Road Cycling - Posture and hand positioning

Can anyone suggest a book or web site that discusses proper road bike posture and hand positioning (preferably with pictures / examples)? I just started riding my first road bike last weekend, and I'm still trying to figure out where to keep my hands in order to ensure proper posture, quick access to the brakes/gears, while minimizing numb hands and butt. I've been riding a hybrid all summer, which has a more upright posture.

Any tips you might want to share would also be appreciated. The bike was fitted at the bike shop, and the fit feels good. I'm generally comfortable on the bike, but I'd like to optimize my posture for longer rides.

Thanks,
Tim

I'd be very interested in seeing that, too, so I can compare it with general correct posture/dance kinaestheology, etc. very cool...

There really is no one right way.Everyone is different. I could tell you what works for me and it could very well be meaningless for you. There are all kinds of fir and posture theories,depending on who is writing them. Try rivendellbicycles.com for the one that works for people with big guts and no flexibility,and minimal saddle time.You change hand position from top of bars to hoods to drops, depending on alot of variable.Alot of people seem to be unable to ride without also clutching the brake lever.Must have insecrrity complex or very slow reaction time.They are the ones with the real problem.

i thoroughly enjoy http://www.bicyclesports.com/technical/index.html

the aero stuff on there is written by the guy who works w/ lance. it's almost information overload, but i'm kind of a science geek so i enjoy that sort of stuff. also, realize the guy's a tri/aero freak, so most of the stuff is towards shaving .1 sec off a time trial, not comfort. but it's still good material.

I change my hand position probably about every five minutes or more on the bike. Most of the time I ride on the hoods, but switching around makes for the most comfortable ride. This will help you figure out what works well for you.

One of the most important tips an experienced rider ever gave me was: "ride loose." In other words, don't clutch the bars or the hoods for dear life. Keep your hands and arms loose. It will be less fatiguing. Your reaction times will be faster. Your arms and hands will absorb shock better (especially keeping a bend in the arms). This is especially important during fast descents. Let the bike bounce around a bit underneath you (which includes taking some weight off of your butt).

I suppose one could elevate this to a general rule (or a Kantian universal maxim--why not?). Relax the hands, arms, shoulders, back, everything down to the toes.

Cheers,
Jamie

Usually I hit a wall not because my legs or cardio are tuckered, it's because my butt hurts or my hands or any combination of the two. Balance seems to be the key for me. The harder I pedal, the more weight I transfer to the pedals evenly distributing the weight between bars, saddle and pedals. This relieves the wrists from carrying the brunt of the weight. Riding loose as posted above, more aero with elbows bent at 90 degrees and a light grip on the bar get me further faster. It's a lot more pleasurable but does require a bit of ab work and back trengthening exercises.