calling the fit experts: pic review
#26
just another gosling
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Edit: I should have mentioned that if one is properly balanced on the bike, one's arms can flex or just go up and down because the hands are almost unweighted. One just lets them bounce. Reach allows the bounce to be more at right angles to the arm. Shorter reach forces more the of bounce to go up the arm, rather than just up and down. Shoulder rotation can't happen so easily because rotation would involve the hands going more fore and aft, which they can't.
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Last edited by Carbonfiberboy; 01-24-21 at 12:13 PM.
#27
Senior Member
I know you didn't post about your arms, oik, but I've ridden like you seem to ride, and my whole armsystem eventually hurt.
It looks to me like you have to choose between: 1) lots of shock to your arm joints (no elbow bend); 2) getting your back more horizontal/bending over more; 3) moving your butt forward; 4) raising the bars; 5) shortening the stem.
Your choice. As Steve Hogg says, it makes no sense to let a focus on one sub-relationship between body and bike outweigh the overall relationship.
With a leg length mismatch, why didn't the fitter shim your shorter leg? Just asking - I haven't read much in that area. If you have equal effective leg lengths, wouldn't that make it easier to place the seat?
Also, you say you changed the stem because of a bad habit. wouldn't it have been better to replace the bad habit with a good one and kept the right fit (assuming the fit fit was right, of course)?
It looks to me like you have to choose between: 1) lots of shock to your arm joints (no elbow bend); 2) getting your back more horizontal/bending over more; 3) moving your butt forward; 4) raising the bars; 5) shortening the stem.
Your choice. As Steve Hogg says, it makes no sense to let a focus on one sub-relationship between body and bike outweigh the overall relationship.
With a leg length mismatch, why didn't the fitter shim your shorter leg? Just asking - I haven't read much in that area. If you have equal effective leg lengths, wouldn't that make it easier to place the seat?
Also, you say you changed the stem because of a bad habit. wouldn't it have been better to replace the bad habit with a good one and kept the right fit (assuming the fit fit was right, of course)?
#28
just another gosling
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Your fit is actually well within the bounds of "good." It's a smaller frame with a lot of drop and that's very popular these days. It's light, stiff, and easy to get aero on. You look to be about at the limit in terms of forward lean/hip angle. It'd be interesting to see a photo with cranks horizontal, hands on the hoods, forearms horizontal, IOW your fast pulling/TT effort/coasting position. You might be a little bit more comfortable on long rides keeping your hip angle the same, but moving your bars up and out. That'd give you more elbow bend (comfort) and slightly more comfortable shoulders at a possible cost in aero, hence the photo. For short fast rides, maybe no advantage to changing what you have.
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#29
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Nominally, having your saddle just a little further back, and just a little lower than some theoretical "perfect" position, is just placing you in a slightly more comfortable position, rather than a maximum power position.
If your a recreational rider who isn't racing, and your happy with your performance then there's no need to change.
if you were racing and maximum performance became a goal, then moving the saddle a little further forwards and just a fraction higher could be desirable.
Personally I find having the saddle back a bit to be more comfortable (as most people do), yet I definitely find that it limits my ability to spin higher cadences. Moving the saddle forwards increases my cadence at the cost of placing more weight on my hands and shoulders.
If your a recreational rider who isn't racing, and your happy with your performance then there's no need to change.
if you were racing and maximum performance became a goal, then moving the saddle a little further forwards and just a fraction higher could be desirable.
Personally I find having the saddle back a bit to be more comfortable (as most people do), yet I definitely find that it limits my ability to spin higher cadences. Moving the saddle forwards increases my cadence at the cost of placing more weight on my hands and shoulders.
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#30
Full Member
Thread Starter
Your fit is actually well within the bounds of "good." It's a smaller frame with a lot of drop and that's very popular these days. It's light, stiff, and easy to get aero on. You look to be about at the limit in terms of forward lean/hip angle. It'd be interesting to see a photo with cranks horizontal, hands on the hoods, forearms horizontal, IOW your fast pulling/TT effort/coasting position. You might be a little bit more comfortable on long rides keeping your hip angle the same, but moving your bars up and out. That'd give you more elbow bend (comfort) and slightly more comfortable shoulders at a possible cost in aero, hence the photo. For short fast rides, maybe no advantage to changing what you have.
#31
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Nominally, having your saddle just a little further back, and just a little lower than some theoretical "perfect" position, is just placing you in a slightly more comfortable position, rather than a maximum power position.
If your a recreational rider who isn't racing, and your happy with your performance then there's no need to change.
if you were racing and maximum performance became a goal, then moving the saddle a little further forwards and just a fraction higher could be desirable.
Personally I find having the saddle back a bit to be more comfortable (as most people do), yet I definitely find that it limits my ability to spin higher cadences. Moving the saddle forwards increases my cadence at the cost of placing more weight on my hands and shoulders.
If your a recreational rider who isn't racing, and your happy with your performance then there's no need to change.
if you were racing and maximum performance became a goal, then moving the saddle a little further forwards and just a fraction higher could be desirable.
Personally I find having the saddle back a bit to be more comfortable (as most people do), yet I definitely find that it limits my ability to spin higher cadences. Moving the saddle forwards increases my cadence at the cost of placing more weight on my hands and shoulders.
#32
just another gosling
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On the trainer Ive been limited to 1-2 hours. Come spring time I definitely do long days out on the saddle. Any thoughts on experimenting with a shorter stem as opposed to going up with the handlebar? I tend to feel more uncomfortable stretching forward than I do stretching down. I think I have a 90 mm and an 80 mm lying around.
Then I do a set of 25 pushups.
It's also the case that one gets used to a particular position and finds all other positions uncomfortable. That changes with practice. Every spring I have to get used to riding on my aero bars again for long periods.
All this may have nothing to do with you, but it's something to keep in mind. I still ride the same bike I bought 20 years ago at 55. Not the same position though - in the first and only pro fit of my life, the fitter moved my hands back 3 cm, so that I have a 90° upper arm angle instead of 100°. He said everything else was good. I got used to it.
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