What is the "cockpit"?
#26
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,639
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4737 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,004 Posts
It was theoretically fashionable to have your cockpit be of one brand. So some definitions of cockpit be seatpost/saddle/stem and bars. Ie. every tubed item that isn't the frame. Now most stuff is always the same brand as the bike, as the manufacturers figured out they were giving away money to other companies that they didn't have to.
Personally, I think of the seatpost, stem and bars as the cockpit. Anything that you adjust for a bike fit. So the saddle.. not really. Also because the saddle is so often swapped out for whatever works best for your butt
Personally, I think of the seatpost, stem and bars as the cockpit. Anything that you adjust for a bike fit. So the saddle.. not really. Also because the saddle is so often swapped out for whatever works best for your butt
Likes For Sy Reene:
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,450
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4415 Post(s)
Liked 4,867 Times
in
3,012 Posts
It is a term that I abhor when applied to bicycles. It refers to the relationship between the bicycle saddle and handlebars along with their position above the pedals. I hate it. Fighter airplanes have an actual cockpit. It is an enclosed space where the pilot situates themself in order to fly the aircraft. Using this term to talk about fitting a bicycle to its user seems absurd to me
Likes For PeteHski:
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,951
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3953 Post(s)
Liked 7,299 Times
in
2,947 Posts
#29
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,639
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4737 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,004 Posts
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,450
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4415 Post(s)
Liked 4,867 Times
in
3,012 Posts
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,951
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3953 Post(s)
Liked 7,299 Times
in
2,947 Posts
Likes For tomato coupe:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,814
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 501 Post(s)
Liked 631 Times
in
373 Posts
LMAO. I worked for small sporting goods company, and went back with one of the managers after hours, and one of my techs was already there with one of the sales girls, they made some excuse about prepping the sale and sheeppishly went on their way, and well, we were already there, so....
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,885
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,086 Times
in
1,181 Posts
#37
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,639
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4737 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,004 Posts
#38
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,187
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,308 Times
in
1,118 Posts
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,951
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3953 Post(s)
Liked 7,299 Times
in
2,947 Posts
The important question is, do endurance bikes have cockpits?
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
As long as you want to get into that topic, I think we should change the term "clip on" aero bars. Maybe back in the day, but I have yet to see any that were anything other than a clamp on or bolt on fit. Same for clipless pedals. I understand the history, but it's just that, history. You either ride flats or clip pedals. Just my $0.02.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,297
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8282 Post(s)
Liked 9,053 Times
in
4,479 Posts
As long as you want to get into that topic, I think we should change the term "clip on" aero bars. Maybe back in the day, but I have yet to see any that were anything other than a clamp on or bolt on fit. Same for clipless pedals. I understand the history, but it's just that, history. You either ride flats or clip pedals. Just my $0.02.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
I think you see lots of cocktails in the cockpit.
#45
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,297
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8282 Post(s)
Liked 9,053 Times
in
4,479 Posts
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,491
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,479 Times
in
1,836 Posts
What I am gathering, and a definition that makes sense to me, is the points of the bicycle in which any part of the cyclist not directly associated with power production rests. So, I'm leaning towards anything "butt and up". Of course, you could then argue about including the seat when standing up and mashing, but that's not exactly normal cycling position.
Control area .... make of it what you will.
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
Posts: 1,634
Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 209 Times
in
127 Posts
I never really thought about it in detail until you asked. I would say it has to include the parts of the bike that you make tactile contact with, as if I take an airplane or racing automobile as a blueprint, it would have to include not only the hands, but the butt and feet. Bar, saddle and the pedals, and the positioning of such. Myself I would include the "angle of view" of the riders positioning/orientation to the horizon, as that has a great influence on what parts you'd consider in the first place.. You know, you can have a tall upright cockpit if you're sitting up with high swept back bars, a very streamlined one in a long low aero position on drop or TT bars. Yes this a more broad way of looking at it, but that's how I see it, the bike and rider and ride are "one whole unit" so to speak. A bike ride needs a bike and a rider, neither of themselves can do that without the other. Everything works like a symphony, while everyone and their instruments plays their the individual notes, the Music itself is one whole symphonic melody, one whole "ride" if you will. That "ride" includes everything, the bike, rider and all surroundings. The infinitesimal and the infinite are indivisible, all-inclusive and non-exclusive.
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,375
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2484 Post(s)
Liked 2,956 Times
in
1,679 Posts
Several manufacturers use the term "cockpit" to refer strictly to the handlebar/stem arrangement. Saddles not involved, to say nothing of pedals.
Which makes sense: "cockpit" is a useful catchall term for a manufacturer's various one-piece and two-piece handlebar/stem SKUs.
In fact, I would guess that the use of the term "cockpit" (referring exclusively to handlebars plus stems) originated with bike or component manufacturers.
But, interestingly, Canyon seems to make a distinction between one-piece ("cockpit") and two-piece examples.
Which makes sense: "cockpit" is a useful catchall term for a manufacturer's various one-piece and two-piece handlebar/stem SKUs.
In fact, I would guess that the use of the term "cockpit" (referring exclusively to handlebars plus stems) originated with bike or component manufacturers.
But, interestingly, Canyon seems to make a distinction between one-piece ("cockpit") and two-piece examples.
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,601
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 700 Times
in
436 Posts
To quote Google "The cockpit components include all the contact points between rider and bike - handlebars, saddle and pedals. Also in this category are the other essential parts including headsets and seatposts."