Got my bike, does it look right?
Discussion
The height is fine - seatposts and saddles move up and down!
What I would say though is your saddle look m to be pointing nose down a little, its normal to start with it dead flat. Nose down can lead to you sliding off the front. This should be adjustable using the bolts that clamp the saddle rails.
There's plenty of other sites explaining bike fit but for now, sit on the bike, adjust the saddle till your getting your legs to extend almost fully, but critically keeping a slight bend when at the bottom.
The you can look at the saddle fore and aft, the bar height and the bar rotation.
Setting a bike up takes a while especially if it's your first or a new cyclist, only change a little at a time.
What I would say though is your saddle look m to be pointing nose down a little, its normal to start with it dead flat. Nose down can lead to you sliding off the front. This should be adjustable using the bolts that clamp the saddle rails.
There's plenty of other sites explaining bike fit but for now, sit on the bike, adjust the saddle till your getting your legs to extend almost fully, but critically keeping a slight bend when at the bottom.
The you can look at the saddle fore and aft, the bar height and the bar rotation.
Setting a bike up takes a while especially if it's your first or a new cyclist, only change a little at a time.
I've got a Croix de Fer which I really enjoy riding so good choice!
As per previous poster, I'd try to adjust seat so it's level. Adjust seat post height so you've got a slight bend in your knee at bottom of pedal stroke.
If I were you I'd also rotate your bars forward a bit. Start with bottom of bars level and try that. At some point you may want to move brake levers further up bars but that involves rewrapping bar tape which is a bit of a faff.
The picture isn't good enough resolution to see but is there a strange spacer on your steerer? One looks larger diameter?
As per previous poster, I'd try to adjust seat so it's level. Adjust seat post height so you've got a slight bend in your knee at bottom of pedal stroke.
If I were you I'd also rotate your bars forward a bit. Start with bottom of bars level and try that. At some point you may want to move brake levers further up bars but that involves rewrapping bar tape which is a bit of a faff.
The picture isn't good enough resolution to see but is there a strange spacer on your steerer? One looks larger diameter?
Thanks!
Not quite 'buyers remorse', but 'buyers self doubt'!
I'll change the angle of the seat, the height is spot on. However, I always set my seat up so I had a very slight bend in my leg when at full stroke. The bike shop set it up so both feet were on tip toe on the floor, resulting in a slightly more pronounced bend.
The bulge on the stem is the headset, the stem has 5 x 5mm spaces.
Rotate bars forwards? so the levers move up, or down?
I got the CDF 20, I was hoping to get the 30 but its sold out everywhere I tried and Genesis are not making anymore until the 2018 bikes are released in September. No way I could miss a whole summer worth of riding to wait!
Not quite 'buyers remorse', but 'buyers self doubt'!
I'll change the angle of the seat, the height is spot on. However, I always set my seat up so I had a very slight bend in my leg when at full stroke. The bike shop set it up so both feet were on tip toe on the floor, resulting in a slightly more pronounced bend.
The bulge on the stem is the headset, the stem has 5 x 5mm spaces.
Rotate bars forwards? so the levers move up, or down?
I got the CDF 20, I was hoping to get the 30 but its sold out everywhere I tried and Genesis are not making anymore until the 2018 bikes are released in September. No way I could miss a whole summer worth of riding to wait!
Edited by Dr Murdoch on Saturday 27th May 09:43
The previous poster may mean the same thing but I'd say rotate the bars back a little so the tops of the bars and the levers are in a straight line. Modern bars are not designed to have the bottom of the drops horizontal. You don't want to be reaching over the top of the bars to get on to the hoods.
Something like this is good, in fact possibly rotated back a little further, then fine tune to suit.
Something like this is good, in fact possibly rotated back a little further, then fine tune to suit.
Yes, or even with the levers pointing upwards a very small amount. Depends on your riding style and comfort. Fine tune it to suit, don't just assume it's correct for you that way. The position of levers/bars makes a masive difference to comfort on the bike. I see lots of riders who believe a road bike is just uncomfortable to ride and you have to accept it that way - that's how it was when they bought it so it must be correct. A few degrees rotation on the bars will often make them feel like they are riding another bike.
Try several different positions. If you want a fairly upright riding position you will probably want them pointing upwards a bit. If you want a streamlined and lower riding position for speed then you'll probably have them level.
Try several different positions. If you want a fairly upright riding position you will probably want them pointing upwards a bit. If you want a streamlined and lower riding position for speed then you'll probably have them level.
snotrag said:
What I would say though is your saddle look m to be pointing nose down a little, its normal to start with it dead flat. Nose down can lead to you sliding off the front. This should be adjustable using the bolts that clamp the saddle rails.
Having the saddle "nose-down" does look a bit odd, but it can help rotate the hips , which is useful if you suffer from aches in the lower back. Dead level is a good starting point, but if you do find your lower back aches, a slight downwards slope in the saddle can help this.Thanks for all the help, all of it has been useful.
First proper ride on it this morning, 13miles to work....
I think I might nose the saddle down a little, it felt like my peanuts were getting squashed! Especially when using the lower bars. Is this due to saddle position, or the saddle? Also, I wondered whether saddles have a breaking in period, bit like shoes?
I tipped the bars too far up, it was hard to apply the brakes when on the lower bars.
First proper ride on it this morning, 13miles to work....
I think I might nose the saddle down a little, it felt like my peanuts were getting squashed! Especially when using the lower bars. Is this due to saddle position, or the saddle? Also, I wondered whether saddles have a breaking in period, bit like shoes?
I tipped the bars too far up, it was hard to apply the brakes when on the lower bars.
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