I am looking for some feedback on my TT position. For the record I am a 37 YO Cat 3 Cyclist. (Tri days over due to chronic running injuries). My strength is climbing (nobody will be mistaking me for JohnnyD!), but I am looking to improve my TT times for better GC results in stage races so I can get my Cat 2 upgrade. The bike is my “parts bin special”, with everything purchased at swap meets or ebay. I use a disc rear and deep front for races. (total expenditure less than $1200). Most of the TT’s I do are short, from 3 mile prologues to 12 miles max.
Oh just the usual, saddle too high, arms too stretched out in front. BTW, that’s a very good pic, some people on another thread were giving opinions based on a terrible pic.
cerveloguy will come in later with the angles measurement and Rip will agree with me in a pompous way.
Thank you for using Slowtwitch Fit Service, have a nice day! :-)))
I think that you would be more Aero with Campy gear, less spokes and try to not have your QR lever at that angle…other than that…read that Smart Ass Coache’s post.
Wait a minute…if you are an aussie…isnt that picture upside down from our vantage point?
When I took the picture I noticed that the saddle looked a little high, it doesnt feel like it on the bike, it is like swimming in a way, the way something feels is often totally different from how it looks. I will try to slide the extensions back a little and lower the seat by a 1/4 inch or so.
When you lower the saddle and move the extensions back, you will be a lot more upright, is there a way you can go lower in the front end? I can’t tell what bars are those, can you get a negative ride stem? Because you don’t have spacers to spare, contrary to some people around ;-)))))
Hmm, the stem is a bontrager, I believe that is a -10, does anyone know of stems with a significant negative rise so I can get that front end down by an inch or two?
Get the seat farther forward, then post another pick.
You look pretty stretched and far back. I prefer to ride forward and compacted for timetrials so i tend to advise other people to do the same. Bringing your amrms in more might help open up your lungs a bit and give you more leverage.
If you like tt’ing in a roadie position (i refuse to give cobb and his catch phrases any credit) then i would lower your seat, and ditch those aero bars for cheap cow horns and jammer clip ons (this would look really cool if you cut off the upturned part of the cowhorns)
Form a fitment standpoint, the first problem is that the frames top tube length is too long for your body proportions! Am I correct in assuming that you are pictured seated on a size (S)mall Giant TCR Aero frame right? If you had fitted the bike with drop bars and were riding it for mass start road events, then other than seat height, that might work. For time trials though the reach is a bit long seeing as a Small TCR Aero has an effective Top Tube length of 53.5 cm. Seeing as laying your hands on a XS (extra Small) TCR Aero is probably not in the budget, it seems to me that you might consider fitting a shorter stem (8-9 cm) which will help bring the bars in closer. Also I think that the aero extensions reach is too long but since I am not a big fan of making alterations that can not be reversed when it comes to high end/expensive aerobars, I will sugest that you give consideration to shortening the length of the aero extensions such that the bar end shifters are located closer to your hadns/fingertips. I did this with the Cinelli Angel aerobars on my TT bike (also a TCR Aero) and feel that it has kept me from fidgeting with my hands/fingers while training/racing, but for some, it serves only to reduce some of the alternate positions tha you may use for your hands while riding.
"cerveloguy will come in later with the angles measurement "
Uh, well, I do get the knee angle at about 162 degrees. This would indicate the seat is a bit high and should be lowered to obtain 150-155 degrees.
The torso/shoulder/elbow is 94 degrees according to my protractor which indicates that he is a bit stretched out but not as much as some are suggesting. Are those bars adjustable? If not get a shorter stem.
This is a multisport rding position so you wouldn’t expect to be as low in the front as with a steep angle bike.
Try an ITM, Ritchey, or Look adjustable stem. They’ll let you fine tune position to your hearts content. You have the Oval A700 bars there, correct? I wouldn’t go with too short of a stem, or else you may find that the hoods position is too cramped. They come with really long extensions, some trimming with a pipe cutter and file may be in order.
Back in my Tri days I went with a very forward position (seat 2" in front of bottom bracket), I seem to find that I am more comfortable and definately generate more power in a slightly more rearward position. My current stem is a 7 degree, 10cm bontrager, I think I will try a shorter, more downward angled stem and then re-post a new picture.
