OK. As should be fairly obvious from the title of this post, I'm not a big roadie. However, I was going over my road bike fit last night seeing how it compared to the "known norms" that Dan presented in his Road Bike Fit articles...
Saddle Setback: 9% of saddle height
Handlebar Elevation (drop): 11% of saddle height
Saddle-to-Hood Trough: (0.72)(rider height) - (0.78)(saddle height)
Cockpit Distance: 75% of saddle height (This one is not a "known norm", just a starting point.)
I'm 188cm tall, have an 82.55" saddle height (Yes, really.), and currently own a 58cm Cannondale CAAD8.
To hit the Saddle Setback, I had to slide my saddle back ~6mm. (It was set using the old KOPS method.) So, not much change there.
However, even with a mid/tall headset top cap and 5mm spacer under a 90mm/6* stem (angled up), my Handlebar Elevation (drop) is still way too much (~7cm), my Saddle-to-Trough is too long (can't remember the exact number right now, but ~4cm, I believe). Strangely, though, my Cockpit Distance is a little short (~2cm).
The Saddle-to-Trough and Cockpit Distance don't concern me *too* much. I believe those could be worked out (or at least gotten much closer) with a shorter reach bar and/or different stem. The Handlebar Elevation does concern me, though.
Is the headtube on a CAAD8 really that low? Would I be better off on a different, more endurance-oriented frame with a longer headtube (like a Roubaix, for example)?
I also thought about the possibility that the 58cm frame is too small. But the short-ish 90mm stem length and too long Saddle-to-Trough don't seem to support that (unless the CAAD8 is just a long frame to begin with).
Any input?
Steve
"If you ain't first, you're last." Reese Bobby Talladega Nights
Saddle Setback: 9% of saddle height
Handlebar Elevation (drop): 11% of saddle height
Saddle-to-Hood Trough: (0.72)(rider height) - (0.78)(saddle height)
Cockpit Distance: 75% of saddle height (This one is not a "known norm", just a starting point.)
I'm 188cm tall, have an 82.55" saddle height (Yes, really.), and currently own a 58cm Cannondale CAAD8.
To hit the Saddle Setback, I had to slide my saddle back ~6mm. (It was set using the old KOPS method.) So, not much change there.
However, even with a mid/tall headset top cap and 5mm spacer under a 90mm/6* stem (angled up), my Handlebar Elevation (drop) is still way too much (~7cm), my Saddle-to-Trough is too long (can't remember the exact number right now, but ~4cm, I believe). Strangely, though, my Cockpit Distance is a little short (~2cm).
The Saddle-to-Trough and Cockpit Distance don't concern me *too* much. I believe those could be worked out (or at least gotten much closer) with a shorter reach bar and/or different stem. The Handlebar Elevation does concern me, though.
Is the headtube on a CAAD8 really that low? Would I be better off on a different, more endurance-oriented frame with a longer headtube (like a Roubaix, for example)?
I also thought about the possibility that the 58cm frame is too small. But the short-ish 90mm stem length and too long Saddle-to-Trough don't seem to support that (unless the CAAD8 is just a long frame to begin with).
Any input?
Steve
"If you ain't first, you're last." Reese Bobby Talladega Nights