Yes, occasionally, only out of the saddle. I found I do it much less if I move my hands a bit back from the brake levers on the base bars, then stand a bit more vertically.
I have a stock 2002 Cervelo P3 (As sold, not as pictured). I ride it in the steep configuration. I’m 5"7".
I have a 2002 Cervelo P3 that I purchased last March and have since put 15k miles on. I never hit the elbow pads with my knees, even when out of the saddle. I ride this bike with Powercranks exclusively now.
frame size 55, steep (78 degrees), aerobars are Profile Airwing and Syntace Streamliner size medium (stock setup), with a 100mm stock stem. I am 5’11".
Are the rumours of a Cervelo aerobar in the works true? I can’t wait. I am anxious for 2003 Team Soloists and R2.5’s to become available.
I used to crack my knees on the elbow pads all the time on my stock 2000 53cm Tequilo with Med Syntace Streamliners, 52.something top tube, and 100 stem. I’m now on a brand new 53cm Saber, Profile Carbon X, 53cm top tube, and am nowhere close to hitting knees. I’m 5’9". Before I bought the Tequilo in 2000 I tried a P2k and didn’t have the knee problem, I just felt the Tequilo fit better in the aero pos, at least at that time.
I ride a 51 cm Cervelo P3 with Syntace bars and C2 aerobars and a 9 cm stem. I sometimes hit my knees on the aerobars when up out of the saddle when I get lazy and swing my legs up a bit too much. No problem when I keep my movements compact like I should.
I am 5’ 8" with very short legs and I ride at 78 degrees.
I used to ride a 54cm Litespeed Tachyon, steep, 650c with a 110cm Control tech (can’t remember the angle) and Syntace Ultralite C2s. I would bump my knees on the pads regularly out of the saddle. I am 5’8".
As to the why of my question, as you may know we spec the Syntace Streamliner on most of our bikes. This aerobar has the most elbow pad setback of any bar out there, and we do from time to time get reports from somebody hitting their knees on the elbow pads. Not very often, but it’s hard to say if that is because the problem is small or because people don’t easily voice their problems. So I’m hoping that with the data from this thread, I can figure out if it is spread over different bikes, different aerobars and different types of riders & positions or if some types are singled out.
Do you ever hit your elbow pads with your knees, specifically when out of the saddle? All the time…
What model and size of bike do you ride? Steep or Shallow? Cervelo P2K, UCI legal saddle position
What model and size of aerobars do you ride? I’m using Profile Split Second aerobars on a profile cowhorn, will soon switch to either the Oval or Vision Tech…
What length of stem do you use? 90mm, 175mm cranks
it almost somewhat inevitably a common problem based on
1 height
2 grade of hill
3 length of different leg bones and upper body
4 length of cranks
5 sloping top tube
I have no doubt that you are correct Gerard but aside from the size of the pads on the bars that you are concerned about there appear to be so many other variables that are intrinsically involved that the pads are probably the least of the problem? as I way off base.
For the record I dont hit the pads on my bikes but I do hit the front wheel if I am trying to ride round a pool table.
I hit my knees on my aero bar pads all the time, and ride a self-fitted (and not brilliantly by any means) Softride Century, size Sm. Profile Split Second AL bars, with a 110mm neg rise stem (forget the angle, but it’s flat when installed). 170mm cranks, w/ Speedplay pedals. Doesn’t matter if I’m set up steep or shallow, as the BB doesn’t move
I’m 5’6, with a long-ish torso.
FWIW, I cut my teeth racing road in the classic Euro/LeMond “way back” position, and have been trying out a more fwd stance - but think I may have the wrong frame/fit for that.
Occasionally hit here. Bike is stock 2002 Cervelo One. I’m 5’8 1/2" But then I’m one of those people who who is all leg and very short torsoed, and would probably have the same occasional hitting regardlss of bike model and set-up due to my general genetic freakiness.
The legs, they are just too long for the cockpit in my case.
In one of Dan’s fit articles he spells out the obvious solution to this problem. If you hit your knees get a longer stem and shorter aerobars.
You are right that the Syntace aerobars are swept back, maybe further than anyone else’s bars. I think Syntace has it exactly right though. I am more comfortable with the pads closer to the elbow.
If hitting my knees were a significant problem, I would bump my stem up to 10 or 11 cm and switch from medium bars to short ones. I have short SLs on my road bike for example, not because of a long stem but because of the 73 vs 78 degree seat angle.
I very seldom bang my knees on the pads, so my answer is no because it is rarely an issue. If I brought my stem in only 1cm it would probably happen all the time though.
I ride a 76 degree Yaqqui mariola with a 55cm top tube. I have small syntace streamliners on a 12 cm stem with -17 degree rise.