Hi
Been playing around with my position recently, started out quite forward, but found my climbing suffered, most of my races include a fair amount of climbing, so have settled on the position in the pic, saddle is 3cm behind bb, tri-bar drop of 10cm, I’ve got the pads closer together, 5inch c to c, raised the front of tri-bars to ‘close the cup’ as per a recent thread.
This position feels powerful, not done any testing yet, will do soon.
Any feedback would be most apreciated!
Thanks
I think I need a chiropractor just from looking at the pic.
I don’t know how some of you guys can hold these positions for more than a minute (half jealousy, half disbelief).
Seat is too high and that’s why your hips are still sitting straight up and you’re curving your back to get low. Lower the saddle and rotate your hips. Your back will flatten out and you’ll be a whole lot more comfortable. You’d have a hard time rotating your hips forward to flatten out that back in your current position. Look at all the tension from your calves through the hamstrings and over your back. You may be powerful in that pos through training…but you can do a lot better.
And what the hell are those socks?
Be prepared for lots of comments regarding your rug, walls and carpet.
Seriously, your seat could be a tad high. Hard to tell from a photo however.
Get out and test. That’s the only way you’ll know.
Reminds me of my old early model aluminium Giant TCR that I used to race on. Don’t go too far forward as it’s a road bike geometry. I ran a neutral set back seat post for around 75/76ish effective seat angle. Used Het 60’s with disc cover. Worked quite well. I essentially run similiar nowadays on a Kestrel Talon. I found too much neck/crotch discomfort on my steep tri bikes, even after six seasons of trying to adapt.
the jersey ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS…
goes OVER the bibs, not tucked.
g
"I think I need a chiropractor just from looking at the pic. "
Well here I am to the rescue.
Not so sure about being able to change the curvature of his back. Look at Lance in his TT position. Some people have a natural kyphosis in the thoracic spine while others have naturally flat backs. John Cobb has commented on this is some of his articles.
Turtle your head a bit…even if you don’t use an aero helmet.
the jersey ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS…
goes OVER the bibs, not tucked.
g
Yes, yes, yes…yes I know, I just threw on the cycling kit as my photographer(partner) was pushing to get the photos done!
How are you at virtual adjustments? : )
I guess it’s one of those “not one size fits all” thing. I also wonder about rider safety when you basically need a periscope to see cars and other dangerous things crossing your path.
Seat is too high and that’s why your hips are still sitting straight up and you’re curving your back to get low. Lower the saddle and rotate your hips. Your back will flatten out and you’ll be a whole lot more comfortable. You’d have a hard time rotating your hips forward to flatten out that back in your current position. Look at all the tension from your calves through the hamstrings and over your back. You may be powerful in that pos through training…but you can do a lot better.
And what the hell are those socks?
Thanks for feedback, that’s just what I’m looking for, did think the seat is a tad high. Will try your suggestions. Thanks
BTW Those socks are my favourites!
Seat is too high and that’s why your hips are still sitting straight up and you’re curving your back to get low. Lower the saddle and rotate your hips. Your back will flatten out and you’ll be a whole lot more comfortable. You’d have a hard time rotating your hips forward to flatten out that back in your current position. Look at all the tension from your calves through the hamstrings and over your back. You may be powerful in that pos through training…but you can do a lot better.
And what the hell are those socks?
So I’ve lowered the saddle, tried the hip rotation thing, found it hard to do, is it something that I should work on? If so any tips on how to achieve this position all the time? Or should I, as SlayerHatebreed** **pointed out, just sit the way I naturally sit and not try and change the hip position?
Any help gratefully received!
Thanks
Seat is too high and that’s why your hips are still sitting straight up and you’re curving your back to get low. Lower the saddle and rotate your hips. Your back will flatten out and you’ll be a whole lot more comfortable. You’d have a hard time rotating your hips forward to flatten out that back in your current position. Look at all the tension from your calves through the hamstrings and over your back. You may be powerful in that pos through training…but you can do a lot better.
And what the hell are those socks?
So I’ve lowered the saddle, tried the hip rotation thing, found it hard to do, is it something that I should work on? If so any tips on how to achieve this position all the time? Or should I, as SlayerHatebreed** **pointed out, just sit the way I naturally sit and not try and change the hip position?
Any help gratefully received!
Thanks
Any tips on getting the hips rotated? would like to try this out, but struggling a bit with it, would like some help!
Thanks
a couple of thougths on hip rotation:
a) if it doesnt happen naturally, not sure it will happen. Not even clear if its that fast (look at lance)
b) the basic thing about hip rotation is flatten out your back by rotating your bellybutton towards your bottom bracket- ie go from “back curved way up” to “flatter back”. But again, if your back doesnt go that way, it may not ever happen. My back automatically does the flat back, i cant make it curve like yours to save my life
So, I’ve lowered the saddle a bit, just been out for a ride trying the hip rotation thing. Well I must say it felt good, I struggled at first to roll the hips forward, found it easier to stand up on pedals, roll hips forward then lower onto sadlle, found that easier than rolling hips forward while seated.
Anyway, once I’d got the position right it certainly did feel more powerful, and indeed more relaxed at the same time.
Did my usual training loop and found I was using a bigger gear than usual with the same effort. There is one section of about 3 miles, flattish, but bit of grind, did the loop once and thought ‘that felt great’, so did it again.
So thanks for the advice guys, strangely my glutes seem to ache a bit now after the ride, which I dont normally find, so that’s a good thing I guess? the hips rotated position must have engaged the glutes more.
Cheers.
Obviously rolling the hips forward is a new position, and will certainly change where you are contacting the saddle. That will take some getting used to…but so does any significant position change. It may necessitate a saddle change too…if you find your sensitive parts can’t handle the nose pressure as well.
My contention is to work on getting as relaxed as you can in the aero position…while riding at moderate speeds…because as soon as you apply the gas for a race you’re going to get up on the rivet. If you’re already tensed…you don’t have much more to give and you start “humping the football” rather than riding relaxed and powerful like the true pros like Zabriskie, Cancellara, or even the superior tri-riders like Sindballe, Lieto, etc.
Saddle needs to go down about half an inch. Foot is very ‘toey’
Saddle needs to go down about half an inch. Foot is very ‘toey’
Hi Stu
Thanks for that, have lowered saddle about 10mm since taking pic, rode today, felt better, worked on rolling hips forward too.
Cheers.
Obviously rolling the hips forward is a new position, and will certainly change where you are contacting the saddle. That will take some getting used to…but so does any significant position change. It may necessitate a saddle change too…if you find your sensitive parts can’t handle the nose pressure as well.
My contention is to work on getting as relaxed as you can in the aero position…while riding at moderate speeds…because as soon as you apply the gas for a race you’re going to get up on the rivet. If you’re already tensed…you don’t have much more to give and you start “humping the football” rather than riding relaxed and powerful like the true pros like Zabriskie, Cancellara, or even the superior tri-riders like Sindballe, Lieto, etc.
I found today I was more relaxed in the aero position than in my previous position, I was doing just as you say, riding at moderate speeds while keeping nice and relaxed, felt good!
Thanks