Road Cycling - My position (Pics)

I usually leave these threads alone. I am a pro fitter but I prefer to fit people in person.

My observations are:

The saddle is not too high quite the opposite it is too LOW.

The OP's arms are freakishly long for his body hence he needs a longer stem by at least 2 cms.



My very first impression is the bike was too small for you. But at 5 10" you should be on a 56cm. It's just your arms that throw the whole thing off. You looked cramped to me. The pictures you took are excellent. Thank you. The one of you on the hoods sealed it for me your reach is too short.

If I was fitting you and selling you bike I would have recommended the 58cm. With all the spacers you have on the 56cm you should just be on the 58cm it would have a longer top tube you could ride a 110mm or 120mm stem and your reach based on your arms length would be appropriate. (with this bike looks like 130mm and I don't recommend that unless you are a crit banger)

Now let me set the rest of this thread on fire by saying that inseam is not important when sizing for a bike. The most important measurement is your trunk (notch to crotch) and then relate that measurement to the manufactures geometry charts for their top tube. You can jack a saddle up 300mm or down to the frame. But if you mess around with saddle fore and aft you mess with power transfer if you mess with stem lengths you mess with the handling characteristics of the bike. So top tube is the most important and least "adjustable" measurement in regards to achieving the correct reach. The OP is a classic example where if you size him to inseam the bike ends up too small for him.

KOPS is nonsense. Another ridiculous and archaic measurement that has stayed in practice for far too long. Tell me that the KOPS, taken in a static position, is where you will be pedaling the entire time you on the bike and I have a bridge to sell you.

Why do you say that the saddle is too low? I'm not arguing with you, just want to know because to me it looks OK. Do you set the saddle by the "knee locked, foot horizontal" method?

Now let me set the rest of this thread on fire by saying that inseam is not important when sizing for a bike.


Since inseam determines saddle height, do you discount saddle to bar drop or account for it otherwise?



The OP is a classic example where if you size him to inseam the bike ends up too small for him.


It looks more to me that he was sized by either height or torso rather than inseam. The crude traditional inseam x .65 method would have put him on a 58. Coincidentally, that's what you're recommending. As you've noted, the OP is all arms and legs. If he's matched "notch to crotch" to a manufacturer's top tube geometry as you suggest, then his extremities receive no accounting and he's on a smaller frame.

So it looks to me like this is a classic example of top tube/torso only sizing.

So it looks to me like this is a classic example of top tube/torso only sizing.

That is correct. When we did all the measurements, it was determined that I needed a top tube that wasn't too long because of my torso (smaller compared to arms and legs), a higher headtube (need to work on back flexibility). Then to accommodate for arm length, work with longer stems.

So I chose to start with the 110, but like I said, I am going to try a 120.

my interpretation of the pictures is that the OP probably doesn't drop his heel like that while riding. So the saddle height is probably ok. If you look at the left foot, the heel is further up. If the OP really does ride toes down on the left side, and heels down on the right side, it might be time for orthotics and spacers. But my guess is the right foot is not in its natural position due to the fact that he was posing for a picture.

my interpretation of the pictures is that the OP probably doesn't drop his heel like that while riding. So the saddle height is probably ok. If you look at the left foot, the heel is further up. If the OP really does ride toes down on the left side, and heels down on the right side, it might be time for orthotics and spacers. But my guess is the right foot is not in its natural position due to the fact that he was posing for a picture.

Damn. Good observation I didn't even notice that about my left foot.

Looks like you could use a longer stem

This.

i would say the fit darn near perfect ! ride it ...

Since inseam determines saddle height, do you discount saddle to bar drop or account for it otherwise?



It looks more to me that he was sized by either height or torso rather than inseam. The crude traditional inseam x .65 method would have put him on a 58. Coincidentally, that's what you're recommending. As you've noted, the OP is all arms and legs. If he's matched "notch to crotch" to a manufacturer's top tube geometry as you suggest, then his extremities receive no accounting and he's on a smaller frame.

So it looks to me like this is a classic example of top tube/torso only sizing.
Most aren't familar with a Look Optimum frame. The OP is on the perfect frame for his proportions and size. An Optimum has the head tube equivalent of a 59-60 cm center to top at 190mm. The Look Optimum has a full 20mm longer head tube than my Look 555 XL. The Optimum has the top tube equivalent of a 56-57cm which works well for the OP's average torso size.
Looks are sized center to center and the Optimum is an upright geometry that melds perfectly with a rider that is more legs than torso.

As to Vireo...sorry....ridiculous assertions, the OP is not George Hincapie. Most recreational riders including some that are quite fast do not want to ride stretched out or with a Lemond suggested seat height. The only way you can deduce that is with a personal fitting and not by looking at pictures.

OP...you look fine on the bike. You can experiment with your saddle height and maybe try a slightly longer stem but you maybe at the sweet spot for your present flexibility starting out in particular. Fit is a work in progress and you are off to a good start.
Keep in mind that many top riders and even riders like myself have a 25-30 degree knee bend at the bottom of their pedal stroke. It is hard to tell from the pictures but your leg extension at the bottom looks a bit more than that.
Good Luck.

Looks very good to me for a first pass.

Looks good to me as long as YOU are comfortable!