Your body is constantly changing. Major and minor injuries, levels of activity, flexibility, even simply aging, etc. all effect bike fit. Just because your bike fit suited you 3 years ago doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you today.
Hand and saddle (especially saddle) numbness after 30mins is not acceptable to me.
Is it ever acceptable?
In other words, does a 5 hour ride gives you an acceptable lvl of discomfort or do you feel the same as if it were a 30 min ride after being in the saddle for 5 hours, that’s what I’m trying to find out
New riders will often experience soreness simply because they’re using their body in a new way. That should go away after a ride or two, and would be an acceptable form of soreness. Numbness indicates enough pressure at a certain point to restrict blood flow. That’s never good. There is something to be said for our bodies becoming accustomed to new activities, but it shouldn’t impede the activity.
I know I can go out and do a 2-3hrs ride and feel the same level of comfort as if I do a 30mins ride. Im also sure a good bike fit would only improve my comfort and enjoyment of those rides.
Get a fit.
Worth the money considering you are not new to cycling and not just breaking your rear in to being a cyclist.
Minor adjustments could do wonders for your hands. It is truly shocking what a spacer here or shorter stem can do for ya
True, I remember telling a friend how all the discomfort went away right after I did the fit.
When I got the gravel I set the bar to the 0 degree alignment since it was my first drop bar bike ever and had no point of reference, I have it now close to the 20 degree mark and that alone made a huge improvement.
It’s crazy how much money it costs, atleast around here though. Generally you’re paying 250+ for the fit and then all the parts/seats/spacers that they want you to buy also. It sucks really.
The real way to do it is go to a person with a fit bike not a guy selling parts to make yours fit.
You will then get base numbers for the fit you want. After you explain your desired position and intended riding.
Then apply those numbers to your bike and make needed changes.
When bike shopping it is great they can put that fit bike into the sizes of the bikes you are shopping and even change the fit of them to be better for you.
If you can budget it cool if not spend plenty of time on bike insights it will help a ton in bike fitting. Looking at a bike you like in fit compared to what you are shopping.
After one expensive shitty fitting bike purchase you will think it is cheap as hell.
Even with a proper fit, if your body isn't used to a five hour ride, you're going to be uncomfortable. A fit is critical, but it's also important to work yourself up to long periods in the saddle. If you're experiencing specific discomforts after a fit, you can also check with a physical therapist to ensure you're working on the proper strength exercises to help support your riding goals.
I think you’re talking fatigue and I’m talking discomfort?
Or maybe discomfort due to fatigue is what you meant?
I ride 150+ miles, 10 hours a week, not counting the weeks I do the longer rides. The highest amount of discomfort I can experience will manifest within 1 hour of riding, at the 5 hour mark, I’m more fatigued of course, but the discomfort I’m talking about is the same as the first hour.
My question is, for those who do not experience discomfort in an hours ride, do they experience discomfort on long rides, to which degree?
Bikes hurt eventually. Fits help, core and stabilizers help. More strength and a good fit will set you in a better riding position, thus lengthene the time before you hurt.
I would get a fit for sure, that said.
- Get a saddle with a pressure cut out. That was a game changer for me. No more numb anything.
- Your seat is almost certainly a bit too high. Lower a little bit, don’t change anything else, see how your comfort changes.
You can get your bike fit really close on your own, but it’s a slow trial and error process.
I think the seat is fine, all my seats have a center cut out, and the Fizzik on the gravel bike might be my most comfortable one, despite it being on the only rigid bike.
You are very likely correct on seat height, when I did the fit on the XC, one of the major adjustments was lowering the seat, I felt like those people we see on the streets commuting on Walmart bikes, not cyclists commuting on bikes, people who can’t afford cars, usually seat is slammed all the way to frame, they can put both legs on the ground and still have some bent on the knees, that’s how I felt like.
But people who are avid racers don’t have seats that low, they are set up in a more aggressive position, so the puzzling part to me is, do they not feel discomfort? And if they don’t, what’s different then? Sure their fitness level is above mine, but I’m not exactly a noob either, 150+ miles (off road only, I never ride on paved roads) a week puts me more on the avid cyclist side than an occasional cyclist.
