Looking for advice with current bike

Triathlon Forum
1

I have a little situation and would like to get the advice of some of you. I currently have a 2005 Felt B2 that I purchased 4 years ago. I love the bike in general but I have two problems.

First is when I purchased the bike I bought it through a reputable shop and went through the entire FIST fitting. I was debating between this bike and a GURU and was told by the fitter that if I ordered a custom GURU, he would use the Felt’s geometry and measurements. The problem is the bike has never seemed to fit me correctly. It’s ok but I feel stretched out and get pain in my back after being in the Aero position for over 30 minutes. I have a short stem and the seat all the way forward so i don’t know what else I could do. I have since moved and no longer live near the shop where I purchased the bike.

The second issue is I find I am doing more group rides and I think a road bike would work better for my current needs. I could use road bars and put on some clip ons for races.

Money is an issue for me and I would love to convert my B2 into a road bike and pay for a fitting at a different shop in Chicago. My problem is I don’t want to pay the $300 to get fit on a bike that is the wrong size.

Let me know if there are any general rules to check the fit. I am 6’2" and the bike is a 60cm but I know that doesn’t mean a whole lot. I happen to have short legs and a long torso which makes it even more curious that I feel stretched out on the bike.

I know that I am probably just going to have to go to the shop where I want to do the fitting but wanted to see if I could get any good advice from the slowtwitch braintrust.

Thanks in advance,

Tim

2

hrm… i can’t offer much advice (except you can get a cheaper road bike as well as keeping your current bike)…

FWIW - I’m 6’ 1/2" and ride a 56cm. So… a smaller bike might be the answer.

3

Thanks for the advice. I will take any I can get at this time.

4

Same suggestions here - I ride a 56cm Cervelo time trial rig, but a 59cm/60cm road bike depending on brand, and I’m 6’ 3/4". It might be more fitting to turn that into a road bike, although the geometry might still be a bit weird being that its a TT bike.

5

If I were in you’re shoes, I would be tempted to sell the Felt frame. I don’t think riding that geometry with road bars would be very comfortable. I have ridden borrowed/rental rised on trip where I have felt stretched out and I know it is not a comfortable way to ride.

I would think you could sell the frame, fork, and aerobars on ST or elsewhere and keep the components for a road frame you could build up for similar money.

6

It sounds like a smaller frame might be better for you. I’m just over 6’ and ride a 55. I owned a 58 once and had the same problem you seem to be having. The measurements seemed right on paper…but I felt stretched out and had back issues after riding for extended periods.
I would sell your frame and get a smaller size (58??) So much more room for sizing using a smaller vs larger frame.