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What's Your Saddle to Bar Drop?

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What's Your Saddle to Bar Drop?

Old 02-12-09, 03:32 PM
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Post Your Saddle to Bar Drop

I am just curious what the range and mean for saddle to bar drop may be for most racers nowdays. Mine is 7cm, which I suspect is less than most. But I am even older than Pcad, if such a thing is even possible.

Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 03:37 PM.
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Old 02-12-09, 03:39 PM
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About 13cm
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Old 02-12-09, 03:42 PM
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new bike is limited by the head tube 10cm to the bars 25 to the drops(old bike was +3cm).
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Old 02-12-09, 03:43 PM
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11cm, and I'm a fat old man.

In actuality, it doesn't matter that much. You can get as aero as you need without much drop at all, just by bending your elbows.

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Old 02-12-09, 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jrennie
new bike is limited by the head tube 10cm to the bars 25 to the drops(old bike was +3cm).
Damn, I can't imagine being stuck at 10cm. I felt like 11cm on my old frame was practically a beach cruiser. I'm now head tube limited, but I could have put a -17D stem on my SL to squeeze another cm out of it.
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Old 02-12-09, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
11cm, and I'm a fat old man.

In actuality, it doesn't matter that much. You can get as aero as you need without much drop at all, just by bending your elbows.



Man, that bike looks dated
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Old 02-12-09, 03:51 PM
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AHHH! merlin, you stole the transponder!
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Old 02-12-09, 03:51 PM
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Thanks for your replies. I think I could go lower pretty easily without any discomfort. I have pretty good core muscles and flexibility.

Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 03:59 PM.
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Old 02-12-09, 04:00 PM
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16.5cm, I have long-ish arms but the fit is fairly aggressive (and I do yoga twice a week)
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Old 02-12-09, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Skewer
Thanks for your replies. I think I could go lower pretty easily without any discomfort. I have pretty good core muscles and flexibility.
Don't flip it if you're not comfortable doing so. A huge saddle to bar drop does not a good bike racer make.
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Old 02-12-09, 04:04 PM
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21cm to the tops. Tall and lanky. I'm in the drops most of the time.
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Old 02-12-09, 04:06 PM
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Somebody measure this for me.

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Old 02-12-09, 04:07 PM
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It's going to depend on your frame size and seat height as well. I have short legs and long arms so I am very sensitive to head tube height. I would have more drop if I could but my bars can't go any lower and my saddle can't go any higher so I'm stuck...
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Old 02-12-09, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by TheKillerPenguin
Don't flip it if you're not comfortable doing so. A huge saddle to bar drop does not a good bike racer make.
+1 screw fashion, put your bars where they feel best.

Last edited by umd; 02-12-09 at 04:36 PM.
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Old 02-12-09, 04:33 PM
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17.5cm
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Old 02-12-09, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by fly:yes/land:no
AHHH! merlin, you stole the transponder!
No I bought one, so I have the same number all the time,and don't have to bother with it.
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Old 02-12-09, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by gsteinb
Man, that bike looks dated
everything but the crank.
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Old 02-12-09, 07:50 PM
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15cm, but I think I might drop it another cm, since I've got some spacers still (short headtube - 138mm).
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Old 02-12-09, 07:59 PM
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About 10 cm.
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Old 02-12-09, 08:05 PM
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I wanted to reply and then I realized I never took the time to measure. I would guess about 6". I have zero spacers and the stem flipped down.
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Old 02-12-09, 08:12 PM
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Just over 12 cm from top of saddle to top of bars. I'm long in the legs and arms. People say I have an upright position but... so what. I think its all about being comfortable in the most agressive position. I've been steadily enlarging the gap. I started out with the +6 degree stem then I flipped that to -6. Then I took out three spacers. It took a couple rides for my neck to adjust... but now I think I might take some more spacers out. I also may add some length on the stem which would stretch me out a little more but not really effect the drop...
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Old 02-12-09, 08:14 PM
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5.25 inches.
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Old 02-12-09, 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
In actuality, it doesn't matter that much. You can get as aero as you need without much drop at all, just by bending your elbows.
Good point. I seem to be able to get plenty aero without having much drop. The reason I don't have much drop is because my current road racing frame is likely too big for me. I have a loaner bike this week that I might buy, and was just thinking about how best to set it up.

I am kind of gathering that saddle to bar drop is not really a very critical measurement, as long as it doesn't somehow prevent you from riding reasonably aero most of the time (assuming riding aero might be a goal), and beyond that, it may be an aesthetic preference. I suspect that many people could deal comfortably with a range of saddle to bar drop measurements and from bike to bike it isn't always the same, whereas saddle height and saddle setback don't change much.

Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 10:17 PM.
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Old 02-12-09, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
17.5cm
you're 6'3" too, right? It's good to smite those looking for a good draft.

I defaulted to 13-14cm and everytime I see the fitter for a small tweak he's like, "are you ready to go lower" and I just shrug and say sure. Either he reads this board or has a vendetta against spacers because I only have one left.
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Old 02-12-09, 10:40 PM
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This again? It always seems that these threads turn into a secret code for penis length. Anyway, mine is about 7.5cm (the drop, not the penis)


Originally Posted by umd
Damn, I can't imagine being stuck at 10cm. I felt like 11cm on my old frame was practically a beach cruiser. I'm now head tube limited, but I could have put a -17D stem on my SL to squeeze another cm out of it.
I'm stuck at 7.5cm with a -17 stem with no spacers, but I still have no trouble getting my back flat... I think... I should get some pics and post my own "check my fit" thread to be sure.


Originally Posted by patentcad
Somebody measure this for me.
You shouldn't ask other men to measure your saddle to bar drop.
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