I realize there are many variables among people, particularly with upper arm length, but I am curious as to what people typically have for the drop from the seat to the pads. Mine is about 7 inches, and I have fairly long arms. My back looks fairly flat, and I can hold my position for 56 miles, but I have room to go lower as well. I’m thinking lower is probably more aero, but less powerful, all else being equal. Anyway, just curious.
And yeah, I know, my seat is too high.
On my bike(plasma) the drop is far i can go but my back is onyl just straight is this normal but i do have short legs so my seat has to be quite low is this normal?
http://i26.tinypic.com/15g6p9u.jpg
Andy
My drop is 6 miles, my FTP is 100,000 and my current HR is 6, hey I just got back from a run, “resting” is usually no more than 3 
.
I realize there are many variables among people, particularly with upper arm length, but I am curious as to what people typically have for the drop from the seat to the pads. Mine is about 7 inches, and I have fairly long arms. My back looks fairly flat, and I can hold my position for 56 miles, but I have room to go lower as well. I’m thinking lower is probably more aero, but less powerful, all else being equal. Anyway, just curious.
And yeah, I know, my seat is too high.
I think ya look pretty darn aero to me, but I’m an official roadie now as my knees are shot and running is history for me…2 knee rebuilds is enough for me at this point. My 2 cents probably doesn’t mean much, but it looks speedy!
It is amazing how different body parts on different people measure up. On a road bike my saddle setback is 9mm behind the bottom bracket. I’m all femurs and 6’1", but any farther forward regardless of saddle height and my hip angle suffers and power drops off significantly as well as big time knee pain. I just found it funny b/c you say your seat is too high and I was thinking…holy smokes look how low his saddle is!
this really is so variable as to be meaingless information.
Levi Leipheimmer has 0cm of drop and has the flattest back and most aero position of anyone in the pro ranks.
i have a crapload of drop and am not quite torbjorn low. longer legs than upper arms is all.
The information maybe (and likely is) useless, but like I said, I’m just curious.
For some useless numbers and out on a far end of your scale:
I’m 6’-3". I ride a Look 596 with 22cm of drop. The virtual stem would be a negative rise (from where a normal stem would be mounted), but due to the design of the front of this bike (the stem is mounted in the middle of the head tube) the actual stem has a slight rise.
I’ve slower lowered to this position over the last 6 months since I took delivery of the frame. I planned on having photos taken by my wife this afternoon in the new position when I get back from my bike ride. I’m not sure if my back is flat yet or not. I have a 37" inseam, short torso and long arms.
That’s interesting. I also have about the same inseam and am slightly shorter - I have a very short torso. Your drop, if I have my metrics right, is about 1.5 inches more then mine. Do you find your thighs touching your torso as you ride?
Ok here’s my set up.
I’m 6’1” have a 36” inseam so I’m all legs and ride a 58cm Felt B2 comp and my drop is 14.5cm. I have a pretty flat back but I found if I go any lower and I lose to much power.
So there you go.
Dan…
.
Just shy of 19cm.
I’m 6’2" with a 35.5cm inseam and run 14 cm of drop on a P2C.
After spending a winter riding back and forth on the same stretch of road using an ergostem and powermeter, I found that for me between 18-22 cm was fastest (I’m 6’ with long arms). Less than 18 was slower and greater than 22 was also slower. I don’t know how you find this out without a PM, but there is a sweet spot that will yield the best result for you. Lower is not necessarily less powerful as long as you take the time to adapt.
Chad
According to my last fit, I’ve got 15 cm of drop.
I’m 5’ 11" with a 32" inseam and ride a P2C.
…
not even close.
210mm or just over 8 inches, not that it matters because each body is different.
I use the Mantis position and find that I actually generate 8-10 watts more than I was with my arms flat but again it’s not for every body.
i think if you look at the responses to your question, you’ll find that they are fairly well in line with the suspected armrest drop yielded by the formula we’ve been using for about 20 years now:
armrest drop = .005D2 -.2D
where D is seat height.
this, if your seat angle is about 77°, as you go steeper you add or subtract .0075 from .2 in the second part of the equation. so, if your seat angle is 78°, it would be:
armrest drop = .005D2 -.1925D
there is, of course, all kinds of caveats to this. you have to be a fit and trim athlete used to riding in aero bars, used to riding a position like this, correct saddle and armrest, all of that. and, there’s a range, i think most folks who are fit, trim, experienced, etc., fit into a rang +/- 1.5cm from this formula.
yes, there are outliers, like levi. and, i NEVER counsel folks to set themselves up by this equation, rather that after you’ve set yourself up using other methodology this formula is a check to see whether your protocol has yielded you an expected result.
wow, some crazy drops there over 22cm!
I’m 5-10", normal proportions, 14.5 cm @ 78
wow, some crazy drops there over 22cm!
I’m 5-10", normal proportions, 14.5 cm @ 78
I’m 6 foot and aboutthe same drop as you, more and I get a stiff neck. I’m not that steep as I’m trying to abide by the uci setup, but maybe I’ll just say to heck with the and go forward and down more
wow, some crazy drops there over 22cm!
I’m 5-10", normal proportions, 14.5 cm @ 78
Me and the roofster, neck and neck. Great minds - and us too.
Not 100% sure if my seat angle is 77 or 78, but it’s in that ballpark.