Saddle heights I see out there many times seems to be so high
03-30-22, 11:20 AM
#101
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My experiences and opinions on position and saddle-to-bar drop:
When I was racing back in the late 80s / early 90s, I rode a 55 Italian racing frame with a quill stem and had the bars set maybe 1-2 inches lower than the saddle as was typical back then. Bar hooks had much deeper drops back then so I'll bet my position in the drops back then was similar to what I ride today even though I now run more saddle-to-bar drop. The top tube on my old race bike was higher at the seat post than at the head tube and I ran only about 3-4 inches of exposed seatpost (seatposts were very short back then).
These days, I ride a 54 (M) frame on my road bike and run 3-4 inches of saddle to bar drop with about 8-9 inches of exposed seatpost due to the modern compact layout of the frame. I tried lots of bike when I bought my road bike and ended up on an endurance frame and then slammed the stem. I'll bet the stack was actually taller on my old race bike than on my current bike even though that old bike was considered very racy in its day. I think bikes started becoming more aggressive with very short stacks in the late 90s.
Even though I currently have good flexibility and I can ride aggressive positions without discomfort, I prefer endurance geometry for most riding. I believe I can generate more power in a slightly more upright position and I like the fact that I can comfortably stay in the drops all day on my bike. I see guys who buy super aggressive race bikes, are forced to run a ton of spacers and even then can basically never get in the drops. I don't get it.
When I was racing back in the late 80s / early 90s, I rode a 55 Italian racing frame with a quill stem and had the bars set maybe 1-2 inches lower than the saddle as was typical back then. Bar hooks had much deeper drops back then so I'll bet my position in the drops back then was similar to what I ride today even though I now run more saddle-to-bar drop. The top tube on my old race bike was higher at the seat post than at the head tube and I ran only about 3-4 inches of exposed seatpost (seatposts were very short back then).
These days, I ride a 54 (M) frame on my road bike and run 3-4 inches of saddle to bar drop with about 8-9 inches of exposed seatpost due to the modern compact layout of the frame. I tried lots of bike when I bought my road bike and ended up on an endurance frame and then slammed the stem. I'll bet the stack was actually taller on my old race bike than on my current bike even though that old bike was considered very racy in its day. I think bikes started becoming more aggressive with very short stacks in the late 90s.
Even though I currently have good flexibility and I can ride aggressive positions without discomfort, I prefer endurance geometry for most riding. I believe I can generate more power in a slightly more upright position and I like the fact that I can comfortably stay in the drops all day on my bike. I see guys who buy super aggressive race bikes, are forced to run a ton of spacers and even then can basically never get in the drops. I don't get it.
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03-31-22, 12:00 PM
#102
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This might give the OP a seizure. 
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04-01-22, 12:03 AM
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04-01-22, 04:25 AM
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04-01-22, 04:41 AM
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04-01-22, 05:58 AM
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How much do you actually interact with other cyclists? I'm trying to think of elitist a-holes that I've come across in real life and, quite frankly, I'm coming up blank. Actually, the folks that seem like they might be the most uppity - expensive bike/clothes and/or physique that clearly shows that they put in the miles - are often the most laid back and welcoming.
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04-01-22, 06:56 AM
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04-01-22, 07:39 AM
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04-01-22, 07:46 AM
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04-01-22, 07:57 AM
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So, please give us some actual examples.
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04-01-22, 08:06 AM
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04-01-22, 08:35 AM
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04-01-22, 08:41 AM
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04-01-22, 08:42 AM
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04-01-22, 08:48 AM
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04-01-22, 09:24 AM
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04-01-22, 09:59 AM
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Waving threads are usually started by individuals who are OCD about cycling ethics and feel it's an absolute moral obligation to wave at every cyclists that they encounter along the way...and if you don't wave back at them it means you're a moral failure.
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04-01-22, 10:56 AM
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04-01-22, 12:29 PM
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aha..interesting. ok, thx
04-01-22, 12:30 PM
#121
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Still waiting, eaglesandcycling ... 
04-01-22, 01:19 PM
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It's spring, so we should be getting one of those any day now.
I think a lot of what gets interpreted as elitism comes from the fact that it's possible for your average Joe Schmo cyclist to be training on the same roads at the same time as very good, very experienced cyclists, and that often cyclists ride in groups, and in those groups the very good, very experienced cyclists do not want to put their bikes, bones, and skin at risk by allowing or encouraging not very good, not very experienced cyclists to ride with them.
I think a lot of what gets interpreted as elitism comes from the fact that it's possible for your average Joe Schmo cyclist to be training on the same roads at the same time as very good, very experienced cyclists, and that often cyclists ride in groups, and in those groups the very good, very experienced cyclists do not want to put their bikes, bones, and skin at risk by allowing or encouraging not very good, not very experienced cyclists to ride with them.
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04-01-22, 01:51 PM
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04-01-22, 01:52 PM
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IOW, your assertion couldn't stand up to the mildest challenge.
I get it - a lot of people feel that others are looking down at them when they have a poor self image and they project, assuming that others must see them the same way. Nah - they weren't thinking that. In fact, you barely even registered. Don't be so hard on yourself.
I get it - a lot of people feel that others are looking down at them when they have a poor self image and they project, assuming that others must see them the same way. Nah - they weren't thinking that. In fact, you barely even registered. Don't be so hard on yourself.