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Help me with my crappy bike fit
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So back to triathlon after 4 years off getting fat and lazy. Bought a cheap do-up Felt DA 2014 and hoping to get some recommendations on bike fit.

Details:
  • Height: 178cm (5 ft 10)
  • Inseam: 79cm
  • No issues with back. Flexible hamstrings. Mildly tight hip flexors but stretch them a bit and not overly bad.
  • Distance from pedal to middle of saddle following the down tube angle: 91.9 cm
  • Distance from the tip of the saddle to the centre of the steerer tube bolt hole measured horizontally: 43.3 cm
  • Bike - Felt DA 2014 - 54 medium
  • Stem - Bayonet fixed stem 100mm 60 degrees
  • Bar - old Bayonet 3 with Profile design T2 bars moved as far forward as I can. No more room to move arm pads. Arm pads angled down about a cm.
  • Saddle - Specialized Sitero
  • Crank - 172.5 (same as my road bike)

I've copied the distance from pedal to saddle and from tip of saddle to steerer tube from measurements I had on my old bike which was a Felt B12. However the saddle on the B12 was a Adamo prologue and the B12 had a normal stem that I think extended my reach a bit more. The current fixed stem is tall but stubby. Overall, it feels ok, but maybe a bit bunched. Also, there seems to be a bit of rocking in the video from rear.

Hoping to get general feedback on fit and also if my ideas for upgrades are ok.
Proposed changes are:
  • Get a new fixed stem which will be 100mm x 30 degrees. I calculate this to be 3cm longer and 3cm lower.
  • Get Cee Gees pads which will probably give me about .5cm higher pads.
  • Change to some T1 bars with ski bend. Push out 3cm reach wise. I can buy the profile design riser if I'm dropping too much with the new stem.
  • Will soon change to a new crankset and thinking 165cm.

So here are the photos and videos.

Videos:
SIDE OF BIKE TAKE 2 - Dropped Saddle 19mm to 90cm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwfRxKoGTi8

Photos
Last edited by: RizzaNZ: Oct 28, 20 4:21
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Looks like your saddle is about 2cm high.
Last edited by: jimatbeyond: Oct 28, 20 0:51
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Don't listen to me, just recording my thoughts for posteriority.
Seat looks high.
Need more reach. Need pads further forward and likely longer extensions.
Looks like you could lower the height of the front end as well.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [jimatbeyond] [ In reply to ]
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Ok - based on the feedback, lowered the saddle 19mm and posted an updated new side shot video. Seem better from a pedaling perspective. Wonder if I could go a touch lower at the back.

Any more feedback on what I should do (apart from losing the fat gut), let me know. Will look to order the new stem soon that will give me 3cm more reach and lower front end as well. FYI. I'll probably go and get another bike fit, but want to have a play around first and any parts like a fixed stem or new cranks are not something the fitter could change easily anyway hence asking here if its a good idea.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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RizzaNZ wrote:

  • Saddle - Specialized Sitero
  • Crank - 172.5 (same as my road bike)

Toss the saddle, it's not helping you. Get 165mm cranks.

Quote:
  • Get a new fixed stem which will be 100mm x 30 degrees. I calculate this to be 3cm longer and 3cm lower.
  • Get Cee Gees pads which will probably give me about .5cm higher pads.
  • Change to some T1 bars with ski bend. Push out 3cm reach wise. I can buy the profile design riser if I'm dropping too much with the new stem.
  • Will soon change to a new crankset and thinking 165cm.

Yes to new stem, absolutely positively yes to ski bend extensions, yes to having proprietary aero risers on hand for adjustment, and yes yes yes to 165mm cranks.

Finally, your seat is probably still too high in 2nd video. Tilt saddle downward to compensate.

E

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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ericMPro wrote:
yes to ski bend extensions,

What do you see or want to see that explains this choice ?
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the feedback. For the saddle, this is literally the first time I've sat on the bike with it installed so moving around a bit and not used to it (also havent been on a tt bike in 4 years). Are you suggesting ditching it for something like an ISM?

