Road Cycling - My turn I guess - Assess my time trial position.

Everyone else is doing it, I guess I might as well join the crowd. How about taking a look at my time trial position and letting me know what you think. So far I have only done one ride on this bike but it feels pretty good to me. Actually, I have only done one ride on any time trial bike. :D

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/ttposition1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/ttposition2.jpg

I dont really do much for fitting, though you do look a little high on the seatpost. Like your leg is almost fully extended, and your heel is up. On a TT bike you want to be able to drop the heel to keep your speed up on small rolling hills. Also, i dont know what kind of distance you will be doing, but it took me a while to get used to haveing a flat back position, some people find it to extreme too fast to go straight to that.

As any Slowtwitcher will tell you....
Your seat's too high.

As any Slowtwitcher will tell you....
Your seat's too high.

Yup, seat's too high - at least an inch. At the 6:00 position, your leg should be bent about the average of the 2 pics.

Bike looks a little small too.

If I drop the saddle at all my knee kills me. How do I make up for that? I really don't want to have to start going back to the chiropractor twice a week for my knees like I did before I got my saddle to the proper height (on my roadie).

Sweet. You look taller then 5'10". I like your haircut.

Your a clown.

I think it looks pretty good, although in the 2nd pic you're not as far forward in the saddle. Like me, you could probably go lower in the shoulders, but I don't have a dedicated TT bike, and I'm not willing to make that big of a change to my road bike just for TTs. Looks like you have a couple spacers under your stem there...

The BFers seemed to think my saddle was too high too, but I also keep it up there to avoid knee pain, on top of the fact that it's really comfortable. I dropped it 5mm today and that felt ok, so I'll see if my knees complain at all.

One thing I'm finding is that under full 1-minute power, my butt comes right off the saddle. Probably 1/2" above it. I need to get some video to see wtf is going on, but if I'm getting above the saddle at 110 rpm under full power, how can my saddle possibly be too high?

If I drop the saddle at all my knee kills me. How do I make up for that? I really don't want to have to start going back to the chiropractor twice a week for my knees like I did before I got my saddle to the proper height (on my roadie).

Maybe it's a cleat issue. Does your knee hurt while riding, or afterwards ?
Drop the saddle 1/2 inch, Go for an EASY ride, and also take tools to adjust your cleats. See if you can make slight adjustments to alleviate the knee pain. Or maybe you have pronation or supination that needs correcting.

Lastly, don't believe me... I have no clue

When my knees bother me they bother me all the time, it starts when on the bike and goes away a few months later.

Thanks for the advice on the cleats, but honestly I'm afraid to mess with them. It took me a long time to get everything to work relatively pain free. I'm afraid to screw it up. :o

Looks pretty good right now. If you are a toe down pedaler, your seat height is fine. Some people don't fit in to that spot on saddle height for the reason you stated, pain. As you ride the bike more, you will gain flexibility and want to drop your shoulders a bit. The way your head is lowered in the second pic is good and should work well with an aero helmet.

Overall, I'd say it looks good.

Where are the jeans, the yellow cap on backwards and the sunglasses?

Watch out for that disc object right in front of your face. Probably thrown by a neighbor put off by the whirring of your trainer at at all hours. ;)

Position looks pretty good - I agree that the saddle may be a tad high. Bike looks good too.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/ryanf_1997/MVC-024S.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/ttposition2.jpg

Twins, separated at birth.

Twins, separated at birth.


So, would you prefer a 3 day, 7 day, or lifetime ban for that comment???? :mad:

Looks pretty good right now. If you are a toe down pedaler, your seat height is fine. Some people don't fit in to that spot on saddle height for the reason you stated, pain. As you ride the bike more, you will gain flexibility and want to drop your shoulders a bit. The way your head is lowered in the second pic is good and should work well with an aero helmet.

Overall, I'd say it looks good.

