Slammed vs bent arms
10-21-20, 03:12 PM
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Slammed vs bent arms
I was watching the World Championships and a lot guys riding slammed stems with their elbows locked from the arms being extended. The were also rides with their handlebars in a position that allow the elbow to have a bend in them.
10-21-20, 03:22 PM
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10-21-20, 03:32 PM
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Locked elbows is bad. I was taught that elbows are always bent. Projecting to the side anytime I was riding with others. Bent elbows allows your arms to act as shock absorbers when you hit a pothole or rock. (That's "when" not "if'". "If" just means you haven't ridden long enough or you live in a world I've never known without potholes or rocks.) Projecting your elbows to the side means getting bumped by the rider beside you isn't an issue. (I hear more reports of crashes hitting unseen stuff in races and training rides than I recall from my racing days. I think that inattention to how we hold the handlebars is a real factor. That plus more time on the brake levers and those levers not having cable housings sticking out the top. As cursed as those cables were, we all had crashes prevented by them when we hit something that knocked our hands off but we hung up, sometimes rather painfully, on those cables.
I see a lot of pro riders with riding habits I was specifically coached not to do. I suspect that the pool of riders being vastly bigger than 45 years ago means that many come up without mentors who teach the old ways. Also that the focus on "scientific training" means less focus on good, old fashioned riding habits.
I see a lot of pro riders with riding habits I was specifically coached not to do. I suspect that the pool of riders being vastly bigger than 45 years ago means that many come up without mentors who teach the old ways. Also that the focus on "scientific training" means less focus on good, old fashioned riding habits.
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10-21-20, 03:35 PM
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10-21-20, 03:52 PM
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Yeah, for sure they're doing it wrong.
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10-21-20, 04:41 PM
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I don't know which riders you were looking at, but straight doesn't necessarily mean locked. I ride pretty comfortably with my arms straight. As my elbows go from just straight to locked, the inside bend of them rotates from being slightly angled down toward inside to being on top. Doesn't matter whether on the hoods or drops. Not sure how to really describe that.
Nonetheless I'm not sure I'd assume that just because ones arms are straight that they are locked. I know a few people that locked elbows would be way past straight.
Nonetheless I'm not sure I'd assume that just because ones arms are straight that they are locked. I know a few people that locked elbows would be way past straight.
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10-21-20, 05:09 PM
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Have you seen the archetypical cyclist's arms?
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10-21-20, 05:10 PM
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10-21-20, 06:54 PM
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Here’s an interesting discussion of the “locked arms” position.
https://jralong.com/2020/09/04/le-tou...eased-carnage/
David
https://jralong.com/2020/09/04/le-tou...eased-carnage/
David
10-21-20, 07:32 PM
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10-21-20, 09:38 PM
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A good alternative is simply rest your elbows flat on the hoods like in the TT position. It's absolutely aero and highly relaxed position - if you're used to it.... however, in such position, you can't press on the brakes in a whim and have to slide down your hands to reach the brake levers so that position is only safe to do if you're at the front of the group or riding solo and if traffic conditions is safe enough to do it.
10-21-20, 10:42 PM
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If your arms are straight, your forearms aren't horizontal, therefore you're showing more frontal area. Raising the bars so your forearms are level would be more aero, right?
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10-21-20, 11:39 PM
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It's really down to comfort and rider preference.
I find the arms straight(ish, with a bit of bend in them), in the drops to be a very comfortable "fast cruising" position. Arms more level on the hoods is likely a bit faster, but isn't something I like doing for more than five minutes at a time. When descending then I get a bit lower still with arms bent in the drops, though.
I find the arms straight(ish, with a bit of bend in them), in the drops to be a very comfortable "fast cruising" position. Arms more level on the hoods is likely a bit faster, but isn't something I like doing for more than five minutes at a time. When descending then I get a bit lower still with arms bent in the drops, though.
Last edited by Branko D; 10-21-20 at 11:45 PM.
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10-22-20, 07:55 AM
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I started road riding a 61cm with spacers - professionally fitted. Over the years, I got more comfortable in a lower position. Today, I'm on a 58cm with a longer (slammed) stem and am very comfortable even on all-day rides. I like the lower stem because I've got options - from straight(er) arms on the hoods, to bent in the drops. But, you have GOT to first make sure any change is within the range that a good fitter would do. Jumping on a slammed long stem with a lot of seat post may look fast... but it could kill YOUR power... and back... and neck... and ass...
10-22-20, 09:04 AM
#23
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Pics and a thousand words...
I just did an image search to (re)call this pic which helps visualize some options:
upper right corner looks like the aero/comfort winner to me, but variety is good.
upper right corner looks like the aero/comfort winner to me, but variety is good.
10-23-20, 05:54 AM
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If you combine the hand position of top right with the head/back position of bottom right, there's the winner.
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