The Rat Trail Bikes

You spend a year and a half getting it build only to keep giving you pain even when the number is 100% spot on fucked up your head.

If the fit is 100% identical to another bike that doesn't cause you pain then must be something other than the fit right?

Are contact points the same? Ie same bars and saddle, hoods same shape/angle? Bar tape the same? Could fatter/thinner tape cause you to hold bars differently affecting muscles unconciously?

If everything identical but still causing you pain then must be flex in the post, tyre pressure or suppleness, something like that?

Do you experience back pain as well when the bike is on the trainer, as pictured, say after few dozens of kilometers miles ?
Edit : could it be the combination wide bars+low trail forcing you to uncommon upper body angles ?

Believe me I’ve checked, the fit is even identical to the Elephants that have little seatpost showing.

Also, 46cm handlebar have been my de facto choice for off road, the geo was partially taken from the Boardman abet with lower trail and higher handlebar with a bit of Elephants.

I just went for a 2km ride to Ladywell for coffee and it flare up a lots.

Right now I’m just very tempted to get rid of it.

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Ladywell for coffee

Oscars?

Right now I’m just very tempted to get rid of it.

dont be stupid, be patient

Could it be that the Trek has a way shorter seattube that allows more flex and forgiveness?

I’m thinking this too, it would have gradually get worse, rather than immediately flared after a few minutes.

Get yourself checked out, Ed. It could easily be something else that caused the pain, and a simple coincidence that the new bike's position just happens to aggravate it and your other bikes don't

Maybe try the lightest flexiest post you can get your hands on or try doing some drillium on a cheap post?

This^^

I’ll do that to rule it out, it’s a brilliant little bike and it’s soul crushing to hit the summer only for pain to flare up on it.

It really is nice. There is load of ways to get a bit more comfortable so hope you find a way to keep it.

Sorry to hear about your back pain Ed, but could it be the different saddle? I switched from a composit to a vulkor and had all sorts of issues that I couldn’t explain as the set up was to the mm. In the end I’ve moved my saddle back a bit and nose down and it’s sorted my issues. Despite only being a little bit wider I felt I sat in a slightly different place which meant measurements weren’t comparable between the two.

Worth trying with a Canyon VCLS post? or even a cane creek thud buster?

The size of the tyres on this, I'm not sure an alloy seatpost is really doing much to make it too stiff.
If you're having pain in 2km, it's something else.

or even a cane creek thudbuster?

rep

Cheap seatpost with layback, appear to have enough flex, in the meantime , the checkpoint gonna get ready for the king Alfred way (with low rider) in case it doesn’t work.

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Switched saddle, same issues.

Doctor visit booked soon

glad you have spacers on the checkpoint, will fit me fine

I hope you find a solution

Did I see you on the Checkpoint near Dulwich College the other day?

Yup, that's my commute.

Seatpost make fuck-all difference, not entirely surprising, but best to rules it out.

Next thing is to replicate the handlebar on the Checkpoint which is 44cm (currently 46cm).

I'm catching up on this thread, the back pain can' t come from such a lovely bike.
Maybe lot's of hours working on the flat, moving stuff, and work is wearing you down?
Hope you enjoy it soon.

glad you have spacers on the checkpoint, will fit me fine.

Clearly.

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Hahahahah

When should I collect?