OV9

If you google Cobstone Windmill there are a few photos of it without sails.

Anyone on here understand bike geometry? My new bike is a small frame and after doing 11 miles on it t'other day I was quite achey across my shoulders and lower back. New saddle that you all recommended was very comfy though!

Is there anything I can do to alter the bike easily? I have seen stem alterations but has anyone had this happen?

My wife took my old Cube out to Glentress yesterday and loved it compared to her LaPierre as the front forks are really decent but I suspect passing the Vitus to her and then getting myself a bigger bike may be a step too far.......

How tall are you Gav ?

Saddle height could be an easy fix. An inch either way can make a big difference.

Other than that, move saddle forward or back (cheap/easy) or adjust the angle for the back pain - or a different length stem (expensive/difficult)

Carlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:15 am How tall are you Gav ?

5 9 and three quarters! (them 3/54 are important to shorties like me)

My Cube is a medium but I will try @dinny_g advice as I did just pop the new saddle on and I know the height is an inch too low so that would be the dream fix.

Although I wouldn't cry too many tears at having to buy another bike......

- good - if it’s a choice between longer stem and a new bike, get a new bike!

Fwiw - I’m also 5’9 3/4” but I’m “Irish Framed” - Long Back and short Legs. Specialized Hard Tail was perfect for me

There are various ways to adjust the size - being even more of a shortarse I'm right at the limit of sizing, so I don't think the small is the wrong size for you.
- Move the seat backwards or forwards on the adjuster rails
- Twist the bars if there's even a slight rise
- obviously adjust the saddle; if you have a dropper then you can easily play with it on the fly to find the right height.

More drastic (i.e. you need to buy bits):
- riser bars
- different length stem
- different seatpost (if the saddle doesn't go low or high enough)
- shorter crank arms, might be useful if you want the saddle to be higher but are at the limit of your leg length

Sounds to me like the reach might be too far so you're leaning on the front, which would explain the achey arms. So start by moving the seat forward and go from there.

Cheers @Jobbo I just chucked the new saddle on and didn't adjust it at all so that is likely the culprit as the other rides, although shorter, did not cause any issues.

Crikey. At 5'9" I would say you almost qualify for a large frame. I'm 6'2" and ride a large, but know I should be on an XL really. I prefer the feel of a large through the trees though. but It's a pain on longer rides, even with my comedy seatpost and long reach stem.

Get a new bike - it's too small

My wife is 5'4" and rides a medium framed Kona with a zero reach stem and it fits her perfectly.

A mate who is my height has had large and medium frames. Maybe it is simply too small.....

Mine's a 17" frame (cause it's old... )

Would that qualify as small, medium ??

IIRC Gavin has an Orbea which is similar geometry to mine; mine's a small and I'm just under 5'6", and if it were any bigger it would be too big for me. Most of the time I don't let the dropper rise quite to its full extension. There's definitely plenty of space on it for someone 3" taller to be comfortable.

Anyway, you don't get aching arms from the bars being too close, I'd say.

Jobbo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:33 pm IIRC Gavin has an Orbea which is similar geometry to mine; mine's a small and I'm just under 5'6", and if it were any bigger it would be too big for me. Most of the time I don't let the dropper rise quite to its full extension. There's definitely plenty of space on it for someone 3" taller to be comfortable.

Anyway, you don't get aching arms from the bars being too close, I'd say.

I had a deposit down on one but no date came in and I got a Vitus Sommet instead. I will adjust the saddle after lunch and see if that makes a difference,

Jobbo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:33 pm Anyway, you don't get aching arms from the bars being too close, I'd say.

This ...

Gavin wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:14 pm

Jobbo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:33 pm IIRC Gavin has an Orbea which is similar geometry to mine; mine's a small and I'm just under 5'6", and if it were any bigger it would be too big for me. Most of the time I don't let the dropper rise quite to its full extension. There's definitely plenty of space on it for someone 3" taller to be comfortable.

Anyway, you don't get aching arms from the bars being too close, I'd say.

I had a deposit down on one but no date came in and I got a Vitus Sommet instead. I will adjust the saddle after lunch and see if that makes a difference,

Vitus size guide says 5'2 to 5'6 for a small !

Carlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 3:54 pm

Gavin wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:14 pm

Jobbo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:33 pm IIRC Gavin has an Orbea which is similar geometry to mine; mine's a small and I'm just under 5'6", and if it were any bigger it would be too big for me. Most of the time I don't let the dropper rise quite to its full extension. There's definitely plenty of space on it for someone 3" taller to be comfortable.

Anyway, you don't get aching arms from the bars being too close, I'd say.

I had a deposit down on one but no date came in and I got a Vitus Sommet instead. I will adjust the saddle after lunch and see if that makes a difference,

Vitus size guide says 5'2 to 5'6 for a small !

Hmmmm, well that is a pest, although I always felt the crossbar on the Cube and the Merida that I had before was slightly too close when stopping. Will try the saddle move first though.

Just caught up with yesterday’s TdF race, fuck yeah!!!

Keep that Lycra crap out of my mountain biking thread!