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Eye/Bar/Hub alignment?

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Eye/Bar/Hub alignment?

Old 06-26-13, 09:51 AM
  #1  
RubeRad
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Eye/Bar/Hub alignment?

Hey,

I am quite happy with my current fit, but I recently read there's a rule of thumb where the front hub should be blocked from view by the handlebars when you're in the hoods.

How accurate is this? For me, the front hub is pretty much halfway between my bars and my steerer tube, and it seems like it would be a pretty radical change to meet the rule of thumb. I guess the way to do it would be to switch to a really short stem?

Details; I'm 6' on a 60cm Surly CrossCheck, and I"m using a 110mm stem. If it makes any difference, the bottom of the stem is 46mm above the top of the headtube (what with thick aheadset, brake cable hanger, and 10mm spacer)
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Old 06-26-13, 10:03 AM
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In light of this:

Originally Posted by RubeRad
I am quite happy with my current fit
I wouldn't change a thing to conform to the rule of thumb, which is about as valid as the KOPS rule. Sounds like you just have extra-long arms.
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Old 06-26-13, 10:43 AM
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It's BS. Don't worry about it. RIDE.
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Old 06-26-13, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Sounds like you just have extra-long arms.
Are you callin me a knuckle dragger?

OK thx guys, just checking. I guess the most important thing is am I comfortable, and I ams.
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Old 06-26-13, 04:05 PM
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I'm a believer in that rule of thumb, but I use it more to tell if the bike might be too "short" - bar appears to be "behind" the hub. If the bar appears to be "ahead" of the hub, but don't feel too stretched out, then that wouldn't worry me.
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Old 06-26-13, 06:02 PM
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Interesting; thx for the tip (about the tip)
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Old 06-27-13, 05:59 AM
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That rule of thumb has a lot of history, but I don't think anyone knows why.
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Old 06-27-13, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
That rule of thumb has a lot of history, but I don't think anyone knows why.
Agreed. Tends to work for me, as it happens, but I wouldn't set too much store by it.
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Old 06-27-13, 09:15 AM
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I was looking more carefully, and when I am actually fully out to the hoods, the hub is 2/3 or 3/4 of the way towards the bar, in my field of vision's headset-bar gap. It's when I scoot back to rest my palms on the bends that the hub actually appears midway between headset and bar. So I guess I 'm even closer to meeting the rule of thumb.
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Old 06-27-13, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
I recently read there's a rule of thumb where the front hub should be blocked from view by the handlebars when you're in the hoods
The version my club ascribed to in the 70's/80's was "in the curl of the drops, elbows bent going Hard the front hub should be blocked from view by the handlebars". This was from the Eddie B. playbook, as was the saddle height, crank length, bar width etc.

Worked for us but if you are comfortable and feel efficient, good to go.

-Bandera
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Old 06-27-13, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Bandera
The version my club ascribed to in the 70's/80's was "in the curl of the drops, elbows bent going Hard the front hub should be blocked from view by the handlebars". This was from the Eddie B. playbook, as was the saddle height, crank length, bar width etc.
Thx I'll check that on my next ride too
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Old 06-27-13, 05:32 PM
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Surprisingly it often lines up with a good bike fit. If things feel good other are correct in saying it is OK to ignore.
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