Could I have outgrown my bike??

[Sandra6]

I bought my specialized vita, with a step through(ish) frame, in May. I chose the frame size up from the one they tried to sell me in the shop, it's a 20" (not sure what that is in old money) and as my full step through bike is a 19 I thought it would be plenty big enough.
After the first couple of weeks I felt it was too short, so had the seat shuftied back a bit, which helped. But now when I ride uphill it just feels too short, and I end up with my backside right back and virtually off the saddle completely.
Have I outgrown it? Did it shrink in the wash? Or does my bum just look big in this?!
I've put the saddle up and one of the guys at work has rotated the bar slightly to give me a cm at most more reach. It did seem to make a little difference - although the seat felt a lot less comfortable -maybe it's too high??
For the most part I do love the bike, but on the uphill slog I feel uncomfortable on it.
I'm wondering if it's worth taking the bike back? Would they do anything?Or does anyone have a helpful suggestion? Could it be my riding position that needs work?

 

[LosingFocus]

Longer stem needed?

 

[black'n'yellow]

your position might need adjusting, by the sound of it - but unless you are still at an age where you are growing, you will not have 'outgrown' your bike...

 

[derrick]

Change the lengh of the stem, a slightly longer may help
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=84207

 

[MrJamie]

Id find a bike fit guide and work through that, setting your saddle in relation to your pedals first then seeing what your reach is like.

 

[Sandra6]

your position might need adjusting, by the sound of it - but unless you are still at an age where you are growing, you will not have 'outgrown' your bike...

Obviously I haven't physically grown, I just wondered if I've changed in the sense that I was riding "sit up and beg" and now I'm leaning further, that I've gained reach, so to speak?
My seat is as far back as it'll go.
A longer stem is a sensible idea, I'm just hesitant to start changing things on the bike before I have to. But maybe I have to.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Obviously I haven't physically grown, I just wondered if I've changed in the sense that I was riding "sit up and beg" and now I'm leaning further, that I've gained reach, so to speak?
My seat is as far back as it'll go.
A longer stem is a sensible idea, I'm just hesitant to start changing things on the bike before I have to. But maybe I have to.

Did you get it from a specialized store, I know when I got my specialized secteur elite they measured me on a measuring device they have to make sure the bike was the correct size.

 

[Sandra6]

No, Phil, just from the local shop, but they do seem to specialise in Specialized and Trek bikes.
Is it worth going back and asking them? I doubt they'll tell me I haven't already heard at work -and on here.
It felt right when I got it, but I ride more seriously now, if I was looking again I'd be more savvy.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

No, Phil, just from the local shop, but they do seem to specialise in Specialized and Trek bikes.
Is it worth going back and asking them? I doubt they'll tell me I haven't already heard at work -and on here.
It felt right when I got it, but I ride more seriously now, if I was looking again I'd be more savvy.

It is always tricky getting a new bike setup properly it took me about a year to get mine how I like it.

Have you made sure the seat is at the right height, on mine I got it so that when I am sat on the bike with the pedal at the bottom I have a slight bend in the knee and I am not rocking my hips when I am pedaling. I found that when I got this bike I have ended up with the seat a lot higher up than it was on my last bike.

Once the seat height is sorted if you still need a longer reach try a longer stem, I have gone through 2 stems on my bike I needed a shorter one with a slight upward angle compared with the one it came with, I just kept an eye out on ebay and I got one about half price.

 

[Sandra6]

When I first started cycling last year I had my seat really low so I felt confident I could reach the floor ! With the vita I started off a little lower than I thought would be right,(its a confidence thing) then put it up, and I've just put it up again. It does seem to be a better height, so I'll see how I get on with it for the next few miles. But a new stem is looking likely.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

When I first started cycling last year I had my seat really low so I felt confident I could reach the floor ! With the vita I started off a little lower than I thought would be right,(its a confidence thing) then put it up, and I've just put it up again. It does seem to be a better height, so I'll see how I get on with it for the next few miles. But a new stem is looking likely.
Thanks for the advice.

Thats what I found also I seemed to be lifting the seat up every other day for a while. Now the seat height is at a point where I can just touch the floor with my toes when I am in the saddle.

 

[RedRider]

It's worth asking the the local shop if they'll let you try out different stems. I went shorter, longer, longer and longer again before it felt right and the shop was happy to swap them each time with no charge. I bought them a case of beer for their troubles afterwards but it wasn't expected!
If you've spent a few hundred on one of their bikes it should be part of the service IMO, certainly during the first coupla months or so.

 

[Dragonwight]

Have you tried pushing an easier gear one down say from what you are doing now so you dont need to move so far back in the saddle when climbing? When I climb hills i move as far back as I can which feels like your off the end of the saddle, your not it just feels like it. Obviously if its painful go back to your LBS to double check your fitting. Thats my 10 pence worth.

 

[black'n'yellow]

When I first started cycling last year I had my seat really low so I felt confident I could reach the floor ! With the vita I started off a little lower than I thought would be right,(its a confidence thing) then put it up, and I've just put it up again. It does seem to be a better height, so I'll see how I get on with it for the next few miles. But a new stem is looking likely.

Thats what I found also I seemed to be lifting the seat up every other day for a while. Now the seat height is at a point where I can just touch the floor with my toes when I am in the saddle.

Without wishing to be critical, that's the wrong way to establish your saddle height. If you want to touch the floor, get off the saddle. The correct saddle height is a distance measured between your saddle and the pedal, when at the furthest point from it...

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Without wishing to be critical, that's the wrong way to establish your saddle height. If you want to touch the floor, get off the saddle. The correct saddle height is a distance measured between your saddle and the pedal, when at the furthest point from it...

Yes I know that's why I already said that in my previous post on this thread.

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