When I see the pictures above I think that there is room for lowering my front end a bit. This is a position that I can ride comfortably for a long time. I adapted this position after I bought the bike two years ago and this is how I train and race year-round.
Disregarding any loss in power or comfort, how much can I reduce drag by lowering my front end by an inch? How much can I reduce effective drag area?
Should I consider a more aggressive racing position for sprint to half Iron races or will the potential time improvement be insignificant?
You need to drop a lot more than an inch. Judging by the Bento box to stem I’d say about 3 inches. You should try to get your shoulder pivot point below the point where your traps come together over your ribs. You need to work on Pelvis rotation and then the front drop will be easy. You seem to have shorter upper legs so I would go forward 2 - 3cm with the seat. I suspect about a 1/2 lb. of drag reduction or about a 1:15 drop on a 40k depending on the watts.
I don’t understand what anyone means by forward “pelvis rotation” from bike seating. I see this a lot in bike fit or position critiques here. If I am sitting in a chair, I can lean forward with a straight back, and my hips will go forward with my back. I don’t think my pelvis is doing a darned thing, though.
Is that what you guys are talking about. If I am standing, I can move my pelvis forward and back, in sort of a dirty thrusting motion, if you know what I mean. About the only way I can otherwise move it forward is to start off leaning on the tip of my seat and sit on my nutts with my legs touching the rear Derailleur. Now, yes, my pelvis is forward.
Thanks for the advice! Great to get an expert opinion. 1:15 over 40K is certainly worth gunning for!
I can’t get 3 inches lower with my current stem and Vision clip-ons but I’ll take out the spacers and move the seat as far forward as I can get it. If I feel I can go even lower after after a few weeks in that position I’ll get a new stem and possibly a slider for the seat.
You should try to get your shoulder pivot point below the point where your traps come together over your ribs.
That struck me as such a good way of putting it that I thought it deserved emphasizing.
