There’s an absolute lack of qualified triathlon-specific bicycle fitters here in Salt Lake City, UT. I’ve been to two very qualified and skilled fitters, both of which tried to put me at 73.5 degrees. Not where I want to be.
So, I’ve done my best to get my position dialed in on my own. I just started triathlon last year, and I’ve had this bike since last July. However, looking at my position on the bike (I think my body angles are pretty good - but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong), I look (and at times feel) like I’m a bit stretched out. My seat’s at 78 degrees, and I’m probably on the saddle at 80 degrees. I just went from an 11cm stem to a 10cm, but I still feel too stretched out (I get lower back fatigue and sciatic nerve pain after about 3 hours on the bike). Is it just in my head? Is there something I’m missing in my position? I feel like I should I drop down a frame size (I’m 6’0" and the frame in this pic is a 57cm ).
Your position looks pretty good to me. If I was going to do anything, I would scoot the saddle all the way forward, as I find a very steep seat angle really helps alleviate back pain and sciatica. If you feel a little too stretched out now, scooting the seat forward will shorten your top tube and bring it back within a more comfortable range. If you’re using the QR carbon seatpost with the setback, you may want to consider a zero-setback Thomson.
I understand your reasoning. Thanks for the input.
I’m afraid of getting too far forward (it’s already a bit twitchy with the 10cm stem - but maybe that’s just because I barely went from an 11cm to a 10cm stem). I’m using a 0 set back seat post - the nose of my saddle is about .5" in front of the BB (~78 degrees). But since I sit a little forward of center on my seat, I guestimate that I’m at 80 degrees effective seat tube angle.
I feel like I should I drop down a frame size (I’m 6’0" and the frame in this pic is a 57cm ).
Naah. Your bike borders on the small side as it is (which is how mine fits me, but I like it that way).
You look great on that bike. If you are feeling stretched out and are getting fatigued after 3 hours, try moving the saddle another cm or so forward, while leaving the front end alone. I’m 5’11", and I finally got comfortable with the low-ish front end like you have once I got forward to the point that my knees are just missing my elbows with the pedals horizontal.
It’s hard to tell your knee angle, but I would be tempted to go 1/2cm to 1cm lower on the seat height. That might help with the low back fatigue. The hamstrings can get to pulling against your low back muscles, which eventually start to fatigue. My back ache cleared right up with a small 1/2cm drop in saddle height.
But, you know…that whole “shave your head to get more aero” thing isn’t popular anymore…
I’m still on the fence about the size. I read Dan’s fit article that’s on the Cervelo site and he mentions that for proper triathlon-specific fit you should go with a top tube that’s 2.5-3.0cm shorter than what you’d ride in a traditional road bike (I ride a 57.5cm TT on my road bike, so my Caliente’s 55.5 TT is borderline using Dan’s opinion. I’ve tried to offset this by using a bit shorter stem).
Thanks, Tom. I studied your website extensively in getting myself squared-away. I truely appreciate the hard work you’ve put into it. I’m still trying to figure out what you’re implying with the Ikea reference…
I have to differ with the others here, but your positon looks very low in front. I couldn’t stay this low for over an hour, but then I am old, fat and inflexible.
If you have trouble staying in this position, that might be why.
IMHO your saddle height is too high, the knee angle is too open. I think you should try shorter stems, a 8 and a 9 cm, and see how much more confortable you feel. After that is done, you should try to take one or two spacers, I think you still have them, right? Also what bars are those, Syntace? If they’re adjustable lenght bars, you won’t need the new stem.
I’m in much the same boat with no good fitters anywhere near me, so this is as much for my benefit as yours - fitting experts please let me know what I get wrong.
I thought from Dan’s articles that you should draw the line from the hip to the ankle and that angle should be 90. Just eyeballing it, the ankle-hip-shoulder angle looks greater than 90 indicating that you could drop the front a little lower. However, if you lower the front then your shoulder angle will increase requiring a shorter stem or moving the saddle forward.
I’m interested in the saddle too high causing lower back pain. I’ve been struggling with the same thing and wonder if this could be my problem, can anyone confirm that a saddle too high might cause lower back pain?
Are the lines on the picture actually at 90 degrees, or did you put them in freehand? Does anyone have a good, inexpensive program that can be used to put 90 degree angles on a picture?
I used Tom’s website as my guide (he seeks to get the the upper-leg/torso angle to 90 degrees). I started out going from greater trochanter to bottom bracket, but it made my torso angle too acute. Having opened it up a bit, my back feels better (better, but not perfect, yet).
A saddle that’s too high can cause lower back and hamstring pain (and other problems), especially if you’re inflexible. I’m extremely flexible (I can put the palms of my hands flat on the ground with my knees locked), which led me to believe mine’s a position problem rather than a flexibility problem.
I drew the lines in the picture based on anatomical points on my body. The goal is to get certain angles to 90 degrees. I think I’m pretty close, but again, I need some fine tuning to work out the remaining bugs.
I think the post about my front end being too low might have merit (all the riding around here is very hilly, so a more open, powerful position might be more desirable than a more aero position).
I’d drop the saddle a bit if I were you. I dunno if this is a problem for you, but if your arms/wrists/or shoulders hurt at all, you may want to tilt the aero extensions up a bit. Not much, just a tad. I’m sure some will rag on me for the suggestion as it might not be the most aero thing in the world to do, but I find that it can make a huge improvement in comfort. I’d rather be comfortable than just a tad more aero.
I like your Caliente. I am thinking of getting a QR Caliente or a Tiphoon. I think I would need a 57cm (55.5cmTT) like you ride. I am about 1 inch taller than you but am long in the legs. Do you know your inseam and torso so I can get an idea if the 57 would be close to the right size frame for me.
