Road Cycling - Position on bike

Hi, (You will have to CUT AND PASTE the photo addresses, the links are playing up, thanks)

I've linked 2 photos, one in the drops (http://www.geocities.com/appallingbanter/bike1.jpg) and one on the hoods (http://www.geocities.com/appallingbanter/bike2.jpg) so you can all take a look at my postion and kind of reassure me (or otherwise) that it is ok. I have an annoying paranoia about it being slightly too small, but as it is my first bike I have nothing to compare it to. It is a 'Large' Giant OCR, and I am about 6'4" (that's a baggy t-shirt BTW, I'm not that built/fat!)

Thanks, Ryan.

PS. Sorry, I couldn't post the pictures as a link, they decided not to work.:confused:

I tried the links and neither worked properly :( Email me the pics and I'll resize them so they'll post here on BF if you'd like.

Zack

When I click on them they don't work either for some reason - but if you copy the shortcut into the address bar they do. That'll be easier than emailing them, thanks for the offer!

Ryan.

I'm guessing Geocities doesn't want hits from referrer pages. At anyrate, as long as you feel comfortable I think you're probably okay. It however does look like you're a little scrunched. Other than going with a new frame, perhaps playing with saddle position (set-back post?) as long as you can maintain knee over pedal-center and/or longer stem (looks like you have a pretty long one already though) maybe with a lower rise might help.

Ahhh... looks like Geocities is "rate-limiting" access to those webpages.

This frame looks too small. You need the xtra large. Even following Giants sizing recommedations would squarely put you on the xtra large. You might want to try a 62cm Trek 5200 also. I find these extremely comfortable for larger people (like myself).

Hm. While I agree with the principle that if you feel right, it's right, you do look a little bit like a big kid riding a little kid's bike. And your back looks pretty severely arched. It looks like you can't really stretch out much. Can you do 100km without lower back pain?

Is your KOPS position OK without having to push the saddle all the way back? Is the seatpost near or past the minimum insertion mark?

Did you try the next larger size? If so, why was it wrong?

RichC

I too think the bike is too small. Did the LBS do a FIT?
Compare your measurements with www.wrenchscience.com to see if the frame size, saddle height, etc. are in the ball park.

I think it's small for another reason. That doesn't look like a Giant seat post, and from what I know Giant provides the dealers with different length seat posts to fit riders to their frames (what the local dealer told me). Seems to me that a longer than expected seat post was needed for that frame. I could be off here cause I'm going by what the LBS told me, but it does look to small.

Thanks for replies.

The seat post is the standard one, and it is right on the min. insertion mark.

My LBS did do a fit, using the bike jig that you can see on www.bikefitting.com

There is no XL size in Britain as far as I'm aware.

I haven't had it long, so haven't attempted the century yet, but after around 25 miles my back was feeling ok (neck was sore though).

I'm kind of stuck as to what to do now. The seat post / stem are quite long already, I kind of wish I'd gone with the more expensive 63cm Trek 1400 at a different LBS now!

Ryan.

I will also add my few words... For me the bike also seems to be too small. It looks like it is too short for you. You can get used to this - but riding on a longer bike would bring you more joy.

I also think that the true test would be to ride for 6-7 hours - after that long in the saddle you shoud tell whether is was fine or not. Puting your saddle too far back would not be good for your knees and would not be optimal for pedalling efficiency.

Unfortunately I can't do a lengthy ride until it's too late - My main sport is rowing, and now we are right into the racing season I can't spare the time/energy to do that length of ride. Not until mid August, after last race, but then I was planning to do a bit of riding in europe with friends - not the sort of thing I wanna be doing on a bad fitting bike....

Should I be trying to get a different bike? Not sure what the LBS will think of this.....

Switching the bike might be problematic (but if it is possible you can try it) - you can also think about switching the frame.

What crank length are you using.
The standard "knee over pedal spindle" (KOPS) position, whether it is valid or not, is dependant on the crank length. If you are on the large size, instead of trying to move your saddle back with more seatpost layback, you can move your pedal spindle forward with a longer crank, which will also fit your long legs.
Do make sure you have sufficient pedal clearance to turn, and avoid interference with the front wheel.
Specialities-TA and Thorn at sjscycles.com make long cranks.

ryan_d: Here's a couple of more suggestions for you to consider.

Get a Thompson set back seat post. This will move your saddle position back a bit more.

Flip the stem. By doing so the stem will be parallel to the ground and you won't be riding in quite such an upright position.

Get a longer stem. I'm guessing the stem you have now is 12cm long. You can swap it out with a 13cm or 14cm stem to give you some more room.

Finally, shave those legs. It's guaranteed to make the bike fit better :)

Zack

Originally posted by ZackJones
ryan_d: Here's a couple of more suggestions for you to consider.

Get a Thompson set back seat post. This will move your saddle position back a bit more.

Flip the stem. By doing so the stem will be parallel to the ground and you won't be riding in quite such an upright position.

Get a longer stem. I'm guessing the stem you have now is 12cm long. You can swap it out with a 13cm or 14cm stem to give you some more room.

Finally, shave those legs. It's guaranteed to make the bike fit better :)

Zack
I disagree with most of this advice, or at least have reservations about some of it.

The stem: First, that looks a lot longer that a 120 to me. Second, look at the saddle height. The drop to the bars is already 4 inches or more. The reason he looks upright is because he has to hunch his back just to fit on the bike. Lowering the bars more will not only break the poor guy's neck, but just make him bend his back even more. He can't rotate at the hips properly because the reach is too short.

The seatpost: It's already too long. Do you really want to put a guy that big out on the end of a setpack post that long, with so little of it left inside the seat tube? I don't.

The legs: That's what I like about these guys. No sense of style. :D

RichC (who shaves his head, not his legs)

Guess I can't see the seat post right on your picture then. If it's not an "aero" seat post (like below) then it's not a stock Giant seat post.

Ahh, my bike is a Giant OCR Team T (the one in the black and yellow paint job), not the TCR. The carbon seat post is only standard on the TCR. I had looked in to the carbon posts, and giant definately do one long enough for me, I would only need a size 5 post, when it actually goes up to size 7 (who the hell would need that?!)

Ok! That explains that!
If you go to the Giant UK site, find your bike then click on Geometry, it shows a XL size. Maybe you could give that a go? Let us know how things go.
Good luck with your rowing season.

Thanks! I am going to go and talk to my LBS and see what we can sort out. Thanks for your help everyone. (Please still feel free to chuck your 2 cents in)

You can't make any real suggestions based on a picture since a photo doesn't show true perspective and the dynamics of someone moving on the bike.

I'll say that for someone that is 6'4", you are right at the border of a L and XL frame size. If you ride a 63cm normally, that is right around L/XL. I am guessing they went by your torso length and flexibility to determine that you needed a L instead of XL (just a guess).
Your bike doesn't look too small to me in the photos. I have seen many riders on Giant and Specialized compact frames and the taller riders (like you) do, in fact, show alot of seatpost and ride long stems (like 140 or 150mm).
Try this-
1. if you have a 120 stem, get a 130 (or 140 if it's a 130) and see if it feels better.

Since the shop fitted you, tell them you are not comfortable and for them to try and make it more comfortable.
Good luck!

Thanks racer x, nice to have a positive answer (but getting the negative side also was why I posted in the first place, I'm not complaining!)

I also just went to see a friend who is quite an experienced rider, who also felt that the fit was ok.

I think I will try riding some longer distances and see how the position feels after a couple of hours on the bike.

Thanks all.