What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
rareposter
Posts: 1991
Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 2:40pm

Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by rareposter »

20130814 wrote: 24 Feb 2023, 6:41pm Maybe if I had a bike fitting, that'd be a good place to start, but that means going to a fancy bike shop run by blokes with big bushy beards, where there is the obligatory swanky coffee shop bolted on populated by super swanky cyclists on bikes that cost as much as our family car :-)
Slightly stereotypical... ;-)

Try G&G Cycles in Dumfries
https://cycle-centre.online/

They've been around for decades, have a decent selection of more "normal" bikes and are very knowledgeable.

Part of the issue around that area is it's right in the heart of the 7 Stanes MTB country so a lot of shops are set up to cater for the more MTB end of the market.
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531colin
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by 531colin »

20130814 wrote: 24 Feb 2023, 6:41pm Wow - thank you to all for your very comprehensive replies, I do appreciate it.

Don't laugh - this is my current bike:

Image

I think it's so upright I can see why I get a sore bum riding it - I set it up in such an upright position to try and take the weight off my wrists, but having read the replies on this post, I need to reassess what to do.

At the I stopped riding a lot I was riding a nice old Reynolds 501 Raleigh Criterium https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165866294421 ... N_EALw_wcB.

When I stopped riding a lot I had recently been diagnosed with bursitis in my left hip and had painful elbows and wrists.

Image
So, back to thoughts on page 1........the first thing to do is get comfortable on a bike which you have. Because you might need to buy a dozen bikes before you randomly chanced on one which happened to fit.

Yes, on the Raleigh you will be sat very upright.

I like to sit like this....this is me putting a bit of effort in on my mate's turbo.

Imageforcing the gear by 531colin, on Flickr

You can see I am sat with my centre of mass roughly above the pedals.
Most of my weight, most of the time, is on the pedals, but i can distribute my weight between the handlebars (in front) and the saddle (behind) to let the wheels ride over bumps, one wheel at a time.....and the bike moves under me like a rocking horse.

You can't have much weight on your hands, i guess your wrist problem is that your wrists aren't happy with the angle you are making them adopt.
there are options....i like my wrists in the "wheelbarrow" position, ie. holding things which point forward like wheelbarrow handles. i don't have much weight on my hands, but any weight is supported on the heel of my hand.. Others prefer straight bars, or sweptback bars, or straight bars with bar ends........

Which hip bursa was inflamed?

On the folder, it looks like the saddle is much further back than the Raleigh?
greyhair
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Joined: 24 Feb 2023, 6:57pm

Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by greyhair »

Not sure that a more expensive bike would address issues of sore bum, wrists and thumbs. But 28 years ago I had the same problems as I am sure most cyclists will have re aches and pains. I am into my eighties and the only place that I have arthritis is in my thumb joint put down to repetitive strain. So about 27/28 years ago I got to the stage that my thumbs were so sore that I had to do something..
I bought my first of many recumbents and I do not regret it for a minute. You are sitting up in a comfortable seat, I have had no physical problems since my first purchase. I can ride along and look around at the beautiful countryside, without getting a sore neck, fantastic. About 8 years ago I bought a recumbent tandem, fantastic. Again so much more enjoyable that upright.
E.M.
Jamesh
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by Jamesh »

What sort of riding are you wanting to do?
Road, touring, gravel etc.
How far do you want to ride?
With what luggage?

Then with your budget you can decide what bike you want?
Steel alu carbon titanium....

I have a bike for each day if the week...

But it often isn't the fastest most expensive bike I reach for.

My most used bike is the worst carbon bike Cannondale have built. But it's comfy, dependable and robust!
Manc33
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by Manc33 »

Sore bum?
Suntour NCX.
We'll always be together, together on electric bikes.
JohnR
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Joined: 6 Jul 2020, 3:51pm

Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by JohnR »

Manc33 wrote: 26 Feb 2023, 3:40am Sore bum?
Suntour NCX.
Did anyone mention that the high handlebars shown in the photo result in an upright seating position which needs a wide saddle such as the Brooks B67?
Usually riding a Rohloff-equipped Spa Cycles Elan Ti
drossall
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by drossall »

I do think you should probably separate the issues of finding a comfortable position, and choosing a new bike. They are not entirely independent, but it's likely that, unless you need something quite specialised, you could find a comfortable position on your existing bike. Then, if you still want a new one, choose something to which that position can be transferred.

Your current position is definitely quite upright, and also very compressed - your saddle and bars are close together. As well as the bars being relatively close to the seat, the seat looks as though it could be moved back a little. High bars will tip weight onto your saddle and accentuate any problems with comfort in that area. A very padded saddle such as yours is not always the most comfortable. Finally, I do find a tendency to adapt to saddles - if I have some time off the bike, even my most comfortable one will be less so for a while when I start riding again. That's not to say that any saddle can become comfortable, although possibly any can be uncomfortable!

Picking up on 531Colin's comment about wrist angle, I wondered whether maybe straighter bars would work better for you, and not twist your wrists. Your adjustable stem does give opportunities to try different positions. Of course, low bars will tip weight onto your wrists. But you probably need help from a good bike shop or experienced rider, rather than just trying different adjustments at random. A shop that gives you good advice on position will hopefully be reliable later when you want advice because you're spending money on a new bike.

