Positioning

[roadiewill]

Does my position look ok? Thats with the crank at the bottom of the turn, so I have a bend in my leg which is good. My back might look a little hunched but thats only becuase of the low ceiling and me ducking my head.

thanks

 

[roadiewill]

heres a vertical photo

 

[yello]

First thoughts, after looking sideways, is that your saddle could be a touch higher. I reckon your leg looks a little too bent at the knee. But there's personal preference to be taken into account too.

 

[Smokin Joe]

You look a bit cramped, I'd have a longer stem myself.

 

[roadiewill]

what do you mean by cramped? is it my back looking a bit hunched?

 

[gemma83]

I'd raise the saddle by 5mm, but do this over 2 weeks, 2.5mm ish per week, and would probably go for a longer stem, possibly a 100,110mm, this will bring you a little lower,as with all changes in position it should be done over time 2/3 weeks and you should knock the milage back to maybe 1 hour a day, 2 hrs on a sunday, all at level 1.This will allow your body to adapt without too much risk of injury.
Somthing to maybe think about anyway.

 

[gemma83]

if you try these mods, make sure you post another pic

 

[Smokin Joe]

You look a bit upright, but looking at the picture again that may be because you are sitting forward on the saddle. I prefer a stretch to the bars and a flatter back myself.

 

[roadiewill]

Yeah you see thats what I dislike, my giant likes that and I feel I have to stretch to get to the hoods. I prefer the feeling of just 'slipping' into the hoods with no stretching. The other thing is that because im 6ft Im bang in the middle of the 56cm and the 58cm. I went for the 56cm becuase the 58cm was just too far to the bars.

Also, the other thing I noticed today when sopped was that if my foot is at around 2 o' clock on a rotation and I twist the handlebars quite a bit, the wheel touches my foot. Is there anything wrong with this/ I need to change? I never steer that sharply when riding...

 

[Smokin Joe]

All race bikes will have toe overlap with the front wheel, nothing to worry about.

Does the bike feel comfortable or are you having problems?

 

[yello]

Agreed, you look a tad cramped but, to me, a bit far forward. Maybe saddle back a bit, see how you get on with that, before a longer stem.

You look to have large hands too!

 

[roadiewill]

I dont feel cramped actually, strange that. I feel like my upper body is a lot more comfortable than on my giant (which I think was too big for me), just wasnt sure on my legs. I have raised the saddle by about 5mm and that has stretched the leg out a bit now and I think another 5mm would be bringing the leg almost vertical so I think Ive got it in the right place. Il give it a ride tomorrow and see how is goes.

@yello
by raising the saddle it has brought the saddle back a bit so Il see if that makes any difference, but my upper body felt fine anyway

 

[jimboalee]

Roadiewill,

The seat height should be approx 0.875 your inside leg.
When you sit on the saddle, drop a verticle line from the knobbly bone on the outside of your knee. It should pass through the pedal spindle when the crank is horizontal. If it doesn't, move the saddle back or forth.
When you are riding (on the hoods) and glance down to look at the front wheel spindle, are the handlebars in the way of your sight?
Yes - Good.
If you can see the front wheel spindle, the stem needs changing.

When this is all set up, your thoracic vertebrae should be at 45 Deg.

From putting a straight ruler up to the photo, your position looks OK.
But check the saddle 'fore-aft' position.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Roadiewill,

The seat height should be approx 0.875 your inside leg.
When you sit on the saddle, drop a verticle line from the knobbly bone on the outside of your knee. It should pass through the pedal spindle when the crank is horizontal. If it doesn't, move the saddle back or forth.
When you are riding (on the hoods) and glance down to look at the front wheel spindle, are the handlebars in the way of your sight?
Yes - Good.
If you can see the front wheel spindle, the stem needs changing.

When this is all set up, your thoracic vertebrae should be at 45 Deg.

From putting a straight ruler up to the photo, your position looks OK.
But check the saddle 'fore-aft' position.

Depends on frame geometry and upper body length, surely?

 

[roadiewill]

Yeah this is what the guy told me in the shop.
He did that test and I saw what I should apparently see.
When riding on the hoods and looking at the horizon, when I glance down thhe front hub is hidden.
When in the drops looking at the horizon, when I glance down the front hub should be sligtly in fron of the handlebars -whichi it is.

I guess this means I just need to toggle with the stem height for my leg positioning really.