Nassa

Hello,

I decided to remove some spacers on my bike to see if I gained any flexibility and to see how it would feel. I went for a 100km ride and everything was ok, no pain, the only problem was that my upper thighs hit my lower stomach (belly) when I am in the drops is that normal? It isn't something that really bothers me, but I just wanted to ask. Here are a few pictures of me in the drops and on the holds. Sorry I wasn't wearing cycling specific attire.

Does the bike look like a good size for me?
I did get a fit included at the LBS but need some other opinions.






Thanks for looking

elcruxio

If I have understood my own condition properly one has to be seriously skinny to not kick onesself in the stomach whilst ridin so low in the drops.
I'm starting to be really skinny and I still kick myself in the gut.
(193cm 93kg 84cm stomach girth)
Reason for this, i think, is because the bellyfat you have is more pronounced in a lower riding posture. Even a minor belly sags down when bending over. And so it's in the way of pedalling.

Could be that I'm completely wrong.

richard_dupp

The question is not how does it look, the question is how does it feel? Age (flexibility really), girth, leg length, arm length etc. are pretty much unique to each of us. If you feel good on it and it is comfortable, to the point the bike becomes an extension of you, then it fits.

Campag4life

Self flogging while riding in the drops which maybe deserved due to overeating is not a recommended practice. You are likely a combination of flexible guy with a spare tire and why you have this predicament. By contrast, my joints freeze up before I self flog myself in the drops. I am not uber flexible but am a flat belly. We each have to find our happy medium. So until you lose some weight either continue to beat yourself in the drops or raise your handlebar slightly until you drop some weight.

ahsposo 

The fit looks maybe OK.

It's hard to tell from those photos but I wonder if a longer stem might be needed.

The deal is, though, if your center of mass on the bike is right you will be able to sit up no hands easy, go from the hoods to the drops, or vice versa, with both hands off and no particular hurry.

Can you ride it no hands and steer it? With confidence?

lazerzxr

Common problem with a bike set up with a low bar. Even more common with lots of set back. Ive never had this problem and ride with 100mm of drop to the tops. I can ride full power in the drops with bent arms and not hit my chest but then I am 6'2" and 160# very flexible and people are ALWAYS saying I look skinny. If you are heavier than that then you might have to put up with it.

you say you are comfortable so I wouldnt change anything. Just enjoy the aero benefit of a lower bar.

bikepro

You might check you saddle height. It looks like it might be too high -- you're leg looks too straight with the pedal at the bottom.

Bacciagalupe

A free fit over the Internets is worth what you paid for it... nothing.

Seriously, you can get general concepts explained to you, but nothing this specific. I'd talk to a real fitter, who can observe your entire fit from a variety of angles.

JustinNY

What size frame is that and how tall are you. It looks a bit small, IMO

Nassa

It is a size small, effective top tube 54 cm.
I am 5 feet 8 inches.

Lexi01

I think most of the comments are spot on...

1. Saddle looks too high
2. Stem too short
3. Seat too far forward

You seem to be in a pretty upright position...so I'm a little confused as to why your knees are hitting your stomach.

Campag4life

+1 Good eye.

Nassa

Yes I can ride with no hands and move slightly from side to side.
How does one know a longer stem is needed other than trying of course?

lazerzxr

I love it, we are now doing internet bike fits with no information other than a poster who says he is comfortable for 100km rides and HALF a photo. We really are getting impressive now. Ask an innocent question about knees touching a clearly overweight belly (only slightly no offence) and leave needing a new stem for that perfect 'Lance' fit

Splendid

so longer stem, lower seat and more setback - yes absolutely that will cure the knees hitting the belly, no doubt at all, honest gov. Who knows you may even turn that painless 100km into something much less enjoyable too Result!

Anyway enough sillyness...

Nassa are those the shoes you normally ride in? Only that could effect the seat height appearance, also were you riding with any effort in those photos as that will effect it too - along with the rest of your stance on the bike...

Nassa

No offense taken, but I don't see myself as overweight maybe a little spare tire and that is the reason why I ask. Height weight 5 feet 8 inches approx 172 pounds.

To reply to the saddle height, according to my lbs I have the correct angle of knee bend with my cycling shoes.

bikepro

Ok, the next time you come before the "fitting panel", please be in the proper uniform.

Campag4life

Pretty obvious the bike is too small or stem is too short. Upper arm to torso angle in the drops is < 90 degrees.

Altbark

Curious - how long are your crank arms? I'm 5'7" and ride 170's on all my bikes except one and it is 172.5. Remember, the longer the cranks the higher your legs have to go to complete a rotation. Just a thought. Al

merlinextraligh

That was my impression as well, but its also really impossible to fit someone to a bike with partial pictures over the internet.

I think the point for the OP is that there's some consensus here that he might do better with a longer stem. Thus it would be reasonable for the OP to try a longer stem. A good shop often has a few old stems around that you can borrow to try different lengths, before you decide to buy a particular size.

StanSeven

Ha. "Big George" Hincapie is 6'3" for the same weight. That's why a favorite saying here is "You're too fat for this sport"

Campag4life

Actually, I have run across a few fat guys that can really ride...especially on the flats where their weight is less of a detriment. I do try to test them in the hills however.
Believe the point to the OP is...having blub around the mid section and riding a small bike for your size as maybe a top racer would with shortish headtube is not a recommended formula. To me the worse combination of fit is small bike + short cockpit...double kiss of death. Fat guys should ride a bit more upright to keep from self flagellation. But if developing a higher pain threshold to ride faster, this maybe the best formula.

wphamilton

There is a lot of knowledge and experience represented here, but I have to disagree. In my opinion, from what I can see there's nothing wrong with the bike's size or the rider's position.

Common sense is that soft tissue interference depends on how much you're bent forward, and the angle of your hips and pelvis. Suppose you tilt pelvis forward, to open up the angle?

Nassa

Thank you, I assume if the fit was off I would feel pain somewhere, but that is not the case. I spoke to my lbs fitter and he confirmed that their is nothing wrong with the fit but more my riding style, flat back, rather than arched back. He said we can try switching to a 110 mm stem but I have to try and arch my back. Does the stem brand make a difference? Fsa vs race face vs etc?

Campag4life

Not really. Pain should not be ultimate determinant of proper fit, optimized comfort and speed should be. Of course pain is worse case scenario if fit is way off. My personal view is your fit is off. You may like it and not feel pain which is good but you join probably the 50%or more roadbikers with bad fit. Fit affects form as it were and not the other way around. A cramped cockpit for example promotes a hump back and bad posture for the simple reason that elongating the back and rotating the pelvis forward properly will make an already short cockpit unbearable. That is the predominant reason you see such bad posture on cramped cockpit bikes. By constrast on longer cockpit bikes you have room to stretch your back and ride with better posture.
I would say 80% of the advice coming out of local bike shops when it comes to fit is bogus. Further at least 50% of bike shops can't tune a bike properly. So what are bike shops good for? Selling bikes and equipment. There is no shortcut to getting good at anything. It generally takes more effort than people are willing to put in and why average is just that.

UCIMBZ

2.5mm? Really?