I recently boned up and purchase a 2009 Specialized Transition. Three different LBS’s have measured me for a fitting and all arrived @ a 54 in a Transition and a 51 or 54 on a Cervelo P2/P3. After making the purchase and going through a fitting for a 54, the fitter realized that I was too stretched out (confirming my fears) and stated that it was the top tube length that was the issue. I do have odd mearsurements; all lbs’s have stated this.
Days later a 51 was assembled and I was refitted. The standard aero postion fits well, but needs some tweeking. However, after taking it out this morning for a spirited ride, I found that my knees were banging the base bar while sprinting.
You have a short torso and long legs, no? If you let us know the current configuration it would help (which post and where the seat is relative to the bars, horizontally especially, and which bars you ended up with?).
Also, keep in mind that sprinting on a TT/Tri bike is not a primary concern.
I’m sorry, but I wasn’t aware that there was more than one seat post for the '09 Transition. I have the STD seat post. I’m actually a longer torso, short legs and arms. 5’8 3/4, 31 inseem
One LBS laughed at first saying that I have a 56 torso with a 54 lower extremities, and 51 flexibility…??? At this point, I know the 51 fits much better than the 54…I’m not so stretched. I’m somewhat stretched on my tarmac (54), but I’m swapping to a shorter stem to remedy the issue.
The Bars are Vision
The seat is set in the most forward hole; the rear was too far away… (57.8 from mid seat to mid pad)
Obviously, the primary focus/purpose of a Tribike is not sprinting.
Long legs and short torso, always means to me…banged up knees. I’ve put up with this for years. After doing a few good sprints or tough climbs I always come home with a few bruises on the top of my knees. It was really bad when I was riding a 52cm custom Tiemeyer…I’m 6-3.
at least you can fit one. i found a sweet deal on an 08 XL transition but cant fit one without a crazy amount of spacers. there are two seat posts though. theres a perfectly straight one and then theres a lay back one. im 6’3" and am looking at a 61 p2c. i could never really fit a transition
i dont think messing with the seat is going to help your problem. if you have the distance between your ass and the elbow pads correct for the time trial position, then your knees are going to hit your basebar when sprinting.
the solution would be aerobars with elbow pads that are furhter back relative to the basebar.
I am 5’8" and have an 08 Transition Pro (Med), with the stock Zipp bars and also a 54cm 08’ Tarmac s-works. Both fit me nicely once I got fitted by LBS. I used to have a Scott Plasma (Small), it was too short on top tube…
I had an 07 Tarmac S-Works in a 54, but it was too big (I’m 5’9’')
I am currently riding a Scott Plasma 52.
My previous bike was a Cervelo P2C size 51 cm.
The base bar is a necessary evil… it may be in the way during sprints… one poster had a good suggestion about moving the pads back (reverse them?) in relation to the base bar.
If you like to sit steep the Transition is a very good choice for the shorter torso rider. Configured in the steeper seat angle orientation eats up a lot of effective reach on that bike making it a strong candidate for the short torso rider. If you are a long torso rider you may need to think a little about a longer stem.
There have been a lot of questons about getting this bike set up correctly lately.
You are probably at around 77 deg STA angle now, with the other seatpost you could get 78-82 degrees, for every 2 deg. STA you move forward you will “shorten” the top tube approximately 1". If you went to 80 degrees this would give you about 1.5", only you will know if that is enough to keep you from being too “stretched out”