Your thoughts on my new bike.

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5
inch frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails
with no problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know
very little about them. I have been reading these forums for the past
couple days and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly
comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a
dream to ride through the trails, but now that I have been reading it
looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is
30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my feet
flat on the ground. What do I do? I am using this bike to ride on
trails, no stunts or anything it is a road and light trail bike to
get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and like it. I did not
start getting worried until yesterday when I found out what standover
was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no way
that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

If the bar don't get you, the end of the saddle will. Unless you stop short
before a drop, you'll more than likely endo or fall to the side, thus
sparing the jewels. Look at it this way, it's a cheap vascectomy.
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

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

Quoted message said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5 inch

frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails with no
problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know very little about
them. I have been reading these forums for the past couple days and think I
am in trouble. Although I am highly comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for
my gonads. The bike is a dream to ride through the trails, but now that I
have been reading it looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my
inseam is 30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my
feet flat on the ground. What do I do?

Quoted message said:

I am using this bike to ride on trails, no stunts or anything it is a road

and light trail bike to get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and
like it. I did not start getting worried until yesterday when I found out
what standover was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no
way that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

Quoted message said:

--

Good News / Bad News

Good News:
It's better than what you had.
You are out on the bike more and getting in better shape.
I hope you did not spend more than the $570.00 MSRP.
You are finally doing a little research.

Bad News:
The bike geometry is probably wrong for you (top tube too high and long ect)
The LBS that you bought it from sucks and you should never go back to it
(selling you a bike that does not fit).
If you ride on techinical trails the odds of you reproducing are dimished on
this bike...

My opinion:
Back in 1989 I did the same thing. Did not know anything about bikes and
bought a road bike that was too big for me from a LBS that sucked. Result
was that I did not ride it that much because it was not that comfortable.
Finally I sold it for $250.00 about a third of what I paid for it. I learned
my lesson, my next and subsequent bikes fit me! Fit is such an important
element for comfort and enjoyment on a bike not to mention reduces injury...
the injury in your case plus neck, hand, back ect and be injured from an ill
fitted bike.

If you really get into biking and decide to ride more than bike paths and
sidewalks you will want a nicer bike. Next time do your reasearch and get
something that fits!

-p

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5 inch frame.

Take it back to the LBS and [censored] up a storm that some idiot sold you a
bike that is too big for you, and don't leave until you have another bike.
Its their JOB to put you on a ride that fits.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5 inch
frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails with no
problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know very little
about them. I have been reading these forums for the past couple days
and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly comfortable on the bike,
I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a dream to ride through the
trails, but now that I have been reading it looks like the frame is too
big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is 30.5-31 inches approximately. My
balls touch the top bar with my feet flat on the ground. What do I do? I
am using this bike to ride on trails, no stunts or anything it is a road
and light trail bike to get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and
like it. I did not start getting worried until yesterday when I found
out what standover was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is
absolutely no way that this shop will take this bike back. It is really
comfortable to ride though. 😎

Oh dear, a 19.5" is far too big. At your size I'd be looking for something
around 16". I'd suggest you take it back to the bike shop you bought it
from and have a go at them for selling you the wrong size. If, as you say,
there is no chance to take it back, then I suggest you sell it and buy
yourself something that fits.

--
a.m-b FAQ: http://www.j-harris.net/bike/ambfaq.htm

a.bmx FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/bmx_faq.htm

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5
inch frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails
with no problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know
very little about them. I have been reading these forums for the past
couple days and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly
comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a
dream to ride through the trails, but now that I have been reading it
looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is
30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my feet
flat on the ground. What do I do? I am using this bike to ride on
trails, no stunts or anything it is a road and light trail bike to
get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and like it. I did not
start getting worried until yesterday when I found out what standover
was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no way
that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

Wow. My eyesight must be going. I completely missed the part about 19.5"!
You're in trouble. I'm just two inches shorter than you and even a 16"
causes falsettos.

What approach do I take when I call the bicycle shop today? The Bike has no marks in it or anything. My brother bought a 4900 earlier in the week that I had. So I told the guy to build me one, knowing nothing about fit. So know I know after the fact. 🙁 Is there any way that a shop will do right by this? It was an honest stupid mistake. Do you think at the least will take all of the componenst off of my bike and put them on another frame?😕

--

"Ride-A-Lot" <mitchell@[nospam]schnauzers.ws> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5
inch frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails
with no problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know
very little about them. I have been reading these forums for the past
couple days and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly
comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a
dream to ride through the trails, but now that I have been reading it
looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is
30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my feet
flat on the ground. What do I do? I am using this bike to ride on
trails, no stunts or anything it is a road and light trail bike to
get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and like it. I did not
start getting worried until yesterday when I found out what standover
was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no way
that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

If the bar don't get you, the end of the saddle will. Unless you stop

short

Quoted message said:

before a drop, you'll more than likely endo or fall to the side, thus
sparing the jewels. Look at it this way, it's a cheap vascectomy.
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

If you bought the bike legitimately you should demand customer satisfaction
and get the bike swapped for one that fits you. I wound up with a bike too
small for me from a shop that went out of business a month later and it
definitely sucks to try and compensate for an ill fit. After a year on that
bike I searched for a good LBS and now have a bike that fits me. Luckily I
was able to sell the first bike for a minimal loss.

