Hi
I’m relatively new to tri’s, rode a lot years ago in a road(73 SA) position, just getting into tris & duathlons, I would like some advice on position.
I bought a new Felt last year and was fitted on it at the shop I bought it from. I was set up relatively forward than I’m used to, saddle tip about level with bb, bb to top(centre) of saddle about 73cm, not sure what SA this equates too?, with about 10cm of drop from saddle to tri-bar pads.
So I’ve spent about 5 months riding on it, done a couple of duathlons(hilly), but have never felt that powerful on it.
So as an experiment I rode my taining bike the last week with the saddle 50cm behind the bb, with a similar saddle to tri-bar drop(9-10cm). I have to say I have felt more powerful in the rear set-up, after rides my quads ache more, but also my glutes hurt, something that never happened in the forward position.
So am I maybe not low enough in the forward position to engage my glutes and produce more power? or is it just that the rear position is just more powerful and I should just try and learn to spin more when riding forward?
In an ideal situation, your tri bike fit will mimick your road fit, just your pelvis tilted forward to keep the same open hip angle. But, to accomplish this, you need a pretty steep STA (like 80 degrees +) and a low front end. Read the “stack and reach” articles that may help as well. Since most fitters don’t really get tri bike fitting very well, you end up with a nice flat back, maybe even 90 degree elbows, but a narrow hip angle and now your power is greatly reduced.
I still think your power is reduced some on a tri bike, but not near enough to offset for the aero gains. And yes, you should spin more on a tri bike instead of mash (both because of positioning and the fact that you have to run after).
I was thinking maybe that the forward position I have on the Felt is in fact too open a hip angle as oppose to too acute, I seen pics of myself on the Felt and the hip angle does seem very open.
I thought maybe I need to get lower on the Felt to get the same hip angle as in the road position?
Does anyone know where to find the seat angle calculator that is on this site?
I know I’ve seen it a while ago, but cant find it, can someone post the link to it please?
Cheers
Thanks for link, but not the one I was looking for. The one I would like to see is the graph that can chart your SA with seat height and how it relates to the BB.
I know I have seen it a long while ago, but can’t find it now!
Your quandry sounds very typical of those trying to dial in their triathlon fitting. When you say you ‘feel more powerful’, do you have quantifiable data to back that claim up? Or is it simply speed over a similar course that you ride? Many people will recruit more of their glutes the further back the saddle is pushed. However coupling a shallower seat tube angle with a low bar position (unless the athlete has excellent flexibility and core strength) will typically result in a less than ideal back profile, reduced power due to closing off the hip angle not allowing the hipflexors to contract. The shallower angle you have been experimenting with, along with the low bar position (9-10cm) will result in sore glutes as the low bar position is pulling your back down, while at the same time rotating your hips backward as you engage your glutes, all the while closing off hip angle. Over time this will most likely cause additional hip flexor fatigue and potentially disc issues if the back profile becomes compromised.
