I’ve mentioned this about 10x (not exactly as you worded it) but due to his extension he is simply limited by the commercially available options out there.

875 seat height is crazy, and then look at the additional stack added compared to original on 200 cranks.

Maurice

I know I have had the shakes on some other bikes before which scared the heck out of me. One of many reasons I will not allow myself to go fast on down hills. Blowing out a front tire was another.

One of your older admirers on ST. Man you have spunk.

A shorter crank length has it's benefits. I wish there was this discussion while I was racing in my teens-twenties.

A shorter crank length has more clearance in cornering. Too many of my racing buddies were short on small frames with short cranks. They could pedal through corners that I couldn't without touching a pedal. They also seemed to be able to start pedaling sooner while coming out of the corner. Going by when they were pedaling in corners or curves was no guarantee that I wasn't going to hard touch a pedal and go down.

A shorter crank creates more clearance between our feet and the front tire. Not as serious as cornering; yet it can make a difference while starting and stopping with a turn. Keeps my cycling shoe toes cleaner with fewer touches.

A shorter crank creates a shorter distance to travel. As we get older leg speed does get to be an issue. I seem to be able to react faster in my 170s than the others in their 175s while riding in a group. This helps as I am not the strongest one in the group and can't afford to miss a wheel.

A shorter crank does allow for more "gut" room. As the pedal's circle is not as big, the pedal is not traveling up as high (unless your seat is too low). This helps save the hip flexors.

Now would I jump down to 165s from my 170s? Not unless I needed to. Believe in progression and adaptation. If I started using the lowest easily available cranks it would be hard to go smaller if I needed to do so.

Other things are also impacted by smaller cranks. The chain rings just got bigger by shortening the cranks. My 50 up front with a 170 is close to a 52 with a 175. So if I was on a 52 chain ring, just changing the crank would make it a 53/54 which would be harder to turnover or I would be spending money to go to a 50. The nice thing about a 170 crank and 50 chain ring is that it matches up well with the others on their 175 cranks and 52s. Plus I have more cornering clearance, gut room and less pedal distance to cover while reacting to their darn surges.

Keep up the good work Dave. You give us somethings to talk about.

Dave,

Here's a place where an experienced fitter might well help you out a great deal. Your back looks as if it's in a very comfortable orientation in the video and if you were able to just rotate your front end downward by how your pelvic rami interfaced with an appropriate saddle you could maintain that orientation and would not need to arch your back in a way that "hurt it" . As you get lower in the front end your neck strength and forward visibility will end up limiting things before your back ought to.

I suspect you're going to tell me your saddle is just fine but as a 64 year old with a really wrecked back I'll have to say that sitting on the "right saddle" the "right way" makes all the difference in the world in regards to getting low and not having back pain.

Hugh

I also have a really bad back, and I've fit a lot of people with really bad backs. I'm a lot lower than you are, but I don't bend over any more than you are. The difference is that I'm rolled forward, while you're sitting back. Your saddle in these videos is mounted at about 72 degrees, as positioned you're riding a road bike, not a tri bike. Bolt a set of aerobars on a Specialized Roubaix and you'd pretty much have the same position you've got here. In fact, if this is the position you're going to race with, you'd be much better off on a road bike. It'll fit better, handle better, and as a bonus you'd now be able to get disc brakes at a P2 price...

I’ve mentioned this about 10x (not exactly as you worded it) but due to his extension he is simply limited by the commercially available options out there.

875 seat height is crazy, and then look at the additional stack added compared to original on 200 cranks.

Maurice

Yes you have, as many others including Luscan. I think he called 170. Too bad he doesn't listen to people that actually know what they are talking about.

Here you go:

Bio_McGeek wrote:

This really explains a lot; maybe this whole thread and many others. See your doctor and ask about anxiety meds. Or maybe even ask about a TUE for testosterone. You don't need to live in fear of going outside for a bike ride. Can't imagine how awful this kind of paralyzing fear would make quality of life.

I again know some are biased to only using certain saddles. I always keep an open mind that there are 10 ways to skin a cat.

I try to resist replying because I feel like I'm just feeding a troll. I legitimately can't tell if you just willingly ignore those who want to help, if you do this for attention or if you are somewhere on the spectrum and don't realize how your behavior comes across.

You say you don't care about getting lower to improve your position, but hasn't this whole experiment been about getting better all around on the bike? If so, being able to go faster on the same or even less watts is of utmost importance. Plus you will be able to run better off the bike. Why would you not look in to a saddle that induces proper pelvic rotation? I agree with the other posters. If you are not going to address that too than just by a road bike.

That is all I can add further. I have to join everyone else at this point and add you to the block list.

Why take unnecessary risks descending, especially on open roads when cycling is mostly about torque application in the most effective way. Your bones don't heal as fast when over 60.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/man-in-horrific-thai-bike-crash-flown-back-home-after-friends-raise-50k-36443798.html

After riding dozens of different saddle makes and models over the years the first "revelation saddle" of a saddle for me was an Adamo Podium and now what's turned out to be even way better for me is the Dash Stage. I've not had a saddle sore in years riding the Dash.

Yes I am listening, but this does not mean there is one answer!!!

At this point, I will go with something short since so many have told me it cannot work, I want to try it and see what happens. :)

Yep, this one seat some love. Others love other types. Again, if this was the only way, why do I not see everyone riding these?

Again, I am listening. I have a cut nose seat. If this is proven to be the only way to get the best fit, I am all for trying stuff. As I say, I have so many different
types of seats I can try. And since I ride the bike 7 days a week, no matter what seat I have tried, they all rub.

That seat as you know is super expensive, right?

I just am trying to understand how my fit is wrong, not starting with what equipment I might need to get it yet.

Thanks

No you are not listening. The second quote is your true nature.

So here is the background. I have ridden for years with my seat like 5 mm in front of the BB. But then folks started to tell me with my video posts my knee relative to the
pedal was way too far forward, and should go back. I also still have my Tri bike that is 82 degrees that I was fitted on for this 5mm in front.

When I got fitted, my seat was pushed way back to get the knee closer to the pedal, which is now like 95mm behind the BB, which yep, would make it much more slack.

This is why I am posting my current. One fitter suggests one thing, another fitter a different.

So, where do you suggest I put the saddle position compared to the BB?

Thanks

Why take unnecessary risks descending

Who is advocating unnecessary risks? Cycling outdoors, up and down mountains is one of the joys in my life. Yes it has some risk but life is full of risks and rewards. For me, the rewards far outweigh the risks. If I reach a point where riding a bike up and down hills is daunting, as it is for the OP of this thread, I will know that its time to lay down and die because my spirit will have already died.