Definitely a toe down pedaler. Check out my 3:00 / 9:00 position. Toes are still down a bit. Not saying it's right, just the way I ride. :o

Watch out for that disc object right in front of your face. Probably thrown by a neighbor put off by the whirring of your trainer at at all hours. ;)

Position looks pretty good - I agree that the saddle may be a tad high. Bike looks good too.

Shows how much my neighbors likes me doesn't it, those cows are always throwing things at me. :(

So far I have only spent a couple of hours on this bike. It feels pretty good so far but I'm sure I will make quite a few adjustments as time goes by. I'll try dropping the saddle 5 mm or so on my next ride and see how it goes. I asked for advice, doesn't do much good if I don't at least give it a chance I guess.

Where are the jeans, the yellow cap on backwards and the sunglasses?

It's summer time. Only time you are going to catch me in long pants is when I'm at the office. As for cap backwards, just not my style.

so when are you and ryanf gonna sqaure off? i got $100 on you.


ok, i'll make it an even million. ryan's mom would never drive him out there for the showdown.

So, would you prefer a 3 day, 7 day, or lifetime ban for that comment???? :mad:

You've got to admit, the resemblance is.....striking.

3 day, please.

You've got to admit, the resemblance is.....striking.

3 day, please.

I was giving you a choice prior to that comment. After the follow up comment the result is a permanent IP ban!!! :p

I'm having the same knee vs height issue lately. I kind of feel like the saddle is too high, but any lower and my right knee starts having problems. I am suspecting a cleat/pedal issue as I recently changed it all out.

How is your saddle setback compared to your road bike? With a TT rig, you'd want the saddle to higher and farther forward than on a road bike to open up your hip angle. Saddle to pedal distance should be the same, just rotated forward. Check out some Triathlon sites that talk about setting up a Tri-bike. You do have to watch out for saddle setback limits if you're in races that have such requirements.

time to get a dynamic IP.

How is your saddle setback compared to your road bike? With a TT rig, you'd want the saddle to higher and farther forward than on a road bike to open up your hip angle. Saddle to pedal distance should be the same, just rotated forward. Check out some Triathlon sites that talk about setting up a Tri-bike. You do have to watch out for saddle setback limits if you're in races that have such requirements.

The saddle is quite a bit further forward on this bike than it is on my road bike. Here is a comparison shot.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/fujiwzipps700.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/aloha11.jpg

Looks good, feels good. Don't change a thing. Except maybe aerodynamic tweaks with your arm and elbow positions.

Regarding saddle height, I posted some pics in the other position thread:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2832/images/ss283209.jpg http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/c/cf/300px-Jan_Ullrich_Nacht_von_Hannover_2005.jpg
http://www.davidsblog.us/uploaded_images/IMG_1481.jpg

I ain't no TT'er, but it would seem to me that you could use a longer stem to lengthen your torso a little bit and open up your chest for better breathing. Your upper body looks a little constricted to me.

At one point, and I don't remember where I read this, I read to get enough/good power, you should have your leg almost fully extended when the peddle reaches the 6 o'clock position. Is this not the case? I did notice, while watching the tour, many of the pros still had pleanty of room to go to reach this point (as in they had a decent angle between the upper and lower leg). Yet, at a recent MTB race, I saw one of the faster/fastest riders with a really straight leg at the bottom of the stroke. Is it just generally a rule of thumb and to each his/her own?

FWIW- Neither my road nor my MTB is set-up this way but it's always in the back of my head that maybe I should switch.

I ain't no TT'er, but it would seem to me that you could use a longer stem to lengthen your torso a little bit and open up your chest for better breathing. Your upper body looks a little constricted to me.

Not a possibility unless I order a complete new stem/bar/aero bar combination.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/flyimage.aspxnmVT_TriMax_Alloy_A.jpg

Sweet. You look taller then 5'10". I like your haircut.

Watch out lowcel, I think ryanf is coming on to you. :D

Watch out lowcel, I think ryanf is coming on to you. :D

At least it has been downgraded from stalker like it was in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=319895&highlight=group+lowcel). :o

are those zipties on the downtube?