For the ski bends, the main reason I'm thinking they'd be good is they raise my hands a bit more in front of me and I can angle them in a bit so my hands are closer. Will try bringing in the armrests a bit closer but will try that once I have the new stem.

I'll try tilting the saddle and post again tomorrow.

Thanks again.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [marcag] [ In reply to ]
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marcag wrote:
ericMPro wrote:
yes to ski bend extensions,


What do you see or want to see that explains this choice ?

I see slow people...

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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RizzaNZ wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. For the saddle, this is literally the first time I've sat on the bike with it installed so moving around a bit and not used to it (also haven't been on a tt bike in 4 years). Are you suggesting ditching it for something like an ISM?

For the ski bends, the main reason I'm thinking they'd be good is they raise my hands a bit more in front of me and I can angle them in a bit so my hands are closer. Will try bringing in the armrests a bit closer but will try that once I have the new stem.

I'll try tilting the saddle and post again tomorrow.

Thanks again.

I'd try all of the ISM saddles, the Fizik Mistica, etc. and find the optimal one. These types of saddles are meant to be tilted slightly down. This is rails level for most of them.

Eric

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Bear in mind switching the cranks to 165mm will require you to raise your saddle half way back up again and this will have a knock on effect on the cockpit height. You could go smaller again with the cranks if you liked. I'm the same height as you, longer inseam (~835mm). I switched my cranks from the stock 172.5mm to 160mm over 2 years ago and have never regretted it. It took all of 2 rides to get used to it. My knees and hips definitely prefer the shorter cranks and I never perceived an impact on performance, either positive or negative. I'm more powerful now than before I changed but that's due to more consistent training. It could be partly due to the cranks I suppose since I train more when I enjoy it more, and I enjoy it more when I'm more comfortable.
My road bike is still 172.5mm and I've considered changing that too but less certain since I do like to grind away on steep climbs and throw in the occasional sprint. Uncertain if the shorter cranks will help or hinder in these cases.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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His head is up so high, front end definitely seems like it could come down. Gonna take some practice to really get that shrug nailed and keep the head out of the wind

100% agree on ski bends, look at that bent wrist position. Definitely not comfortable.

Shorter cranks should help free up some room and less interference from the so-called "fat guy gut" lol
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [indianacyclist] [ In reply to ]
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indianacyclist wrote:
His head is up so high, front end definitely seems like it could come down. Gonna take some practice to really get that shrug nailed and keep the head out of the wind

100% agree on ski bends, look at that bent wrist position. Definitely not comfortable.

Shorter cranks should help free up some room and less interference from the so-called "fat guy gut" lol

He can lower the head without lowering the front end... the opposite really. Once done that's like 75% of the battle though.

Ski bends have nothing to do with wrist position for me, but do probably make wrists more comfortable if that's what you're into.

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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thank you, Eric, you made me laugh today.

Anne Barnes
ABBikefit, Ltd
FIST/SICI/FIST DOWN DEEP
X/Y Coordinator
abbikefit@gmail.com
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [Ai_1] [ In reply to ]
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Ok - so I'm about to order parts, then update videos etc when I've got stem/crank etc installed. Will tilt saddle then but since I'll have to adjust back up anyway with a shorter crank, I'll post the video with all changes at the same time.

But.... I can find 160mm or 165mm cranks (trimax vision BB30 which fit the existing bottom bracket). They are compact at 34 and 50 but I figure I can negate this by running an 11 cog on the cassette (11 x 50), which for me should be fast enough. But before I order, any other thoughts on crank length? 160 or 165?
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Rotor makes cranks in 150mm and 155mm.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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160. IMO if you have two options, pick the shorter one
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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RizzaNZ wrote:
Get Cee Gees pads which will probably give me about .5cm higher pads.

