Merckxs Century Geometry

Are you sure that:

A) you aren't in condition to take long rides
B) you are set up properly on the bike

The most comfortable frame coupled with bonejarring wheels, seatpost and
saddle will still beat the living [censored] out of you.

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

Quoted message said:

I just finished a long ride today on my (relatively) new Merckx Majestic.

I

Quoted message said:

bought this bike about a year ago believing that it would be comfortable

on

Quoted message said:

long rides. When I finished today, my lower back was stiff to the point

of

Quoted message said:

being painful. Anyone else out there have any similar experiences? Am I

not

Quoted message said:

compatable with Merckx's geometry?

Dave

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In article <[email hidden]>,

UMTERP said:

I just finished a long ride today on my (relatively) new Merckx Majestic. I
bought this bike about a year ago believing that it would be comfortable on
long rides. When I finished today, my lower back was stiff to the point of
being painful. Anyone else out there have any similar experiences? Am I not
compatable with Merckx's geometry?

This is not answerable without knowing all the details about your
body and the complete bicycle. I recommend you talk to local club
riders about where to find an experienced bicycle fitter. A coach,
frame builder, or one of the local shops may be able to take care
of it. This will typically cost $50-150. You can also find various
fitting guides and rants on the Internet which are interesting and
sometimes useful but not as valuable to you as an experienced eye.

If you say where you live someone on this newsgroup may recommend
a fitter near you.

The Merckx geometry is not so different from other common frames,
unless you are near the limits of fit on your frame you should
be able to adapt it to your needs, perhaps with the purchase of
a stem.

Generally speaking if your saddle position is correct (height
and fore/aft) and you get lower back pain you should start by
shortening the reach and/or raising the bars. So changing the
stem reach or rise, or changing the handlebar reach and drop,
both offer lots of options for changing where your hands go.

--Paul

umterp-<< I
bought this bike about a year ago believing that it would be comfortable on
long rides. When I finished today, my lower back was stiff to the point of
being painful. Anyone else out there have any similar experiences? Am I not
compatable with Merckx's geometry? >><BR><BR>

Have you ever had a bike fit on the Merckx??

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Quoted message said:

I just finished a long ride today on my (relatively) new Merckx Majestic.

I

Quoted message said:

bought this bike about a year ago believing that it would be comfortable

on

Quoted message said:

long rides. When I finished today, my lower back was stiff to the point

of

Quoted message said:

being painful. Anyone else out there have any similar experiences? Am I

not

Quoted message said:

compatable with Merckx's geometry?

Dave

It's too tight Dave. Sell it, and buy a Specialized Roubaix. People
will advise you it's the wheels, the bars, the tires, etc. I went through
all that, and buying this bike solved all my problems. Like Eddy said
himself when someone asked him how to solve a shimmy in a bike, he replied,
get a different bike. With this 2 cents I'm of course assuming you are
experienced rider. If you are new to riding, all bikes will be a pain in
the back at first.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

umterp-<< I
bought this bike about a year ago believing that it would be comfortable on
long rides. When I finished today, my lower back was stiff to the point of
being painful. Anyone else out there have any similar experiences? Am I not
compatable with Merckx's geometry? >><BR><BR>

Have you ever had a bike fit on the Merckx??

Ditto to that question.

I don't have back pain normally, but I have very little lower back
flexibility. I can't touch my toes, not even close. I always had a
hard time staying in the drops in my old bikes - my back wouldn't stand
for it. When I got my new bike, I had a fitting done by somebody who
was very knowledgeable (he coaches Harvard's cycling team). Now,
admittedly this was a custom frame. But I think the larger part of the
fit was in the parts. He got me set up with the right width handlebars
(*huge* difference; I could feel it as soon as he put them in my hands),
the right length and angle of stem, and seat post (mine angles back).
Now I can stay in the drops as long as I like practically. And I have
much better performance in riding.

All of this is to say, it might not be that the frame is the wrong size
or geometry for you at all - it might just be some other bits that can
be replaced or adjusted for you.

Dave