New Boardman SLR 8.9, saddle issues.

[Jameshow]

I have been struggling with the spoon lately but this morning I dropped it 5 mm and seemed better, I have shrunk 1 cm over the last 3 years so maybe I needed to adjust accordingly

I wasn't being serious tbh everyone is different!

 

[AndyRM]

It would be helpful if we could see pictures of how the bike is set up, although you may need to make a few more posts before you're allowed to.

 

[Phil4000]

Thanks for the replies all, much appreciated.
I've since played around with the saddle, and made it a little more comfortable.

As it all starts to come back to me, I'm concluding that the frame is too long for me. I'm putting too much weight into the handlebars, and getting a it of neck/shoulder tension. Despite my relative long legs, I'm 5ft 10in. Rather than play around with stems, I'd rather have the right frame.

Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to return this great deal.
The good news is that my bug for cycling has come back with a vengeance, and I'm keen to get back on two wheels. Really like this particular model of bike also. Have some more questions, but perhaps its better to start a new thread.

 

[Phil4000]

heres the geometry stats
View attachment 806726

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/size-guide.html

Boardsmans advice...

Inside leg too long vs height

"Go for the smaller frame size. Your legs are proportionally longer than your upper body. The shorter reach on the smaller frame will help to keep your back at a sensible angle without stretching, and you can set the saddle high to accommodate longer leg length. Our seat posts do have a minimum insertion limit within"
So I will have to make sure the seatpost can extend high enough for my needs. I'm about .5cm over what they recommend with leg on a medium, vs 3cm below what they recommend on a Large.

A long time ago I had a bike frame that was too big, I don't want that again. But I'll carefully try the M before buying.

 

[cyberknight]

you could try to make it fit , have you got your saddle setback and height sorted 1st ? working from there a shorter than stock stem could make it work if the bike is such a good deal. Twitchiness of steering is very overhyped as its not as big an effect as made out and nothing you cant get used too . I ride bikes with stems ranging from 80 mm to 110 mm and cant tell enough difference to worry about .

 

[wafter]

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/size-guide.html

Boardsmans advice...

Inside leg too long vs height

"Go for the smaller frame size. Your legs are proportionally longer than your upper body. The shorter reach on the smaller frame will help to keep your back at a sensible angle without stretching, and you can set the saddle high to accommodate longer leg length. Our seat posts do have a minimum insertion limit within"
So I will have to make sure the seatpost can extend high enough for my needs. I'm about .5cm over what they recommend with leg on a medium, vs 3cm below what they recommend on a Large.

A long time ago I had a bike frame that was too big, I don't want that again. But I'll carefully try the M before buying.

Thanks for posting that - don't think that was about when I first became aware of the need to accommodate my own non-standard proportions but it's nice to have my approach validated.

That said this whole situation is clouded further by some manufacturers' approach to sizing; whereby it seems reach often changes by much less (proportionally speaking) than stack with different frame sizes.. so probably worth looking at geometry tables to see how much of a difference there is...

Thanks to the table conveniently already posted by @cyberknight, it seems this bike is a good case on point - note how, when moving from the medium to the large the stack increases by 21mm / 3.7% from 567 to 588mm, yet the reach only increases by 3mm / 0.8% from 387 to 390mm.

It's also worth noting that the seatpost angle is half a degree slacker on the L frame, offering a bit more "native" layback than the M frame.. although this might not be required as from your OP and subsequent post it sounds like the saddle might already be a bit far back.

Since we're talking new bikes presumably you have the luxury of being able to test-ride the smaller size frame, so this is probably the next step.

Good luck getting it sorted!

 

[postman]

I would like to mention Charge Spoon is on my Giant Rincon and is a lovely saddle.

 

[fwgx]

i run a 90 cm stem

I have to see this