Road bike advice
I could use some advice about what to do with my bike. Much as I enjoy riding, I’m pretty clueless when it comes to bikes, components, technology and geometry...
I used to ride a 55cm Specialized Allez Comp w/ a carbon seatpost and carbon handlebar stem. It was slightly too large for me, but I got a really good fit and was very happy with it. I rode it for hours without any problems.
When I realized that this bike/triathlon thing wasn’t going to go away, I decided I needed a bike that was a better fit for me. I ended up with a 51cm Cervelo S1. It’s a great bike, but I’m not so sure it’s the right bike for me. Problem is, it is stiff as hell, and if I ride more than 3 hours, I get so uncomfortable that I’m constantly fidgeting around. And if I ride on two consecutive days, I’m super stiff getting on the bike the next day. It’s even worse on the trainer (which ironically, I actually enjoy riding!), where after 1 hour everything hurts, no matter how often I train. I had a fit and got it tweaked, but after a few hours, I feel every bump in my wrists, elbows, shoulders and back... Of course, when I testrode the bike, it felt supersmooth and perfect... I gutted it out last year during IM training, but this is clearly not a long-term solution for me. Unlike on the Specialized, I have no carbon seatpost or stem on this -- could that make such a big difference? Or is it the frame itself?
Add to that the fact that I think the gearing is too ‘large‘ for me. Much as I love to hammer a flat, the reality is that I train/race mostly on hills, and I run out of gears pretty fast. If I counted correctly, the big ring in the front has 53 teeth and the big one in the back 25. People tell me I should switch to a compact crank. But given the troubles I have getting comfortable on the bike, is it worth making such an investment, or should I sell this one and go for a new bike? If the latter, how do I ensure I don’t make the mistake again, i.e. end up with a bike that just doesn’t seem to fit me right?
thank you.
Comments
Kate, is your S1 carbon or do you have an older aluminum Soloist?
On the entire topic of stiffness, there isn't really a guaranteed inverse relationship between stiffness and comfort, in fact the buzz phrase they like to use in industry for a "good" bike is laterally stiff and vertically compliant, meaning good power transfer (laterally stiff) but absorbs bumps (vertically complaint) to an extent.
Another immediate follow up question, how is your S1 configured? You say that you got it specifically because you realized you were going to stick with triathlon, but the S1 is afterall not a tri bike but rather an aero road bike. Do you have it configured as a road bike? Do you have clip on aero bars? Or is a complete tri conversion per chance, with aero bars and an offset seat post?
You mention you already had a fit, but you'll have to excuse me because the issues you are describing sound a lot more fit related than anything due to the stiffness of the bike. Especially consider your comments about the trainer, if a super-stiff bike was transferring all of the road shock to your body and causing soreness, how would you get so sore on the trainer where there are no bumps or jolts to transfer to you? Again, curious about your setup, whether or not you're attempting to ride a tri-position on a road geometry.
Final thing is positional fitness? How many 3+ hour rides are you doing? Are you finding that you still are having issues have a consecutive build of long rides? I think it's pretty common for people to be uncomfortable just when they haven't been on the bike for longer rides (3+) hours in a while, regardless of the frame.
As for the crank, I would argue that most people who don't even think they are running out of gears probably would benefit from a compact, so if you already think you are under-geared then for sure you would benefit from one. Sounds like you have a standard double (53/39T) with probably an 11 or 12-25 in the back. You could put a 27 or 28T rear cassette on and make a small improvement, but the much bigger improvement would be to go to a 50/34T compact crank.
Now finally, is it worth it? I suppose not if you might not keep the bike. You could always transfer your compact to the new bike, but a lot of bikes come with compacts these days so it may not be needed. If you can address whatever comfort issues that you are having with your S1 then I would definitely recommend getting the compact.
Thanks Trevor. That's some good food for thought. I have a 2010 aluminum s1, which is why I am wondering if the carbon seat tube made such a big difference on the allez comp. Regarding the set up, it's in the road configuration, and I have a road fit. Positional fitness I also don't think is a problem since I ride long-ish pretty consistently. The point you raise about stiffness unlikely causing discomfort occurring both on the bumpy road and the smooth trainer is a good one, and certainly does point to fit being the culprit. I just can't believe that I'm that much off that it would cause that much of a problem. I guess I could go back to my bike shop and try adjusting the fit again.
Do you still have your old bike? Might make since to compare them and measure things like saddle height and reach.