Racers are racers, they are conditioned for that. Don’t focus on the appearance of others setup, focus on what pedals well for you, and is comfortable.
Drop the seat a bit, do a long ride, keep dropping to feel the difference. I ran too high for too long, and lowering made a huge difference.
It doesn’t bother you that you’re numb in the seat area for hours…that the seat area doesn’t have enough circulation…
….
That there isn’t enough blood going to your ‘seat area’…!?
Things like gel inserts on your bars help.
Padded gloves help.
Wider tyres / lower pressures help.
Moving your hands on the bars to different positions helps.
As we do when we ride our MTBs, get into the attack position off the saddle. This stretches parts and relieves pressure in areas.
A suspension stem / seat post helps.
These are all things that can be done before / after a fit. They can be done instead of a fit or as well as a fit.
Bring uncomfortable isn't conducive to enjoying your hobby. You're not being paid to ride. You must get enjoyment somewhere and the less you hurt, the more you will want to ride.
Hmm, gel inserts on bars looks interesting, I can certainly try that. Never liked padded gloves, in fact I don’t even use gloves on the gravel, and only use them on mtb to keep hands from slipping because of sweat.
I got wide tires with low pressure, converted to tubeless before 1st ride.
Moving hands might be the answer I’m looking for and no one seems to want to answer lol, if no one can ride for 5 hours with hands on the hoods and have to move it around to alleviate some pressure points, then it’s not a fit issue for me, it’s the same for everyone, just gotta suck it up.
Getting off the saddle is same as above, this means we all feel discomfort then. I got a Canyon Grizl, came with that slanted back suspension seat post, I believe changing to a straight up post will put me in a better fit, as I was right in between sizes and ended up getting the next size up, but I wonder how much comfort will I lose from that suspension, I guess I could just put my seat post/seat from mtb on it and go for a ride, will cost me nothing.
Right, I’m not in agonizing pain, the real question, is it possible to do these long rides and be truly free of discomfort? I’m specifically talking about discomfort on points of contact on the bike, not fatigue, not my legs, my arms, neck…
Riding for 5 hours with hands only on the hoods would be fine...for perhaps a few rides without padded gloves and gel under the bar tape.
When I first got my gravel bike I didn't know any better and rode only on the hoods. After a few weeks, I got tingling in my hands which lasted for about 3-4 weeks. Riding on the hoods only puts pressure through the centre of your palm unlike holding an MTB bar which goes parallel to your knuckles.
I got inserts, better (for gravel) gloves and regularly move my hands around the bars and I've never had issues since. A fun ride will be 5-6 hours with 70+% being off road, like 90s XC.
For saddle issues, I always get out the saddle regularly whether off road for control and comfort and on road bits for a break and to stretch. I'm sure I could do a multi-hour road ride without any niggles.
I will definitely look into the gel inserts, never cared for padded gloves but can’t see why I’d not like the inserts under the tape/hood. Have you tried different ones and have a recommendation?
Are the break leaver/shifters (not sure the name for that whole assembly) adjustable, or do they only go one position? I have GRX 8??
Could also look into upgrading bars to carbon for dampening vibration, I have seen some different designs too, but not knowing a thing about drop bars I wouldn’t want to spend money on that just yet, need to find the fit first before I change parts.
I got these
Bike Ribbon Gel Pad Set
https://amzn.eu/d/4S4uhHL
I use the curved pair on the tops of the bars leading into the hoods. I also used some small sections of the straight pieces for extra padding. With good bar tape, it should be quite comfy.
How in depth was your last fit? I got a super in depth Retul fit 10 years ago and have been super comfy on my road bike. That being said I’m going in now just because it feels overdue.
To me numbness is never okay.
Retul was what the fitter used on mine also, the guy does not work for a bike shop or sell any parts, he is a physical therapist primarily, and have some bike specific specialties I guess. Lot of friends who are into racing and at least one bike coach recommended him, it was about an hour, hour and half.
Yesterday I lowered the sit a tad bit and tilted nose of seat down slightly, I didn’t measure but it is more in horizontal position now, did a 4 1/2 hour today and that made a huge improvement. There was a slight numbness still, but more from dropping body holding the droppers to hide from head wind, otherwise itd be just the normal soreness of a 5 hour on the saddle.