If you decide that you want to get into more technical riding you going to
wish you got the right size bike.

Extreme pain is only one pedal stroke away.

Dave Haley

frodge said:

What approach do I take when I call the bicycle shop today? The Bike
has no marks in it or anything. My brother bought a 4900 earlier in
the week that I had. So I told the guy to build me one, knowing
nothing about fit. So know I know after the fact. 🙁 Is there any
way that a shop will do right by this? It was an honest stupid
mistake. Do you think at the least will take all of the componenst
off of my bike and put them on another frame?😕

It all depends on the shop. Legally, you have no recorse since the contract
has been fullfilled. The bike is still used by their standards so it's
going to be tough for them to do anything with it. Go in with the approach
that you want to be a long-term customer. Tell them you are new and were
hoping that they would have fit you better on the bike. If all else fails,
ask them if they would try and sell it on consignment for a few bucks less
than what you paid and you'll make up the difference towards the right bike.

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

frodge said:

What approach do I take when I call the bicycle shop today? The Bike
has no marks in it or anything. My brother bought a 4900 earlier in
the week that I had. So I told the guy to build me one, knowing
nothing about fit. So know I know after the fact. 🙁 Is there any
way that a shop will do right by this? It was an honest stupid
mistake. Do you think at the least will take all of the componenst
off of my bike and put them on another frame?😕

It all depends on the shop. Legally, you have no recorse since the

contract

Quoted message said:

has been fullfilled. The bike is still used by their standards so it's
going to be tough for them to do anything with it. Go in with the

approach

Quoted message said:

that you want to be a long-term customer. Tell them you are new and were
hoping that they would have fit you better on the bike. If all else

fails,

Quoted message said:

ask them if they would try and sell it on consignment for a few bucks less
than what you paid and you'll make up the difference towards the right

bike.

Sounds like it was his own fault in this case - from what he said, it
appears he just asked them to build another same as his brother's bike.

Shaun aRe

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

Frodge, I'm not so sure you should listen to everybody else. You said:

"I am highly comfortable on the bike"
"The bike is a dream to ride through the trails" and
"It is really comfortable to ride though. 😎"

Further, you started to doubt your own well-reasoned opinion after "reading
these forums for the past couple days." [censored] what you read. Bike fit is
highly personal - when something is comfortable it's comfortable. There is
no direct porportion between height and fit, but inseam can play a huge
factor. You listed a 31 inch inseam - that's real long for 5' 7" and,
because of that, I can see you on a 19.5" Trek. That's a Large, and I ride
a large in every frame with my 31" inseam. I have about three more inches in
height than you, so I might make better use of the longer toptube of a 19.5
than you, but you can always remedy that by getting a stem 20mm or so
shorter if you decide you ride a bit stretched out. Standover height is not
the be-all end-all of bike fitting.

There is a trend in biking right now to ride the smallest frame one can, and
have about a foot of seatpost sticking out. It's, by and large, stupid.
People claim smaller frames make a lighter bike: well, how much comfort is
an ouce worth to you? People also claim smaller frames are stiffer: if
that's even measurable or noticable, ar you going to be in a position where
this microscopic difference in frame deflection will make-or-break your
afternoon? Of course not. It's just as easy to have fit problems on a
too-small bike than on a too-large one.

Quoted message said:

I am fairly new to biking

Well, over time, you will learn these forums aren't tomes of wisdom all the
time. Trends, biased opinions, and pure [censored] are as present here as
information and honesty. Think of how many "torch the shop that sold you
that bike" people clearly disagree with everything I've already said.

Quoted message said:

I have been riding the bike every day

Hell yeah.

Quoted message said:

through the trails with no problems so far.

Then I would doubt you have a real fit issue.

Quoted message said:

I am afraid for my gonads. What do I do?

