In working with triathletes on bike fit and body position two things that have occurred to me as an "error of the language" or mistaken vernacular are the oft-used terms "aggressive position" and "forward seat position" or some version of them. For the purposes of clarity, I think we need to chnge our vernacular when referrring to triathlon bike positions. Here's why:
The terminology "aggressive position" is frequently used to describe a position when a rider is seated at a relative seat tube angle of, let's say arbitrarily, 76 degrees or steeper. The terminology "aggressive" frequently used to describe this rider position (i.e. "I ride in an 'aggressive' 80 degree seat angle position") has the conotation of this position being acheivable only to elite athletes, riders willing to forego comfort in lieu of performance and aerodynamics and a genrally "too racy" position for most people.
That's a mistake of the language. I think we should change the terminology to call an "aggressive" position a "relaxed" position, with the attendant conotation that the position is closer to the prone position with a more relaxed (open) angle between the femur and the torso at the top of the pedal stroke. "Relaxed" is a better way to refer to this (other than the confusion it would create for a while since in the past we have used it to describe the opposite effect)since this position is actually easier to pedal in, easier to sit in the aero bars in and more comfortable when set up correctly.
Another misnomer that fries my potatoes is saying that triathletes "sit farther forward" in the aero position. They don't unless they are positioned wrong, as with a road bike with a forward bending seatpost (bad idea IMHO) and aerobars. A well designed triathlon position that facilitates the aero posture on aero bars means the feet are farther back relative to the similar configuration on a road (73-75+/- seat tube angle). The seat isn't farther forward, the feet are farther back (hence the necessity for 650c, 26" wheels on some bikes, another source of immense confusion and misplaced controversy). This also reflects the UCI's ruling on the restriction of front-center measurements. Some commercially available triathlon bikes from popular manufacturers exceed the UCI standard for maximum front center, thus supporting the perspective that a triathlete (in some instances) does not "sit farther forward" but rather has their feet "farther back" (closer to the rear hub).
Make sense? See why I have no life? I spend my nights wondering about things like this.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
The terminology "aggressive position" is frequently used to describe a position when a rider is seated at a relative seat tube angle of, let's say arbitrarily, 76 degrees or steeper. The terminology "aggressive" frequently used to describe this rider position (i.e. "I ride in an 'aggressive' 80 degree seat angle position") has the conotation of this position being acheivable only to elite athletes, riders willing to forego comfort in lieu of performance and aerodynamics and a genrally "too racy" position for most people.
That's a mistake of the language. I think we should change the terminology to call an "aggressive" position a "relaxed" position, with the attendant conotation that the position is closer to the prone position with a more relaxed (open) angle between the femur and the torso at the top of the pedal stroke. "Relaxed" is a better way to refer to this (other than the confusion it would create for a while since in the past we have used it to describe the opposite effect)since this position is actually easier to pedal in, easier to sit in the aero bars in and more comfortable when set up correctly.
Another misnomer that fries my potatoes is saying that triathletes "sit farther forward" in the aero position. They don't unless they are positioned wrong, as with a road bike with a forward bending seatpost (bad idea IMHO) and aerobars. A well designed triathlon position that facilitates the aero posture on aero bars means the feet are farther back relative to the similar configuration on a road (73-75+/- seat tube angle). The seat isn't farther forward, the feet are farther back (hence the necessity for 650c, 26" wheels on some bikes, another source of immense confusion and misplaced controversy). This also reflects the UCI's ruling on the restriction of front-center measurements. Some commercially available triathlon bikes from popular manufacturers exceed the UCI standard for maximum front center, thus supporting the perspective that a triathlete (in some instances) does not "sit farther forward" but rather has their feet "farther back" (closer to the rear hub).
Make sense? See why I have no life? I spend my nights wondering about things like this.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com