however, fairly insistent that I

purchase

Quoted message said:

a 54cm model; which I duly did. They spent some time
adjusting it for me, making sure the knee angles were
correct, etc.

After such an absence from riding it's hard for me to tell
how 'right'

this

Quoted message said:

bike feels. So, my question is, by having a shorter bike
(centre-to-top

of

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450mm vs. 470mm for the 56cm; top tube length of 548mm vs
565mm) am I

likely

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to be putting undue strain on my spine? Would I be better
off with a

larger

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one?

The dealer seemed to think that the shorter/smaller one
would better for

my

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lumbar region, but I am not sure - in terms of disc
pressure it seems like swings and roundabouts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you ever so much.

You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
fitting - e.g., one that will take into consideration your
back problems. Getting the "smallest bike possible" may not
be the best for YOUR particular need. Here are a few
articles that you ought to read:

rivbike.combikes framesize.htmlOpen ↗

rivbike.comrr comfposition.htmlOpen ↗

rivbike.comrr raisestem.htmlOpen ↗

peterwhitecycles.comfitting.htmOpen ↗

sheldonbrown.comframe sizing.htmlOpen ↗

"bfd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
fitting - e.g., one that will take into consideration your
back problems. Getting the

"smallest

Quoted message said:

bike possible" may not be the best for YOUR particular
need. Here are a

few

Quoted message said:

articles that you ought to read:

rivbike.combikes framesize.htmlOpen ↗

rivbike.comrr comfposition.htmlOpen ↗

rivbike.comrr raisestem.htmlOpen ↗

peterwhitecycles.comfitting.htmOpen ↗

sheldonbrown.comframe sizing.htmlOpen ↗

bfd

Thank you for the response; and for the links.

I did have the fitting; and I believe that it was reasonably
comprehensive (especially considering that I have not ridden
for so long and was, therefore, not in a position to give
specific instructions). My concern is really economics -
from a sales chap's perspective it may be easier to fit me
to for 54-cm in-stock nike than persuade me to place a back
order for a 56-cm which isn't in the store-room. Possibly I
am being over-cynical.

I just took the bike out on a 30-mile, leisurely (around
15mph) ride. Some ache in my lumbar region and pain in the
palms. Other than that, not too bad - the legs and knees
seem fine (well, until tomorrow).

What I am trying to determine is whether having more or
less top-bar length would reduce the strain in my lower
spine. I can understand that a longer bar results in more
sock absorption, but the Robaix seems pretty good in this
regard anyway.

At the end of the day, I can adjust the machine ad nauseam;
what I cannot do is magically increase the length of the top-
bar by 17mm!

I recognise that there is no hard and fast rule (or none
that applies in all cases at any rate); if anyone is willing
to share experiences, therefore, I'd be most grateful.

Thank you.

Glm

Glm said:

"bfd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vOXHc.1126-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You need to find a shop that knows how to do a proper
fitting -
e.g., one that will take into consideration your back
problems. Getting the "smallest bike possible" may
not be the best for YOUR particular need. Here are a
few articles that you ought to read:

snip

Quoted message said:

Thank you for the response; and for the links.

I did have the fitting; and I believe that it was
reasonably comprehensive (especially considering that I
have not ridden for so long and was, therefore, not in a
position to give specific instructions). My concern is
really economics - from a sales chap's perspective it may
be easier to fit me to for 54-cm in-stock nike than
persuade me to place a back order for a 56-cm which isn't
in the store-room. Possibly I am being over-cynical.

Ding-ding-ding! If you included this in your OP, I missed
it. Unless the bike has unusual geometry (a la Lemond?), a
54 /seems/ rather small for someone 5-11, IMO (hardly
expert, however). I'm 5-10 at most, and ride a 55 Klein
(compact). Did you consider shopping around before buying?

Anyway, you've got the bike now, so tweak things so it's
comfortable and ride the hell out of it.

Bill "who knows, might be perfect for you" S.