Ok, here is my dilemna. I am going to do a 62 mile gravel road race that is very hilly and has 1 mile of single-track in it. I am borrowing a cross bike that is 1 size to small for me 56 instead of a 58cm. I measured the seat height to make it equal to my road set up but after riding it almost 45 miles on Sat…I had some lower back pain. I think from being too squished into the bike position and not stretched out like I’m used to. Aside from buying a new stem for one race does anyone have any other tips or tricks for this? Set back seatpost or something? I thought of doing it on my road bike but don’t think I can fit cross tires on it. Anyway, wanted to send this out to see what I get. Thanks in advance for the pointers.
For cross, I find that a slightly smaller frame is much kinder on your private parts in case of a crash. But, really a longer stem is your only option.
Ok, here is my dilemna. I am going to do a 62 mile gravel road race that is very hilly and has 1 mile of single-track in it
Can you get 25 or even 28mm tires on your road bike - some older road bikes can handle wider tires? Newer bikes can’t. How technical is the “single track”? You may be able to handle this on your road bike.
We ride from time to time on gravel roads around here and it’s doable on my road bike. To get in and out of our summer cottage we need to ride 1 K along a rutted dirt road and that’s doable on the road bike to.