Triathlon - Seat angle with clip on aero bars

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cgapper
12-07-08, 07:45 PM
I just got a new road bike with clip on aero bars. On my first ride with them yesterday I found I couldn't stay in them for very long because the front of saddle was causing significant discomfort to my groin (if you know what I mean). Should I angle the saddle down in the front to avoid this? Is this common practice with clip on aero bars? I am confident when using them, just not terribly comfortable. Any tips would be great. Thanks.
cqapper,
Boy you'll get replies all over the board on this one. I can only tell you what I do.
On my 1991 Merckx MX-Leader, I point the seat downward a bit. (Never measured, but 10-15 degrees seems about like it.) Significant relief on a rock hard Sella saddle that I should probably change out.
On Mimi, my U08 Peugeot, don't laugh, but the seat is actually loose. When I'm in the aerobars, the nose is way down 20-25 degrees) and my sit bones are firmly pushed onto the soft large part of the upturned saddle. Comfy for long turns in the saddle. When I sit up, I can pull the nose back up to horizontal, and the bike rides like a roadie again. My training partners have laughed at me until they've ridden the bike. They come back less cynical. I've wondered if it would pass a rigorous inspection at the bike check-in. It has to date every time.
For what it's worth.
TysonB
itri-45
12-10-08, 10:22 AM
It was your first ride so give it more time. If you still feel discomfort after that, you may want to slide your seat forward, and/or use a zero-setback or forward seatpost to bring your position more forward and thus riding less on the nose. Be careful not to shift your body weight too much forward as it can cause the bike to be unstable.
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