FYI, CeeGees now has a thinner pad material that you can order. Super comfortable with modern (i.e. not flat) cups without the bulk of the old design
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [imswimmer328] [ In reply to ]
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Kinda depends on the two options surely!
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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RizzaNZ wrote:
.... But before I order, any other thoughts on crank length? 160 or 165?
Since you're on 172.5mm I'd go to 160 simply to make it a significant change. I debated the same thing myself back in early 2018 and went with 160 in the end. Never regretted it. Without an opportunity to try different lengths before buying, which most of us don't have, or some robust method of matching cranks to body dimensions, which doesn't exist; you just have to take a stab at it. In reality it's almost certain both will be fine but 165 may not be a big enough change to be worth the expense.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [Ai_1] [ In reply to ]
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Ok - ordered 160s. Waiting to see if I can get a 2nd hand stem in classifieds. Unlikely, but worth a shot. If not, I’ll order from Felt. It may be a while before I repost as parts coming from overseas. Thanks again to all the advice so far.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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Ok

So I've received and installed the new lower and longer stem. Material difference to position already and actually feels pretty comfortable. I have the new crankset, but going to get my bikeshop to fit it. So some assumptions based on stem change alone:

When the new crank is installed, I'm going to raise a saddle a tiny bit, but estimate my hip angle will materially open up (looks a little closed in photo, but feels ok). I'll play around with the saddle as well and may even try an ISM, but will re-post first once I have the new crankset installed first.

https://imgur.com/PGPUDGk

However I would still like to extend my arm pads around 1 to 2 cm. This is not really possible with the current pads as already moved as far forward as possible. Secondly, I am ok with existing stem. So I am thinking about 2 options:
a) get some larger pads. The speedshop 51 pads are around 1cm longer and it looks like I could get a touch more distance based on the bolt pattern.
b) I was wondering if its safe to move the j bracket in front of the u bracket. Moving from position a to position b in the photo below. Is this a dumb idea? See photo for an example:
c) any other ideas?

https://imgur.com/w9oby74






Lastly, when I get the crankset installed, swap out the extensions to ski bends and swap arm pads out, I'll do a few rides first to see how comfortable the position is before re-posting new videos.
Last edited by: RizzaNZ: Nov 22, 20 16:27
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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RizzaNZ wrote:
Ok

So I've received and installed the new lower and longer stem. Material difference to position already and actually feels pretty comfortable.


See???

Quote:
I have the new crankset, but going to get my bike shop to fit it. So some assumptions based on stem change alone:

When the new crank is installed, I'm going to raise a saddle a tiny bit, but estimate my hip angle will materially open up (looks a little closed in photo, but feels ok). I'll play around with the saddle as well and may even try an ISM, but will re-post first once I have the new crankset installed first.


This is typical. You raise your saddle and slide it back for shorter cranks, and then adjust to find sweet spot. Make sure your saddle is tilted down.

Quote:
However I would still like to extend my arm pads around 1 to 2 cm. This is not really possible with the current pads as already moved as far forward as possible. Secondly, I am ok with existing stem. So I am thinking about 2 options:
a) get some larger pads. The speedshop 51 pads are around 1cm longer and it looks like I could get a touch more distance based on the bolt pattern.
b) I was wondering if its safe to move the j bracket in front of the u bracket. Moving from position a to position b in the photo below. Is this a dumb idea? See photo for an example:
c) any other ideas?


Definitely add reach. Put your elbows in the middle of the pad, and use your future ski bend extensions to judge/meter out the distance and hold yourself locked into your cockpit.

Edit: Move the pad holder from behind the extension holder hardware to in front of the extension holder.

Quote:
Lastly, when I get the crankset installed, swap out the extensions to ski bends and swap arm pads out, I'll do a few rides first to see how comfortable the position is before re-posting new videos.


See comment above.

Eric

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
Last edited by: ericMPro: Nov 22, 20 16:21
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [ericMPro] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the feedback

I'll take your recommendation on moving the the pads forward. Looking forward to getting the crank in next week.

ps
It's a mission to embed photos on this site. I'll sort it out with time, but added some links in.
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Re: Help me with my crappy bike fit [RizzaNZ] [ In reply to ]
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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”
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