At one point, and I don't remember where I read this, I read to get enough/good power, you should have your leg almost fully extended when the peddle reaches the 6 o'clock position. Is this not the case? I did notice, while watching the tour, many of the pros still had pleanty of room to go to reach this point (as in they had a decent angle between the upper and lower leg). Yet, at a recent MTB race, I saw one of the faster/fastest riders with a really straight leg at the bottom of the stroke. Is it just generally a rule of thumb and to each his/her own?

FWIW- Neither my road nor my MTB is set-up this way but it's always in the back of my head that maybe I should switch.

MTB'ers usually mash more than spin. Full leg extensions are generally better for mashing whereas more (but not excessive) bend is better for fast spinning.

My whole view on the saddle height thing is to find what works for you and is comfortable. My saddle is probably a touch too low by some standards, but that alleviates front of the knee pain for me. If you try lowering it and the knee pain returns, I would do what I imagine you are going to do anyway -- go with what works.

are those zipties on the downtube?

Yes, for the powertap wires.

I have no comment other than it looks nice :beer:

Yes, for the powertap wires.

you need to get those more aero. use tape!

you need to get those more aero. use tape!

I have in the past, I prefer zip ties. They don't come loose.

Man 2 sets of 404's, must be nice.

Uh, is that a joke?

Anyway, LowCel, your shoulders look a hair high to me, but if you have a major power drop going lower, you're probably done. Or if you don't have any more spacers.

P.S. - pm a Mod to move this to the Racing forum.

I'm also a toes down pedaler. I remember reading an article about it and the basic conclusion was that it seemed to neither help nor hurt in terms of power transfer/etc, so it's more just a matter of preference. My saddle (on my road bike, I have no TT bike) does seem to be just a hair lower than yours though, but again, I think that fit is relative.

Man 2 sets of 404's, must be nice.

Nope, just one. I am thinking about ordering a set of 303 tubulars later today though. :D

Yes, for the powertap wires.

Careful. Zipties can slice through wires like you wouldn't believe!

You should at least consider protecting the wire w/ tape (ie, before to you zip-tie it to the bike)

Nope, just one. I am thinking about ordering a set of 303 tubulars later today though. :D


Well then.....that will still be nice. :D I'm a Bontrager man myself I'd love to get my hands on a set of Aeolus hoops.

Well then.....that will still be nice. :D I'm a Bontrager man myself I'd love to get my hands on a set of Aeolus hoops.

Ended up skipping on the 303's. I went with a set of 404 tubulars.

On the seat height thing . . . this has been on my mind lately. I did a high end fitting (like a 2.5 hour thing by a local guru). He took my seat up higher than I would have every thought. Basically as high as I could go without having hip rock on a high rpm spin. There are other sites and guides that agree with this . . . as high as possible without rock. Of course, others say other things.
As I watched hours and hours of the TdF and used slowmo and freeze on my tivo like mad. They are much lower, still a lot of bend in their knee at 6 on the clock.

As I knew going in, fittings are starting points and my baseline I can go back to as I have all the measurements. Anyhow, I have started to lower some. Why? #1 I sometimes have a slight bit of knee pain and #2 I have trouble getting back on my seat after I stand up to pedal . . . if I am still pedalling. If I coast I can do it better . . . but it is high. That is probably not a good sign. :)

Ended up skipping on the 303's. I went with a set of 404 tubulars.

Well then now each bike has it's own set. A time saver indeed.

Regarding saddle height, I posted some pics in the other position thread:

http://www.davidsblog.us/uploaded_images/IMG_1481.jpg

Is this your blog?

Well then now each bike has it's own set. A time saver indeed.

And yet the majority of the time I'll still be running my plain old boring, mismatched wheelset with a PowerTap. :(

Well, you could be me, I just have a set of race lites and X lites, nothing sexy there. Although a new house, new hummer, and another new son switch the financial priorities a bit.....