As far as a new bike is concerned, they have become more specialised over the decades. Around 1960, even most club riders would have one bike (usually a dropped-bar sports model), and use it for touring, training, racing (possibly with different wheels), commuting and off-road riding. Now there's a bike for every one of those purposes, the latest new specific purpose being gravel riding (previously done on something mainly used off-road, or maybe one of the more robust road models). However, it's still the case that one bike can meet multiple purposes. So you do need to know what range of riding you want it for. And, probably, already to have discovered a comfortable position, as that might itself eliminate certain specific possible options.
rareposter
Posts: 1991
Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 2:40pm

Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by rareposter »

To add to what drossall expertly said above, there's a third issue which is more physiological - from the sound of things you used to do a lot of riding then it slipped for family reasons etc and now you're getting back into it - that quite probably means a loss in the intervening years of muscle tone, flexibility and so on which is not unusual.

However in trying to accommodate that, it looks like you've kind of gone around the houses a bit in terms of trying various fit options, hoping / expecting that more upright might be better and so on.

My guess from looking at that picture is that you're putting most of your weight through your backside which won't be helping the pain aspect there. The bars, as well as being very high, seem to have the brake levers tilted quite far down so I suspect you might be curving your wrists up and over to reach them effectively. That, combined with the lack of weight over the front, is allowing the front to bounce around and feeding all the vibrations through your wrists.

I actually think you want a fair bit MORE weight over the front - as per 531colin's pic where he's evenly balanced with a slight curve in his back and his weight more "down the middle" of the bike". So yes - first of all I'd suggest a bike fit from someone with experience of physiotherapy - either to get your existing position sorted or to at least point you in the direction of a new bike that meets your requirements.

I would highly recommend this guy by the way:
https://www.philburtinnovation.co.uk/

Don't be put off by the stereotypical "racing" thing around bike fit - they can be for people from all walks of life at all levels of experience but you need to sort the issues around pain first which is why I think it needs a bike fit from a physio point of view first rather than any sort of performance view.
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NATURAL ANKLING
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
531colin wrote: 24 Feb 2023, 3:52pm
Cugel wrote: 24 Feb 2023, 1:15pm ...........
Is there a need to buy a cheap bike first to test the fit and so forth? Not really. You can test the fit of an expensive one with a test ride.

Cugel
I can test the fit of a bike on a test ride because I know what fit I want.

You can test the fit on a test ride because you know what fit you want.

The OP I don't think can test the fit on a test ride because his current bike gives him a sore bum and sore wrists (if I remember correctly) which suggests to me that his current position is wrong; he may recognise that another bike is "different" by test riding, but he can't know if its "right" .


(Its interesting to note that you and me want different things; you apparently want a "fit" whereby your hands can be jolted off the bars by a bump, but thats not something I want. :wink: )
My bold emphasis above.
Precisely put 531 Colin!
If you know what fit you want, then you know what bike to pick, assuming you can adjust it to fit.
But really a lot of people haven't got a clue on what constitutes a good fit.
If someone wants a bike, I reckon I would spend at least half an hour talking to them to understand what they are trying to do, where they want to be.
You also need to look at the person.
In particular what they intend to put on their feet.
The bicycle on its own is nothing, if you then intend to sit on it backwards!
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
rjb
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by rjb »

Lighter pockets. :D
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
scottg
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by scottg »

The OP's bike is way too new, he needs a proper gentleman's bike.

https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1915-sunb ... s-bicycle/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
cycle tramp
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by cycle tramp »

20221203_105429.jpg
Hello - I'd thought I'd show you mine. I ride in a rather upright style too. If I don't, I get a migraine the following day.

The thing about getting comfortable on a bike, is that there's a number of little adjustments which may not be readily understood.

For example - weight on your hands is not all about handlebar height. Saddle angle is also important. Tilt the saddle nose down and more weight is carried on your hands, no matter how high the handlebars. Tilt the nose slightly tilted up and less weight is transferred to your hands.

Also how far away your wrists are from your body make a difference, too. Cycling with your hands closer to you (longer pull back 'bars/shorter stem) also decreases the weight on your hands, and you don't need your handlebars at such a height.

Equally in regards to your wrists, there could be some other potential solutions. I like a nice swept back handlebars (with a sweep of around 67 degrees) I also like my 'bars slightly pointed down and I like the handlebar grips with the flat bits so I can rest my palms on the grips and they're nicely supported.

Just to echo everyone else here, its worth getting your existing bicycle comfortable first. And it might take some financial investment to do so. You may end up trying three, four or five different saddles, several different handlebar styles and a few handlebar stems. You may even end up changing your seat post.

The other things to remember is the handlebars which you end up liking might actually be good quality but inexpensive, your saddle might be more expensive, but the new seat post may be expensive because its the only one at that length with that layback.
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Chris Jeggo
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by Chris Jeggo »

20221203_105429.jpg
andy753
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Re: What difference does an "expensive" bike make?

Post by andy753 »

Jim, I think the best advice would be to get yourself properly measured and then buy a bike to suit your own 'geometry'. I am long legged with a short(ish) body and my back is pretty fixed due to something callled Scheuermann's Disease. So I need to ride bikes with a short top tube and a short stem. Comfort is everything. Don't just buy a bike on price or components - look at comfort first and foremost. This will help: https://bestbikeadvice.com/us/en/bikefit/
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