General Cycling Discussion - Am I alone in my set up?

I ride the hoods on my lemond pointing pretty up. I keep my saddle even with my bars. I'm most comfortable in a upright position with 45 degree bend in my back. If I lean more forward I will hurt after about ten minutes. I feel foolish driveing this fine bike in such a unagressive position. I'm 36 yrs old, 5'6 pretty lean, very strong, but very tight in the hips and hanstroms. I know it's immature of me to care what others think, but, " does a guy like me look completly silly rideing down the street on a nice bike with this position?

If your riding, but do not have really good hopes of winning this year's TDF, then your form is perfect.

Thats nothin' ! I used to ride my street cruiser with the bars high enough so that i was almost completely upright. I loved it.

On my stumpjumper i go up fireroads alongside others who are wearing bike shorts and camelbacks, clipless, and all the other goodies. Me.....i wear a pair of levis (unless it's too hot) a tee shirt and regular shoes with platforms on my specialized ! No different than when i'm not riding. I have zero problems with comfort and couldn't care less what anyone thinks !! I don't do anything because others do, and if anything i like being different. :)

I normaly don't care what others think. I guess I just don't want people rideing away from me, becuase they deem me as "dorky".

I just don't want people rideing away from me, becuase they deem me as "dorky".

yeah, like the spandex and neon colors and the fact that you dont drive a car dont allready make you (and me and pretty much everyon else here) a dork to the general population at large :D

Aw, forget em. Just enjoy the ride

I know who am I kidding? I'm a dork!!!! Wow.... how liberating....

wellll... being a single guy I think that style is of some importance. I like being comfortable, but I wouldn't want to look tooo dorky when that hot chick rides by. :)

Rivendell Cycles and Sheldon Brown have excellent articles regarding handlebar height and back angle. Note also that British cycle commuting author and expert John Franklin considers "on the hoods" to be the default riding position and reserves "on the drops" for fighting headwinds. Personally, I keep the bars about 4-5cm below the saddle and vary my position frequently. When I place my hands on the brake hoods, my back is at about a 40 or 45 degree angle from the horizontal. Since my Peugeot PKN-10 frame is too large for me, I happily use a very short-reach handlebar stem. I do not like the look, but it makes the bike much more comfortable on long rides.

Originally posted by montlake_mtbkr
wellll... being a single guy I think that style is of some importance. I like being comfortable, but I wouldn't want to look tooo dorky when that hot chick rides by. :)

dorky looking or not, it's 90% sure that you'll never see that hot chick again.

besides, how many of us here honestly try to work their charm while they're on their BIKES???

On my commuter (1980 touring bike), the bars are level with the saddle, whereas on my tourer (2000 touring bike, with deeper drops), my bars are slightly higher. I almost always ride from the drops as I prefer that hand and wrist position.

Regards,

I say if your love cycling and your comfortable with that position than do it and don't worry about the bike fanatics. By the way I'm 49-all right all ready-I'm just shy of 50; anyway I got the Nitto Tech stem to get my bars level with the seat about 5 years ago and now I enjoy riding again. Rivendell inspired me, so I got the stem from them.

I ride on the hoods, with my back at about 45 degrees. I dont ride that fast, so aerodynamics are not so important. I save the drops for headwinds and descents. This is a pretty standard way for a touring cyclist. There is no problem riding this way on a lightweight racing bike if it suits you. You wont win any races like this, but to win, you usually have to line up at the start-line as well; not a place I frequent.

Note that there are 2 ways to ride at 45 degrees, ride a long bike with the bars high, or a short bike with the bars lower. I prefer the latter, so use a short 8cm stem with bars 2" below the saddle. This gives me a clear view of the front hub.

Originally posted by budaman
I feel foolish driveing this fine bike in such a unagressive position. Do yourself a favor and read what Grant Peterson has to say about riding position. He makes some mighty fine machines (Rivendell (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com)) and advocates a more upright position than what is considered "normal".

Ask your self this: Why would you ride a bike if it was uncomfortable? This is supposed to be about having fun, isn't it?

I ride the hoods, am pushing (well ok, shoving) 50, and
my bars are even with my saddle.
That said, I'm going to take a different tack here.
Take Yoga or Stretching classes.
You say your hips and Hamstrings are very tight,
you need to loosen up a bit and strengthen your
back muscles.
When I first got back into biking my back ached
after about 15 minutes, took a while to build up
the strength to hold a more horizontal position.
Also, I'd check the fit of your bike, I do notice if my
stem to saddle distance is too short its uncomfortable.
I prefer to be a bit more stretched out.
As another BF member told me:
"Ride Comfortable"

Marty

Just went to the Rivendell sight....man I'm inspired. Thats exactly how I set up my bike, even down to the brooks saddle. Some day I would love to own a Alantis. I love there philosophy. With a baby on the way I will put any new bike purchashes on hold, but some day.....................

I mostly ride on the hoods... only go to the drops when I'm downhilling, or have the headwinds.. or just wanna try and push my max speed up in a sprint... I got up to 29mph in my quick sprint this morning... that's pretty damn good for me...

The hoods just feel good... i'm not racing.. I'm just riding... might as well be comfortable... I have to agree with Lotek on this one.. if you have really tight muscles.. yoga is an EXCELLENT way to stretch things out, and to increase both flexibility and strength.. especially in your upper body, since I know a lot of us don't do enough upper body work...

Jeff

Just to be clear. I'ts not rideing in the hoods that I have issue with. It's haveing the hoods pointing up as much as I do, even with the saddle even with the bars..........I'm definitly starting back up on yoga..thanks

I won't mind people thinking what they think, as long as I am happy with what I am doing, to @4###ll with what people will think