Adding comfort to bicycling

In Oct I got a new E-bike. First time I'd been on a bike in 40 years. Within the first 100 or so miles I realized I was getting a pain in the neck from the position the no rise handlebar was causing. By the time I was getting close to 200 miles I made up my mind and ordered a 120mm rise handlebar, oh what a difference that made. I have made quite a few 30+ mile rides since and no pain! Aerodynamics are great but comfort is better!

Excellent point, Larry! I have added height by inserting tubes at the handlebars and seat of every bike I've owned for the last 20 years.  It makes a huge difference.  

I'm not a super tall guy, but I have long legs, and being able to stretch makes it way more comfortable.  

Also, instead of leaning all of my weight down on my tiny forearms, I can sit pretty upright and I don't get tired.  It feels just as natural as walking or sitting in a chair.  

I also see much better what's happening around me, and the cars can see me very clearly, including gesturing and facial expressions.  Most of my gestures are cooperative in nature, especially to the drivers of cars that are actually obeying the law.

John S
PDX OR

This is sort of about comfort while bicycling, but also about handlebars, so I'll put it in both.   These straight riser posts make the bike more upright, so you have less stress on your back and on your forearms.  It's just a tube that you buy at a bike shop, inserted in between the frame where the hexagon nut is and the handlebars.  When I look at a place where many people ride bikes, like Denmark or the Netherlands, most of the bikes are upright like this:
John S
PDX OR

The tube above is black and chrome colored.  In this one below, it's just black.  I have done this to all of my bikes, because I became uncomfortable on the regular racing 10 speed style many decades ago, but I still wanted to ride. These are the things that the bike pros recommended.
John S
PDX OR

I also have changed the seat post on all my bikes of the last few decades.  Here is the post on my newest bike. As you can see, it really lets me stretch out my legs, so I can get more power and be more comfortable.  The seat posts have little hash marks on them as you go down.  The hash marks show the lowest level you can set that post safely.  
I can't usually touch the ground from my seating position. I usually have to get off the seat, but my foot is on the pedal.  This tall seat post also makes a big difference in how comfortable I am on the bike.
John S
PDX OR

I bought a recumbent bicycle over 10 years ago. It was quite expensive, but worth every bit!
No back pain, a good suspension and less air resistance than with a upright bicycle.

John your work on the bike seems to have made it more comfortable,  so congratulations. I volunteer at a local bike non profit and have learned a lot more about repairs and customization.... our BikeAthens manager would most likely critique your setup with a suggestion:  seat post too high

Normally, if you are jacking up your handlebars and seat to that height,  then your frame is too small. If you love that bike then by all means keep it, but keep this in mind. If you see a good frame in a larger size down the road, you might consider changing. That is, swap all your components to the new frame; it is not such an arduous task.  Bon voyage

I have known many people who have switched to recumbent bikes and loved them. It's a similar effect: less stress on the back and forearms.  

Rico- I have heard that from many bike shop owners. "You need to buy a different bike".   For some reason, they want me to buy a new bike!

I got this bike for free from my sister, through her husband.  It was what I wanted: a step through bike.  I think the sizing of the bike is different if you want it set up like an old ten speed racing bike than how I have it set up.  My friend is much taller than I am. He has the old 10 speed racing style and my bike is way bigger than his bike.  Each fits us well.  If I had a larger old school ten speed racing style bike, it would be too big.

Portland is a big bike town and lots of scumbags steal bikes.  I have had bikes stolen before, and I don't want to spend a lot of money on a bike to get it stolen.  Some of my friends won't use their bikes in as many ways as I do, because they're afraid they'll get the bike stolen. No one wants to steal my bike.  They won't be able to sell it for much of anything.

John S
PDX OR

Yes you are on target Juan.  I agree that bike thieves are , in terms of the Perodic Table of Elements, alloys of Lead and Cesium.
Toxic.  

Why? Bikes are perhaps the ultimate freedom machine.  I am no stranger to theft amigo. Two beloved  road bikes stolen, Atlanta and Los Angeles...  that crushed my soul.  My locked mountain bike disappeared in Amsterdam citca 1989. It felt like a semi truck had run over my new puppy

Please don't think our non profit shop wants a bike sale, we just want you to be happy.  And somewhat  pain free
For example
If you bike for  a month or two in Western Europe,  especially Holland, you won't see  many folks on a poorly sized bike. It is down to ergonomics; how efficient is your effort to kilometers covered. If you will, a physics equation. A one way ticket to Europe in '84 with my venerable touring bike proved that to me. Was able to tour for10 weeks.   By riding 60 to 100 miles a day carrying all our camping gear, never stopping for a hotel or restaurant food, our trip turned out to be epic.       my buddy and  i and found that sleeping outdoors while living on raw fruit and fresh bread was important.  Also we rode our own bikes. Commuting and working with those bikes in LA before departure was our learning curve. That familiarity , that sizing and comfort was indeed important to our adventure

If you love your bike, superb, that's all that matters. Keep on rolling Your posts are fantastic,  keep encouraging folks everywhere to ride more.
Different strokes for different folks.

So glad you are out on Portland bike trails ( iam envious!) with the wind in your smiling face. Bikes rule. That's why we put in many hours and a few thousand dollars last year to support the local bike non profit.  Twice last year I worked to customize free or reduced price bikes for victims of theft. Karma matters.   I was careful to get the 'standard' correct size frame each time. Road bike, step through, gravel bike, racing....sizing matters. Bike touring a few thousand miles over four continents has solidified my preference.  But that's just my view and not any criticism

Take good care as you ride my friend , those cars are unpredictable.  Bikes rule!

Holy cow, sorry John , not intended to preach to the choir. . My rant should be condensed :

All discussion about bikes, including yours, is  motivating.  Thank you. Cool how picking  good components , like sear posts, makes more comfort, that means riding is more fun

Glad to see some happy posting about bikes :) Nice working making them fit your needs.

Even on a so called mountain bike, I always prefer a nice squishy seat and some handlebar rise, along lines of compromise between function, form, and comfort of course.

One thing I found out after buying a newer bike recently, is that wide tires and a dropper-style seat post add serious joy to the ride!

Lots of folks prefer and suggest a high seat for maximum pedal strength and leg reach which is great sometimes, but I really like a low seat height often as well, and to be able to have it exactly where you want while riding, quickly, with one push of a thumb button and a little "bump" or "lift" of your butt is awesome! Starting and stopping are much easier with a low seat height.

Also having a gearset that makes it a billygoat is super comfy for those sitting uphill jaunts, albeit slow but marathoningly graceful and enjoyable rather than tiresome.

Great posts, Rico. I used to go bike camping a lot, but that was between 45 years ago and 30 years ago.  I'm the oldest person at my schools, and very rarely does anyone else bike to work.  I can't find people to go bike camping with either, which makes me sad.  I think that some bikes are better set up for a very young, vigorous person to do century rides and bike camping.  Other bikes are set up to be comfortable for shorter, easier rides.  Almost all of my rides are 15 Km or less. I enjoy them, but I'm not a young man anymore. I agree. Set your bike up for the kind of biking you do.  I also buy from local non-profit bike shops here.  I like how they help get people into biking!

John S
PDX OR