I’m getting to the point where my fit feels good and comfortable. My knees actually go between my elbows, but the pros are doing it and it does feel right. However, my frame is clearly too big, and even the C2s aerobars in the small size are not quite short enough.
So, I’m looking for a tweaks to improve the position, but mostly help deciding how much smaller to go with a new frame.
The distance between the back of the aerobar pads and my elbows is 75mm (3").
Should I be looking for a bike with a dramatically shorter reach so that my elbows get closer to those pads? Rather than a 51, should I perhaps be looking for a 48?
I’m 5’8".
Here are the specs on the current frame as close as I could measure:
The length of the aerobars is what’s keeping your elbows away from the pads. If you want your elbows closer to the pads you’ll need to move your arms forward, which means longer aerobars. Then you’ll see just how open your elbow angle is. Depending on how long your stem is, you might want to find a shorter one, it would be cheaper than a smaller frame. I’m assuming you’ve got the seat as far forward as it will go because that will also close your elbow angle. In any case you’re looking pretty steep so moving the seat farther forward may not be advisable.
In any case I’m thinking a 48 would be way too small and you’d still need the right length of aerobars on whatever your new bike is.
The length of the aerobars is what’s keeping your elbows away from the pads. If you want your elbows closer to the pads you’ll need to move your arms forward, which means longer aerobars. … In any case I’m thinking a 48 would be way too small and you’d still need the right length of aerobars on whatever your new bike is.
I know. But just getting longer aerobars would throw me way out of position. The longer aerboars need to go with the smaller frame.
As for 48 being too small. My question is why?
With a 48, I would need a high seatpost and some spacers, but it seems the reach would be much better for me. Though, I’m still learning and may be missing something very important. Am I wrong about that?
I would make an appointment with a bike fitter… it is money well spent. It is a small investment compared to the cost of a bike/frame and certainly less painful than the ridicule from this post.
Sounds like you want to get a new frame. Nothing wrong with that.
If not, you could make this frame work pretty well. Assuming you want your elbows closer to the pads for long-ride comfort, you need longer extensions. You could get something like T2’s with adjustable extensions, something that would take Cobb’s Wrist Relief extensions, or even C2s or C3s in a Large.
Do you want a new frame to get lower? Some would argue that your position is low enough for IM. If you want to go much lower, you’re going to have to change your stem to a -17 or even an adjustable. You could use one of the Ritchey adjustables or a generic version of that, which are also available in different lengths. You could also get an Ergostem. I have bought two used Ergostems off eBay in the past.
You could get lower and further forward with a new front end with both longer/adjustable exensions and a lower pad height (HED’s Flip-Lite, maybe?). In your position, I’d get C3s for the comfort and an adjustable stem of some sort for the drop and extension you need.
If you think large C3s would be too long, remember that it depends a lot on how much you cut off the extensions when you install your shifters (most of the extra length is in front of the stem’s bar clamp, not pushing the pads back towards you). I’m about 5-8, and riding medium C2s now. I am looking for some large C3s so that I can stretch a touch further forward.
Why? Because the 54 already looks close. Is this a trick question?
No trick question.
If I want to keep a position similar to the one that I have in those photos, but get my elbows closer to the pads, then I’ll need a much shorter top tube. In the photo, my elbow are 7cm behind the pads.
54cm - 7cm = 47cm.
However, it seems any stock bike with that short of a top tube would have an unusably short stack for me.
Here’s the question: Would a “frankenbike” with a lots of spacers and a steep stem handle reasonably well?
Anyways, I got a good deal on craigslist over the weekend and bought a used 51cm QR. The fit is definitely an improvement. I’d still like a shorter top tube, but it seems like a good enough compromise at least for now.
Congrats on the QR! I’m guessing it came with a shortish stem already, but is getting a slightly shorter stem possibly one way to simulate a shorter top tube? I’m assuming you’ve got the seat as far forward as is comfortable. I’d like to see a picture of the new setup to compare.
As soon as you can, post up some pics/video of your fit on it and let us take a look.
I think your original fit was pretty good actually. We could have made small tweaks to improve it for you… FWIW, I like the elbow pads to be where yours were. I’ve had them all the way back under my elbows before, but it felt unstable as if I was going to fall off the front of them.
I bought the entire bike, instead of just the frame. It’s a couple of cm smaller and a couple of years newer than my previous tequilo.
It’ll take me another week or so to get the fit dialed in to where I think it should be. And then I’ll definitely post new photos/video for some feedback.
It’s been quite a while. I’ve almost exclusively been doing running training instead of cycling. But, now I’m getting back on the bike in the start of my training for Vineman.
