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:20040627215255.26478.00000854@mb-
m03.aol.com...

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 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "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?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<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