Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.hijacker
05-02-07, 12:57 PM
Knee-over-pedal-spindle (i.e KOPS) is only really a rough guideline. Go read Peter White's essay on Bike fit (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm). The saddle position should be more dictated by the balance of your upper body as it hinges at the waist.
Markg,
Hey that's a good read..I'll have to admit someone with his experience does know more than someone that hasn't had to fit probably hundreds or thousands of people in this lifetime. I should have prefaced it clearer when I gave the 5 points for starting off getting someone "in the ballpark". I never meant that this was to be adhered to with strictest of discipline and please forgive me if it came across that way.:) I also went on to say, "5.making minor adjustments based on your pedaling style to the seat height, cleat position, fore and aft in the saddle and even picking the correct width handlebar.
All these things are very important and should not be overlooked when fitting even a production bike. A "Good" bike shop should be willing and offering to change out things that don't fit. Some even offer you a "credit" towards upgrades or changes if things cost more."
You have to start somewhere and yes many times you do deviate off of what "should be" and what "feels right" heck remember Chris Boardman and his unorthordox position/ (extreme example) I always tell people that "no matter what someone tells you, if you're not comfortable on your bike you can't go fast and these things should only be a rough guide to get you close and from there your body will tell you what is best."
Anyway I was trying to help and No I hadn't read Peter White's article. I did however also find Keith Bontrager's article on the same subject. http://www2.bsn.de/Cycling/articles/kops.html both these articles touch on the topic of (KOP) and also bring in the idea of fitting for purpose (racing, tourning etc.) I wondered if anyone even did any of these things as she was having such a hard time finding a frame to fit. I mentioned these things because I have heard of friends going into shops and after being handed a bike, told to stand over the top tube were asked, "you got room to lift the front tire off the ground?" followed by "yes" then the seat height was adjusted and told "there you go it fits, you want it?" lol In any case I'll add this to my quiver of dinner time conversation topics for first dates. It is cool that she did finally find something that fit! Oh and one last thing...you posted at 4AM!!! wow you wake up early!
~Hijacker
Markg,
Hey that's a good read..I'll have to admit someone with his experience does know more than someone that hasn't had to fit probably hundreds or thousands of people in this lifetime. I should have prefaced it clearer when I gave the 5 points for starting off getting someone "in the ballpark". I never meant that this was to be adhered to with strictest of discipline and please forgive me if it came across that way.:) I also went on to say, "5.making minor adjustments based on your pedaling style to the seat height, cleat position, fore and aft in the saddle and even picking the correct width handlebar.
All these things are very important and should not be overlooked when fitting even a production bike. A "Good" bike shop should be willing and offering to change out things that don't fit. Some even offer you a "credit" towards upgrades or changes if things cost more."
You have to start somewhere and yes many times you do deviate off of what "should be" and what "feels right" heck remember Chris Boardman and his unorthordox position/ (extreme example) I always tell people that "no matter what someone tells you, if you're not comfortable on your bike you can't go fast and these things should only be a rough guide to get you close and from there your body will tell you what is best."
Anyway I was trying to help and No I hadn't read Peter White's article. I did however also find Keith Bontrager's article on the same subject. http://www2.bsn.de/Cycling/articles/kops.html both these articles touch on the topic of (KOP) and also bring in the idea of fitting for purpose (racing, tourning etc.) I wondered if anyone even did any of these things as she was having such a hard time finding a frame to fit. I mentioned these things because I have heard of friends going into shops and after being handed a bike, told to stand over the top tube were asked, "you got room to lift the front tire off the ground?" followed by "yes" then the seat height was adjusted and told "there you go it fits, you want it?" lol In any case I'll add this to my quiver of dinner time conversation topics for first dates. It is cool that she did finally find something that fit! Oh and one last thing...you posted at 4AM!!! wow you wake up early!
~Hijacker