Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fitting Your Bike
Reload this Page >

A Wider Q-Factor Possibly Beneficial?

Notices
Fitting Your Bike Are you confused about how you should fit a bike to your particular body dimensions? Have you been reading, found the terms Merxx or French Fit, and don’t know what you need? Every style of riding is different- in how you fit the bike to you, and the sizing of the bike itself. It’s more than just measuring your height, reach and inseam. With the help of Bike Fitting, you’ll be able to find the right fit for your frame size, style of riding, and your particular dimensions. Here ya’ go…..the location for everything fit related.

A Wider Q-Factor Possibly Beneficial?

Old 09-29-22, 02:02 PM
  #26  
Wildwood 
Veteran, Pacifist
 
Wildwood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303

Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?

Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times in 2,204 Posts
For the record, not to answer any questions because, ... well, ... I can only speak for one.

typically riding racy road bikes with a double crankset, when I ride one of my triples - the hips feel strange at first. On one Campy10 triple the feeling persists most of a 30mile ride. Not exactly pain, just different. When riding that triple for a full week over 400miles, there was no problem.

I prefer a narrow-ish Q. But being over 6'+, & a bit leggy - I think it is not a major concern for me.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Wildwood is offline  
Old 09-29-22, 02:21 PM
  #27  
freetors
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Liked 23 Times in 16 Posts
I personally don't like narrow. My fixed gear has omnium cranks which have are 145mm q according to the internet and they just feel really oddly narrow. Like when I stand to mash the pedals I feel like I'm trying to balance on a very narrow ledge, there just isn't the support I'm looking for. I'm much happier on my bikes with mtb q-factors.
freetors is offline  
Old 10-20-22, 09:37 PM
  #28  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
Just a data point:

The Shimano MT-60 Deore triple I'm running on my 85 Fuji (45/42/30) is spec'd, pe​​r St. Sheldon, at 150 mm with a 122.5 spindle. I needed a 118 bb to allow the double front derailleur to make the swing. (You can't use a triple FD on half-steps, they hit the middle ring.) So, I'm running at around 145.5-ish at the crank.

But the MKS Urban Platforms and my size 12.5 - 13 feet probably widen things out quite a bit. It seems to me that the real measurement would be CTC across the pedal tops, +/- cleat position if you use them.

--Shannon
ShannonM is offline  
Old 10-21-22, 05:29 AM
  #29  
Garfield Cat
Senior Member
 
Garfield Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,079

Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times in 67 Posts
In the end, its about the pedal stroke, all of it

Next time you ride and come up to another rider or a group, take a look at the rider in front of you. Watch how the leg extends at the down stroke. Watch how the feet are planted onto the pedal at that bottom of the stroke. Watch how the pelvis moves (rotates) with the pedal stroke. Watch how the knees move horizontally or remains vertically during the pedal stroke (knee drift).
Garfield Cat is offline  
Old 12-02-22, 09:20 PM
  #30  
Road Fan
Senior Member
 
Road Fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,853

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 654 Times in 498 Posts
Originally Posted by Iride01
Way way back in 2019? Or perhaps you thought this was from 1819?

Welcome to BF, but Q factor has been a known thing for quite a while. I'm pretty sure I'd seen the term used back into my younger days without internet in the 70's and before.
I agree, the term is pretty old. I don't know when I first heard or saw it, but I think it was in the first half of the 1970s.
Road Fan is offline  
Old 12-08-22, 08:49 PM
  #31  
oldbobcat
Senior Member
 
oldbobcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 4,370

Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 508 Post(s)
Liked 434 Times in 331 Posts
Originally Posted by Road Fan
I agree, the term is pretty old. I don't know when I first heard or saw it, but I think it was in the first half of the 1970s.
I first came across Q-factor in the 1990 Bridgestone catalog. Grant Peterson, chief Bridgestone designer, claims to have coined it. Here's his explanation. https://pedalchile.com/blog/q-factor

Of course, in 1990, 126 or 130 mm rear axles were de rigeur, so there was no need to go too wide.
oldbobcat is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
79pmooney
Bicycle Mechanics
16
08-07-19 09:05 AM
Nick Bain
Fitting Your Bike
5
03-21-18 11:25 AM
pepstepper
Classic & Vintage
12
03-21-18 08:35 AM
accordionfolder
Road Cycling
21
03-13-14 03:54 PM
reif
Road Cycling
4
05-23-10 05:54 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.