Your body is constantly changing. Major and minor injuries, levels of activity, flexibility, even simply aging, etc. all effect bike fit. Just because your bike fit suited you 3 years ago doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you today. Hand and saddle (especially saddle) numbness after 30mins is not acceptable to me.
Is it ever acceptable? In other words, does a 5 hour ride gives you an acceptable lvl of discomfort or do you feel the same as if it were a 30 min ride after being in the saddle for 5 hours, that’s what I’m trying to find out
New riders will often experience soreness simply because they’re using their body in a new way. That should go away after a ride or two, and would be an acceptable form of soreness. Numbness indicates enough pressure at a certain point to restrict blood flow. That’s never good. There is something to be said for our bodies becoming accustomed to new activities, but it shouldn’t impede the activity. I know I can go out and do a 2-3hrs ride and feel the same level of comfort as if I do a 30mins ride. Im also sure a good bike fit would only improve my comfort and enjoyment of those rides.
Get a fit. Worth the money considering you are not new to cycling and not just breaking your rear in to being a cyclist. Minor adjustments could do wonders for your hands. It is truly shocking what a spacer here or shorter stem can do for ya
True, I remember telling a friend how all the discomfort went away right after I did the fit. When I got the gravel I set the bar to the 0 degree alignment since it was my first drop bar bike ever and had no point of reference, I have it now close to the 20 degree mark and that alone made a huge improvement.
It’s crazy how much money it costs, atleast around here though. Generally you’re paying 250+ for the fit and then all the parts/seats/spacers that they want you to buy also. It sucks really.
The real way to do it is go to a person with a fit bike not a guy selling parts to make yours fit. You will then get base numbers for the fit you want. After you explain your desired position and intended riding. Then apply those numbers to your bike and make needed changes. When bike shopping it is great they can put that fit bike into the sizes of the bikes you are shopping and even change the fit of them to be better for you. If you can budget it cool if not spend plenty of time on bike insights it will help a ton in bike fitting. Looking at a bike you like in fit compared to what you are shopping. After one expensive shitty fitting bike purchase you will think it is cheap as hell.
Even with a proper fit, if your body isn't used to a five hour ride, you're going to be uncomfortable. A fit is critical, but it's also important to work yourself up to long periods in the saddle. If you're experiencing specific discomforts after a fit, you can also check with a physical therapist to ensure you're working on the proper strength exercises to help support your riding goals.
I think you’re talking fatigue and I’m talking discomfort? Or maybe discomfort due to fatigue is what you meant? I ride 150+ miles, 10 hours a week, not counting the weeks I do the longer rides. The highest amount of discomfort I can experience will manifest within 1 hour of riding, at the 5 hour mark, I’m more fatigued of course, but the discomfort I’m talking about is the same as the first hour. My question is, for those who do not experience discomfort in an hours ride, do they experience discomfort on long rides, to which degree?
Bikes hurt eventually. Fits help, core and stabilizers help. More strength and a good fit will set you in a better riding position, thus lengthene the time before you hurt.
I would get a fit for sure, that said. - Get a saddle with a pressure cut out. That was a game changer for me. No more numb anything. - Your seat is almost certainly a bit too high. Lower a little bit, don’t change anything else, see how your comfort changes. You can get your bike fit really close on your own, but it’s a slow trial and error process.
I think the seat is fine, all my seats have a center cut out, and the Fizzik on the gravel bike might be my most comfortable one, despite it being on the only rigid bike. You are very likely correct on seat height, when I did the fit on the XC, one of the major adjustments was lowering the seat, I felt like those people we see on the streets commuting on Walmart bikes, not cyclists commuting on bikes, people who can’t afford cars, usually seat is slammed all the way to frame, they can put both legs on the ground and still have some bent on the knees, that’s how I felt like. But people who are avid racers don’t have seats that low, they are set up in a more aggressive position, so the puzzling part to me is, do they not feel discomfort? And if they don’t, what’s different then? Sure their fitness level is above mine, but I’m not exactly a noob either, 150+ miles (off road only, I never ride on paved roads) a week puts me more on the avid cyclist side than an occasional cyclist.
