Road Cycling - Help with setup of new road bike.

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maryakattack
10-14-04, 12:34 PM
A few questions concerning how I should set up my new bike. How high should the seat be (in respect to a full stroke of my legs)? What type of an angle should the seat be at (tilt up/down/flat)? Should I slide the seat forward or backward (what changes will I notice)? How high should my handlebars be in relation to the seat height (should I pull them out of the headset more)? What tilt should I put on the handlebars? I know a lot of this comes with experience and no riders are the same, but I just needed some general guidelines to start with. Thanks!

LordOpie
10-14-04, 12:45 PM
brilliant info -- http://peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm -- but I think he's gay :eek: ;)
ManBearPig
10-14-04, 12:46 PM
brilliant info -- http://peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm -- but I think he's gay :eek: ;)

LordOpie took my answer. I will repeat, for emphasis:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

galen_52657
10-14-04, 12:47 PM
Here are some links to bike fitting sites. You should be able to get started there. On a racing bike, the bars are lower than the seat. The taller the rider, the more the bars are lower than the seat. The flats at the bottom of the bar drops should be level or rolled up slightly toward the front of the bike.

http://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/FitLinks/bike_fit_links.htm

You can also check out the photos of Bikeforums' members in the 'what bike to you ride' thread.
TomInFLA
10-14-04, 01:52 PM
I use a couple rules of thumb. According to Greg LeMond's book, saddle height should be .883 of your inseam length as measured from the center of your bottom bracket to the top of saddle, in a straight line. You can also put your heel on the pedal at the bottom of your pedal stroke, with your leg fully extended is where your seat should be set. Use this as an approximation because leg length isn't the only factor.

Handlebars should be set so that the cross portion of the bars obliterate your front axel, when riding on the hoods (of your brakes). Raise or lower them accordingly.

Both of these are approximate values, and I usually go with touch and feel to get it right. I'm also a rider who doesn't have much problem with knees or legs, so others may have more input about getting it perfect. But I use these as general guidelines.