Making my road bike more comfortable

[Garz]

I completed my first 100m ride yesterday and was really pleased with my fitness as my legs and lower back weren't in too much discomfort. However, my hands and shoulders were in quite a bit of pain which suggests that I'd benefit from a few comfort focused accessories.

I'm told that these would all help, but not how much?

Moving from 23 to 25mm tyres
Puncture resistant tyres so I can drop the pressure a little
A spacer to raise the bar (the bike has quite a racy geometry)
Better bar tape e.g. Lizard Skins or Spec. Roubaix tape
Gel inserts to go under the tape
Better mitts e.g. Spec. Roubaix gel mitts

Should i get them all, or are some either/or?

Anything I haven't thought of? Perhaps some Chamois Cream.

Cheers

Raise by a spacer, relax the grip and some decent gloves are my input.

 

[Garz]

I'm looking to buy a Carbon or Ti Sportive style bike next year, but will have to do with what I have for now. Hoping that a few cheap upgrades will be OK for now.

I chose Ti. Very comfy and will last a long time.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I.... However, my hands and shoulders were in quite a bit of

Are you riding with your arms locked out? That will transmit the shock from the bars up to you shoulders. It also puts more weight on your shoulders aggravating the situation. Elbows bent, shoulders relaxed.

 

[slowmotion]

Apart from raising the bars with spacers etc, you could try a shorter stem. I had a Specialized 110mm stem that was variable between minus 16 and plus 16 degrees. I tried every single combination , together with various spacers, but I always felt too stretched out and "forward heavy". I found that a 90mm stem, minus 5 degrees was absolutely perfect. I keep trying the 110mm stem again to see if it will turn me into Greg Lemond but it doesn't and I don't feel comfortable with it.

Just experiment with different spacers, stems, and gel gloves. It's all very personal, not a rigid science. Good luck.

 

[buggi]

I completed my first 100m ride yesterday and was really pleased with my fitness as my legs and lower back weren't in too much discomfort. However, my hands and shoulders were in quite a bit of pain which suggests that I'd benefit from a few comfort focused accessories.

I'm told that these would all help, but not how much?

Moving from 23 to 25mm tyres
Puncture resistant tyres so I can drop the pressure a little
A spacer to raise the bar (the bike has quite a racy geometry)
Better bar tape e.g. Lizard Skins or Spec. Roubaix tape
Gel inserts to go under the tape
Better mitts e.g. Spec. Roubaix gel mitts

Should i get them all, or are some either/or?

Anything I haven't thought of? Perhaps some Chamois Cream.

Cheers

This sounds like more of a body position problem rather than vibration so of these i would say, a spacer to raise the bars and/or flip the stem and/or maybe a shorter stem ??. You need to sit up a bit i think so the weight is not on your arms and this will make the geometry less racy.

I think the other stuff will help but it helps more with road vibration rather than pressure on hands and shoulders. you don't need gel inserts if you just put some new tape over the old, it will nicely pad out the handle bars. .

 

[buggi]

also recommend a bike fit.