General Cycling Discussion - Riding position

What do you think about my riding postion. I am going for a road mountain bike style. Hybrid type of riding. I moved my hands around to show the positions I usually put them in. What you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlaGNhruoA4

Saddle is too low for the most efficient riding, may eventually cause knee pain.

Do not lock your elbows when riding.

+1 above. But then again, it really comes to what works for your mechanics and what is comfortable for the riding you do. I personally would say your seat is too low if you can touch your feet to the ground so easily while in the saddle. I can't touch the ground at all while in the saddle, I have to drop down for stop signs/lights, and still be in an efficient position when in the saddle. My bb is not particularly high, as I don't ride an MTB and the chainstays drop from the dropouts to the bb noticeably.

If you are concerned or have some discomfort while riding, get professionally fit.

Go ride and see what works. If you ride long enough, you're liable to have your hands in every position by the time you're done.

Saddle is too low for the most efficient riding, may eventually cause knee pain.
Do not lock your elbows when riding.
Gotta agree completely.

What do you think about my riding postion. I am going for a road mountain bike style. Hybrid type of riding. I moved my hands around to show the positions I usually put them in. What you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlaGNhruoA4

After looking at you rbody on the bike, I noticed that you haven't got enough leg extension. When you are riding, you need to have your leg extended so that there is just a slight bend in it at the knee at the bottom of the revolution otherwise you are headed for knee problems. Secondly, I noticed that you don't bend your elbows. There should be a little flex in them ao that they are bent. If you hold them tight, you are headed for elbow problems. Lastly, I noticed your hand position on the handles. The way that you hold your hands is on the brake levers. If you do that, then you will have sore hands and thumbs. Try to move your hands around more without keeping them constantly on the brake levers. After all, you only need the brakes when you stop. I would suggest that you go to your local BS guys and see if they have a person who knows how to fit people for bikes. Then have the bike adjusted for your height. You shouldn't be able to stand when your bike is moving and there should be about one inch clearance over the bar when you are standing over it. Good luck!

Saddle is way to low. Bars way to high.

While not all agree, I like the Lemond formula as a ball park starting point. .883 X PBH = SH

Gotta agree with the others, if it were me, I'd raise the saddle and look for a shorter ( fore and aft ) stem. Maybe rotate the bars up?

Yep... I agree with the others:

1) raise the saddle
2) don't lock your elbows

Depending on your flexibility, you could also drop the bars. The most comfortable position is probably with the bars at seat level, but you will experience more effeciency with the bars lower than that (you will be riding in a more aerodynamic position.)

do your knees hurt now? If not, I'm not sure I'd change your saddle height.

Stem/reach, on the other hand, is another story. Shorter stem. You want your arms relaxed; it looks like you're stretching to reach the handlebars.

If his knees don't hurt now they will in a few more years.

Gotta agree with the others, if it were me, I'd raise the saddle and look for a shorter ( fore and aft ) stem. Maybe rotate the bars up?

+1 Shorter stem and bars rotated up would make it easier to bend elbows (also execrises to increase core body strength)

I would find a comfortable saddle position first; adjust the height and fore and aft position of the saddle. Then find a comfortable position for your hands. some like them low, others high. It involves a trade off between aerodynamics and comfort. You might have to change your stem to find the best fit. The Rivendell site, www.rivbike.com (http://www.rivbike.com) has good advice on this issue, but it is not universally accepted, especially by all the would be racers.

Ya, I am thinking of experimenting with another stem I have. I will put up another video when I get things closer to the way I think it should be. As far as going to a local bike shop well I feel like I can figure it out myself.

So do a lot of people who end up in pain and unable to ride like they want to. It's not shaming to ask for help from people who know a lot more about the subject at hand than you do. Get fitted, then go from there.

It would also be better to have somebody taking the video of you putting some power into the pedals.

Good idea with the putting power into the pedals. I will do that.

Ya, I am thinking of experimenting with another stem I have. I will put up another video when I get things closer to the way I think it should be. As far as going to a local bike shop well I feel like I can figure it out myself.

We all can try different things but why re-invent the wheel. Your LBS has people who may have been fitting people to their bikes for years. Why not take advantage of their extensive knowledge and experience? It only takes a while, you will learn something about your body and your bike and ususally it doesn't cost anything except your time. After looking at you on your bike, your position looked really uncomfortable. A experienced person guiding you can help you lots. Pride often goes before a fall and so do knees and elbows.