Lots of potential here, but honestly looks like it’s suffering from a few setup mistakes that are common with new or casual riders. Just gonna provide some info in case anyone needs to know it:
Saddle cover – this is counter-intuitive, but softer saddles hurt *more*. Your “sit bones” support all your weight, so you actually want minimal contact outside that small area. If your saddle hurts it’s because it doesn’t align with your sit bones and you need a different size / style; saddle covers and “comfy” padding attempt to increase comfort by spreading the weight over larger surface area, which only means your sensitive areas (anything that’s not your sit bones) are now bearing weight. Which gives the illusion of comfort but is actually far worse.
Saddle setback – lots of [articles](https://trainright.com/bike-fit-tips-thatll-improve-your-comfort-and-power/) and opinions, but general consensus is knee over pedal spindle. Single Speed / track bike style frames are generally pretty aggressive and feel different than other bikes, which can lead to some funky setup adjustments. An old school thought was adjust saddle towards the rear for comfort, up front for power – now it’s understood there’s a lot more to it than that, but this adjustment is almost 100% responsible for your knee health. I’m gonna guess that saddle is at least an inch further rearward than your knees would like.
Bar angle – this is usually the first sign that there’s something off about the bike’s fit. The rule is that bars go flat, pretty much period. There’s a tiny bit of leeway to dial in your fit, but overall bar comfort is achieved through proper stem length and proper steer tube height. If you want your bars closer, change one of those things – don’t tip the bars up. That’s bad posture and increases torque on your lower spine because you’re changing the geometry of how your weight is supported. It also causes neck and shoulder issues because your arms are being used as shock absorbers instead of just steering actuators. Change where the bars sit, don’t change the angle of the bars – or do more stretches and get comfy with leaning over further (like you’re racing) and it should start to feel more natural. When you can “hover” leaned over the bars and not use your arms to actually support any weight.
TL;DR, this bike looks ergonomically dangerous and I’d advise some serious attention to fitting before hurting your knees, back, perineum, etc.
[deleted] on
Is this from the State core line? I love the color!
3 Comments
Looks sweet! But the pedals????
Lots of potential here, but honestly looks like it’s suffering from a few setup mistakes that are common with new or casual riders. Just gonna provide some info in case anyone needs to know it:
Saddle cover – this is counter-intuitive, but softer saddles hurt *more*. Your “sit bones” support all your weight, so you actually want minimal contact outside that small area. If your saddle hurts it’s because it doesn’t align with your sit bones and you need a different size / style; saddle covers and “comfy” padding attempt to increase comfort by spreading the weight over larger surface area, which only means your sensitive areas (anything that’s not your sit bones) are now bearing weight. Which gives the illusion of comfort but is actually far worse.
Saddle setback – lots of [articles](https://trainright.com/bike-fit-tips-thatll-improve-your-comfort-and-power/) and opinions, but general consensus is knee over pedal spindle. Single Speed / track bike style frames are generally pretty aggressive and feel different than other bikes, which can lead to some funky setup adjustments. An old school thought was adjust saddle towards the rear for comfort, up front for power – now it’s understood there’s a lot more to it than that, but this adjustment is almost 100% responsible for your knee health. I’m gonna guess that saddle is at least an inch further rearward than your knees would like.
Bar angle – this is usually the first sign that there’s something off about the bike’s fit. The rule is that bars go flat, pretty much period. There’s a tiny bit of leeway to dial in your fit, but overall bar comfort is achieved through proper stem length and proper steer tube height. If you want your bars closer, change one of those things – don’t tip the bars up. That’s bad posture and increases torque on your lower spine because you’re changing the geometry of how your weight is supported. It also causes neck and shoulder issues because your arms are being used as shock absorbers instead of just steering actuators. Change where the bars sit, don’t change the angle of the bars – or do more stretches and get comfy with leaning over further (like you’re racing) and it should start to feel more natural. When you can “hover” leaned over the bars and not use your arms to actually support any weight.
TL;DR, this bike looks ergonomically dangerous and I’d advise some serious attention to fitting before hurting your knees, back, perineum, etc.
Is this from the State core line? I love the color!