Colin_F
stranger
Reged: 16/06/2008
Posts: 2
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Hi I have recently got back into mountain biking and the theft of my old bike has meant buying a new one.
I can't seem to get the comfortable in the saddle and I seem to be supporting too much of my weight on my wrists. Can you advise?
New bike is an GT Avalanche 2.0
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FSRXCRider
stranger
Reged: 07/05/2008
Posts: 24
Loc: Bath Somerset
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Have a look at my posting - FSRXC Set up - reverse problem but may be of help!
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FSR XC Rider 
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Sir_Queuesalot
old hand
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1108
Loc: South Cheshire
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Hi Colin,
It could be as FSR says.
You're obviously pitched too far forward thus putting a load on your wrists, what size are you and what size is the bike?
Do you wear padded gloves?
Has this happened often or could it be just you getting used to riding again after a long time away?
How bad is it?
Lots of questions, sorry, but it'll assist everyone in giving advice.
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My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder 
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
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JamieD
journeyman
Reged: 16/04/2008
Posts: 83
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Shorter stem / higher angled stem might sort it
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Jamie Darlow
staff writer, mbr
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ElPonko
newbie
Reged: 03/06/2008
Posts: 28
Loc: Gloucestershire
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I had the same problem when i returned after a long break - bad wrists and neck. I looked into shorter stems and another saddle, but just as I was losing all hope of getting comfy, it all went away. This may sound dim, but have you got a decent pair of shorts? Long, long, time ago I was a courier + had a bad pair of shorts and got uncomfortable quickly so was unconciously lifting my bum a little from the saddle, pushing my weight forward and giving me bad wrists. Changed shorts to a good pair - hey presto! No more bad wrists. May help...
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Ouch! That hurts!
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Colin_F
stranger
Reged: 16/06/2008
Posts: 2
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Hi Thanks for all the help.
To answer some of the questions I am just under 6 foot, not sure what size the bike is but the bike shop (a small independant specialist) measured it up for me I think its 19 or 20.
I do wear padded gloves. For 5 or 6 weeks before I got the current bike (the last one was stolen) and I didn't seem to put so much pressure on my wrists).
It happens pretty every time I am out on the bike (at least every other day mostly more often) after about 15 mins
I have been changing the saddle height, postion forward and back and angle but I can't seem to get the perfect position. When I drop the saddle my knees do start hurting but I am not sure if that is due to an old basketball injury.
No padded shorts but I haven't had any discomfort (well after the first 5 mins back on the bike anyway)there.
All help gratefully recieved.
C
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Sir_Queuesalot
old hand
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1108
Loc: South Cheshire
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Hi Colin,
Good to see you're not afraid to tweak things to get your position right.
Perhaps if you start from a neutral-ish position (in my experience anyway)
Set your saddle so that when you rest your elbow on the tip your fingers touch around the middle of the stem cap. Have the saddle horizontal to the top tube. If your todger goes numb on ascents then you need to drop the front a little.
Saddle height should enable your heel to just touch the pedal with a staright leg no lower or you won't get the power through your legs and you'll blow your knees, explains the pain you describe. (you see so many people riding around with bent knees! Its the old cycling proficiency test that did that as they said you should be able to get both feet flat on the floor when you sit on the saddle. Wrong! well for MTB'ing at least.)
So we should have sorted out the height, angle and distance from the stem cap.
The only things left now are
1. The stem length itself, I run a 70mm, down from my original 100mm. This helps bring wrists in and from memory GT tend to fit very long stems.
Do you have a mate you could swap parts with or are you prepared to chuck 30 quid at the problem to see if it works?
2. Handlebars, the GT should have a riser bar fitted, you could try rotating that back towards your body, this would also give you an indication if the stem is too long as well.
3. Alignment of your controls, your brake leavers should be about in line with the angle of your arms, not so you have to wrap your wrists around the grips to get to them if they are pointing straight at the floor. Draw an imaginary line from you shoulder to your wrists then line up the leavers with that
4. You wear gloves but not padded shorts, not sure about this one myself but as previous post suggests it's a solution that's worked then why not, cheap pair from Aldi £5 or £4 from decathlon if there's one close.
Let me know if any of that comes through for you.
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My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
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