I was looking at pictures from the slowtwitch article “Bike positions of pro triathletes”. it looked like everyone except for Chris Lieto had a foreward saddle position and rode on the saddle nose. Is there an advantage to positioning the saddle in either a rearward or forward position?
Rearward in the traditional “roadie” position (“slam” position for triathletes, about 73 deg. seat angle) gives better power and climbing, but you can’t get as low and aero. Forward positions (ex. 78 deg. seat angle) allows you to ride lower down with out being as folded over. Most of us who took up tris in the 80’s started with the roadie position, but then found ourselves sliding way forward on the saddle once we started using aerobars…eventually we all started to move our saddles, and pretty soon guys like Dan were building bikes made for this position. It’s telling that most pros ride steep angles, personally it’s faster and more comfortable (on my back and legs, if not my seat). Some folks claim that the forward position makes it easier to run off the bike, but in my experience there was no difference (I was slow either way). One last note, the forward positions put more weight on your arms and less on your saddle. This is no issue when in the areobars and your skeleton is supporting your weight, but can get fatiguing if you are riding in the drops/base bar and your arm muscles must support you (this is another reason roadies have their saddles set back).
thanks for the info! i recently got a bike fit on my existing bike which is not the ideal size for me so we had to work with what i had. I changed stems and my saddle is now positioned rearward (i used to sit on the saddle nose), i’m lower and my pedal stroke is much improved but it’ll take a little for this new position to feel “normal”.
Is this on your road bike or tri bike?
It often seems as if ST worships at the altar of steep but from listening to other sources, it is not that simple, there is a lot of room between 73 degrees and 80 degrees.
It is my understanding that European pros tend to ride shallower that US pros, and the euros do quite well.
Personally, I (55, MOP) bit the steep bullet the first few years in the sport but last year finally decided to move back to about 76 degrees and I absolutely love it, especially the longer courses.
i have a cannondale multisport 600 with clip aero bars. i had the opportunity to get a bike fit so i figured i would try and improve my position as best as possible.
If you are going with a roadie position, make sure to adjust the aerobars. You probably don’t want your elbows up near the basebar (too stretched out). Some bars (Profile T2 for example: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16901-005_PROT27-3-Parts-398-Handlebars/Road/Profile-T2+-S-Bend-Aerobars-offer?utm_source=Become.com&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_campaign=FTP&offer=IN090BC1.htm&zmam=3075515&zmas=1&zmac=14&zmap=005%20PROT27) can be slid back, most can’t. Oval also makes a bar specifically for the “slam” position (http://www.gottaridebikes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OVA0001&Category_Code=OVA&Product_Count=0 ). With the seat further back the aerobars typically go back and up, but the bottom line is if you can ride comfortably in the areo position.
i’ve got profile design aero bars and we were able to slide the pads back. I’m still playing around with the aerobar position a little bit and may slide the pads back one more notch and see how that position feels. from the video of myself i don’t look too stretched out so i’ll probably give it a couple of weeks and reassess then.
I would say you can get more power by invoking the gluterals and hamstrings better by going forward in the saddle. This saves up the quads for the run. Time trialists must have their saddle rearward, because according to UCI rules there must be 5 cm between the saddle and the bottom bracket. Nonetheless, you see a lot of TT riders sitting at the edge of the saddle. Not very comfortable for 180K though, and I must say I admire those guys who sit right at the tip of the saddle for 180K.