Ride that bike a bit more. If you decide you are going to switch from
mountain-bike-owner to mountain-biker (a shift, usually, in philosophy, zen,
fitness...okay that's [censored]. It just means you spend a LOT of money on
bikes and drink really good beer) than I would recommend selling the 4900.
Put it on a Ebay, where anything Trek brings in more money than it's worth.
Chalk your $$ losses up to experience and practice. Take your cash and put
it towards a new ride with a sloping or figured top tube - same size bike,
more room for the boys. Check out these bikes:

Intense 5.5 : http://www.bikemag.com/news/dayone_top3/
Intense Spider: http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/Gallery/?id=303
and the unmitigated king of package protection, the Surly Instigator with
the JunkSaver top tube: http://www.surlybikes.com/instigator.html

Not that those specific bikes are the ones you should buy (though they all
kick ass for their intended purposes), they just show you what can be done
with a top tube besides drawing a straight line form the top of the headtube
to the top of the seatpost.

Bottom line: you've ridden the bike a lot and are comfortable and happy.
That means it fits. 5' 7" is short for a Large frame, but 31" inseams are
right on. A current trend away from "higher top-tubes/not a lot of seatpost
showing" to "6' 2" guy on a medium frame with a foot of post up his ass"
does not make it the right way to go for everyone, it makes it a fad. Ride
your bike. Enjoy it. If you stick with it - and the only consensus you
will find on a-mb is that you SHOULD stick with it - than you can get a
different frame design when you upgrade (because you will want to upgrade.
Part of our disease).

Chris

Chris said:

There is a trend in biking right now to ride the smallest frame one can, and
have about a foot of seatpost sticking out.

Bollocks. Despite your exaggeration, the 'trend' to which you refer has
been around since the late 80's when mountain bikes ceased to be road
bikes with fat tyres.

Quoted message said:

People claim smaller frames make a lighter bike: well, how much comfort is
an ouce worth to you?

The idea is that you can make a lighter bike with the same geometry, thus
not affecting comfort or fit.

Quoted message said:

People also claim smaller frames are stiffer: if
that's even measurable or noticable, ar you going to be in a position where
this microscopic difference in frame deflection will make-or-break your
afternoon? Of course not.

However, nailing yourself on the top tube, struggling to haul round a
large gate with wheels, or crashing because you can not handle the bike
properly *is* likely to break your afternoon.

Quoted message said:

Bottom line: you've ridden the bike a lot and are comfortable and happy.
That means it fits.

Bollocks. I could have sworn the racing bike I got when I was 11 fit me
perfectly. It was massive. I just didn't know any better.

Quoted message said:

5' 7" is short for a Large frame, but 31" inseams are right on.

Bollocks. Please find a site that recommends a large / 20" frame to
someone with a 31" inseam.

--
a.m-b FAQ: http://www.j-harris.net/bike/ambfaq.htm

a.bmx FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/bmx_faq.htm

frodge said:

What approach do I take when I call the bicycle shop today?

Don't call them - show up with the bike. Ask them how much standover
clearance you should have, and when they say 2-3 inches, then ask them why
they sold you a bike with zero standover clearance.

Shops vary greatly on their return policies; where I bought my bike, they
had a policy that you could return the bike any time within 30 days.
Whatever their policy is, unless they recommended you a particular size
and you told them you wanted bigger, they should make it right.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

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

Quoted message said:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Bottom line: you've ridden the bike a lot and are comfortable and happy.
That means it fits. <snip> Enjoy it. If you stick with it - and the only

consensus you

Quoted message said:

will find on a-mb is that you SHOULD stick with it - than you can get a
different frame design when you upgrade (because you will want to upgrade.
Part of our disease).

Good Advice.

I would add that your post, "Your thoughts on my new bike", is the cyber
equivalent of a "Kick me" sign. It is an invitation to a worldwide buffet
of reasons to have buyer's remorse.

TM said:

I would add that your post, "Your thoughts on my new bike", is the cyber
equivalent of a "Kick me" sign. It is an invitation to a worldwide buffet
of reasons to have buyer's remorse.

Hehe, so true!

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

frodge <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
<snip major text-wrap issues about a POS>

Asking for post-purchase approval is not acceptable in this newsgroup.
Your bike is a total piece of [censored].

JD

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

Quoted message said:

Chris said:

There is a trend in biking right now to ride the smallest frame one can,

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have about a foot of seatpost sticking out.

Bollocks. Despite your exaggeration, the 'trend' to which you refer has
been around since the late 80's when mountain bikes ceased to be road
bikes with fat tyres.

I don't think 12 inches of seatpost is really an exaggeration. I see some
ridiculous rides.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

People claim smaller frames make a lighter bike: well, how much comfort

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an ounce worth to you?

Quoted message said:

The idea is that you can make a lighter bike with the same geometry, thus
not affecting comfort or fit.