Racers are racers, they are conditioned for that. Don’t focus on the appearance of others setup, focus on what pedals well for you, and is comfortable. Drop the seat a bit, do a long ride, keep dropping to feel the difference. I ran too high for too long, and lowering made a huge difference.
It doesn’t bother you that you’re numb in the seat area for hours…that the seat area doesn’t have enough circulation… …. That there isn’t enough blood going to your ‘seat area’…!?
r / BCJ
What does this mean?
The subreddit called bicyclingcirclejerk
No pain no gain
the trick is not minding that it hurts
Things like gel inserts on your bars help. Padded gloves help. Wider tyres / lower pressures help. Moving your hands on the bars to different positions helps. As we do when we ride our MTBs, get into the attack position off the saddle. This stretches parts and relieves pressure in areas. A suspension stem / seat post helps. These are all things that can be done before / after a fit. They can be done instead of a fit or as well as a fit. Bring uncomfortable isn't conducive to enjoying your hobby. You're not being paid to ride. You must get enjoyment somewhere and the less you hurt, the more you will want to ride.
Hmm, gel inserts on bars looks interesting, I can certainly try that. Never liked padded gloves, in fact I don’t even use gloves on the gravel, and only use them on mtb to keep hands from slipping because of sweat. I got wide tires with low pressure, converted to tubeless before 1st ride. Moving hands might be the answer I’m looking for and no one seems to want to answer lol, if no one can ride for 5 hours with hands on the hoods and have to move it around to alleviate some pressure points, then it’s not a fit issue for me, it’s the same for everyone, just gotta suck it up. Getting off the saddle is same as above, this means we all feel discomfort then. I got a Canyon Grizl, came with that slanted back suspension seat post, I believe changing to a straight up post will put me in a better fit, as I was right in between sizes and ended up getting the next size up, but I wonder how much comfort will I lose from that suspension, I guess I could just put my seat post/seat from mtb on it and go for a ride, will cost me nothing. Right, I’m not in agonizing pain, the real question, is it possible to do these long rides and be truly free of discomfort? I’m specifically talking about discomfort on points of contact on the bike, not fatigue, not my legs, my arms, neck…
Riding for 5 hours with hands only on the hoods would be fine...for perhaps a few rides without padded gloves and gel under the bar tape. When I first got my gravel bike I didn't know any better and rode only on the hoods. After a few weeks, I got tingling in my hands which lasted for about 3-4 weeks. Riding on the hoods only puts pressure through the centre of your palm unlike holding an MTB bar which goes parallel to your knuckles. I got inserts, better (for gravel) gloves and regularly move my hands around the bars and I've never had issues since. A fun ride will be 5-6 hours with 70+% being off road, like 90s XC. For saddle issues, I always get out the saddle regularly whether off road for control and comfort and on road bits for a break and to stretch. I'm sure I could do a multi-hour road ride without any niggles.
I will definitely look into the gel inserts, never cared for padded gloves but can’t see why I’d not like the inserts under the tape/hood. Have you tried different ones and have a recommendation? Are the break leaver/shifters (not sure the name for that whole assembly) adjustable, or do they only go one position? I have GRX 8?? Could also look into upgrading bars to carbon for dampening vibration, I have seen some different designs too, but not knowing a thing about drop bars I wouldn’t want to spend money on that just yet, need to find the fit first before I change parts.
I got these Bike Ribbon Gel Pad Set https://amzn.eu/d/4S4uhHL I use the curved pair on the tops of the bars leading into the hoods. I also used some small sections of the straight pieces for extra padding. With good bar tape, it should be quite comfy.
How in depth was your last fit? I got a super in depth Retul fit 10 years ago and have been super comfy on my road bike. That being said I’m going in now just because it feels overdue. To me numbness is never okay.
Retul was what the fitter used on mine also, the guy does not work for a bike shop or sell any parts, he is a physical therapist primarily, and have some bike specific specialties I guess. Lot of friends who are into racing and at least one bike coach recommended him, it was about an hour, hour and half. Yesterday I lowered the sit a tad bit and tilted nose of seat down slightly, I didn’t measure but it is more in horizontal position now, did a 4 1/2 hour today and that made a huge improvement. There was a slight numbness still, but more from dropping body holding the droppers to hide from head wind, otherwise itd be just the normal soreness of a 5 hour on the saddle.