Trek 4900s aren't aggressive racer bikes. They're not built with the kind
of geometry that would benefit from scaling down. It comes with a mostly
Alivio drivetrain and a Pilot fork - this bike is not for racers. Geometry
is more about comfort than speed on this thing - in which case I revert back
to my opinion that the Large is the right size.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Bottom line: you've ridden the bike a lot and are comfortable and

happy.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That means it fits.

Bollocks. I could have sworn the racing bike I got when I was 11 fit me
perfectly. It was massive. I just didn't know any better.

Quoted message said:

5' 7" is short for a Large frame, but 31" inseams are right on.

Bollocks. Please find a site that recommends a large / 20" frame to
someone with a 31" inseam.

Here are Rivendell's words:

"In the case above, that would have that 5-foot 9 1/2 inch rider on a 60cm
frame.

If that same rider got sized in 10 different bike shops, probably 5 of them
would suggest a 54 to 55. One would say a 53, two would say a 56, and one
would say a 57. The more expensive the bike, the more likely the size is to
be small."

That quote, from http://www.rivbike.com/html/bikes_framesize.html, addresses
the sizing and the trend issue. Modern sites like Colorado Cyclist and
LeMond use the rule that you buy a frame size .67 times your inseam length -
that would put the OP at 54 cm, just over 21 inches. Scale that
roadie-specific advice down 2" for mtbs, and you're at 19".

Even by old school "two inches above the top tube" rules he almost fits as
his balls "just barely touch."

There's no reason to turn this into a huge issue a la one of Volker's
boastful posts, but I maintain it's possible for the OP to fit that bike.
Hell, I have his same inseam and ride a 19.5 Sugar. Also, I just bought a
56cm CrossCheck and have caught myself wondering if I shoulda gone 58.

You were/are a BMX racer, right? Don't most BMX tend to prefer smaller
frames when mtb riding as a carry over from instincts developed when BMXing?

Regardless, we can agree there are no solid rules, just personal experience.
Above all, he said three times he was very comfortable on the bike. That's
what matters most.

Chris

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5
inch frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails
with no problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know
very little about them. I have been reading these forums for the past
couple days and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly
comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a
dream to ride through the trails, but now that I have been reading it
looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is
30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my feet
flat on the ground. What do I do? I am using this bike to ride on
trails, no stunts or anything it is a road and light trail bike to
get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and like it. I did not
start getting worried until yesterday when I found out what standover
was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no way
that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

I'm not sure it's the disaster that you think it might be. I've had frames
that had bugger all standover height - my NRS was one. Yes, it's a full
susser, but even with a 16.5" frame the ball to bar clearance was basically
nil. Yet, the top tube length was good and the reach was good for me. The
bike felt good under me and I rode it a lot with no problems. I'm stocky
and have short legs so it's always going to be a bit of a problem for me.
Since then I've leaned towards Y frame bikes that have a kinked top tube
which kinda eliminates the standover height issue to a degree.

I'd try the bike shop on, but if you don't get any joy I wouldn't feel too
bad about it. After-all, you say it's really comfortable to ride. It might
cause a few problems riding some really technical stuff where you have to
move about on the bike and put your feet down in a hurry but vanilla riding
should be fine.

We live, we learn.
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

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

Quoted message said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5 inch

frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails with no
problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know very little about
them. I have been reading these forums for the past couple days and think I
am in trouble. Although I am highly comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for
my gonads. The bike is a dream to ride through the trails, but now that I
have been reading it looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my
inseam is 30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my
feet flat on the ground. What do I do?

Quoted message said:

I am using this bike to ride on trails, no stunts or anything it is a road

and light trail bike to get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and
like it. I did not start getting worried until yesterday when I found out
what standover was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no
way that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to
ride though. 😎

Quoted message said:

--

I don't care about your new bike. If it makes you happy......Who gives a
shiiite

TJ
www.gvii.net/hundtoft

frodge said:

I am fairly new to biking and just bought a Trek 4900 series 19.5 inch frame. I have been riding the bike every day through the trails with no problems so far. I have always had Wal-Mart bikes and know very little about them. I have been reading these forums for the past couple days and think I am in trouble. Although I am highly comfortable on the bike, I am afraid for my gonads. The bike is a dream to ride through the trails, but now that I have been reading it looks like the frame is too big for me. I am 5'7 and my inseam is 30.5-31 inches approximately. My balls touch the top bar with my feet flat on the ground. What do I do?
I am using this bike to ride on trails, no stunts or anything it is a road and light trail bike to get a sweat going. I bought it two weeks ago and like it. I did not start getting worried until yesterday when I found out what standover was and that mine is, well tight. BTW, there is absolutely no way that this shop will take this bike back. It is really comfortable to ride though. 😎

hmmmm?
Bill
The mind serves properly as a window glass rather
than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give
an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]