View Poll Results: What's your usual commuting posture?
Upright (always/mostly)
25
21.01%
Hunched over (always/mostly)
19
15.97%
In-between (neither very upright nor very hunched over)
57
47.90%
It keeps changing
10
8.40%
Leaned back (e.g. recumbent)
4
3.36%
Other
4
3.36%
Voters: 119. You may not vote on this poll
What's your riding posture?
03-07-14, 04:50 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
What's your riding posture?
Regardless the type of your commuting bike, what is your usual riding position during commute? Upright or hunched over? Or maybe varying in between during long distance commute?
03-07-14, 04:58 PM
#2
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All the bikes I commute on have drop bars, but I spend most of my time on the hoods and I've got the bars set about even with the saddle, so I said in-between.
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03-07-14, 06:15 PM
#4
aka Tom Reingold
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Generally, I like a pretty full hunch and drop bars when I'm riding more than about six miles and a half-hunch when riding in town. Generally, I like flat bars in town. But for some reason, my Bianchi Volpe, with drop bars which are below the seat, is really comfortable, even with my full hunch.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-07-14, 06:19 PM
#5
Hogosha Sekai
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Depends on the bike.. the Turbo my back is almost flat, same for the Leader, the Premis is more of an in between but it's a good sized arch; less aero but still efficient, the Tempo I typically ride from the flats fully upright.. which is odd as it shares it's geometry with the Premis, my Sekai is pretty much upright riding for me (it's a touring frame) but it's also comfy in the hoods and drops, the Miyata conversion is "in between" as well it has a lot of drop but the TT is short enough that it's fairly irrelevant, the Lemans conversion is upright.. and depending on my mood I change position a lot during rides depending if I want to feel some burn, enjoy the sights, running late, etc etc... I did leave out a lot of bikes..
03-07-14, 08:12 PM
#6
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Hard to answer. What is a "hunch", what is "upright"?
I think in terms of the angle of your torso vs horizontal. Bolt upright would be 90 degrees. Max aero flat back is 0 degrees.
On the hoods I'm 45 degrees, in the drops I'm 30 degrees, with a slight bend in the elbow. And that's how I usually ride, in one of those positions.
I think in terms of the angle of your torso vs horizontal. Bolt upright would be 90 degrees. Max aero flat back is 0 degrees.
On the hoods I'm 45 degrees, in the drops I'm 30 degrees, with a slight bend in the elbow. And that's how I usually ride, in one of those positions.
03-07-14, 08:36 PM
#8
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If my trunk and panniers are on, I'm on the hoods. If they are off, on the weekends, I'm in a kit and more aggressive.
03-07-14, 08:45 PM
#9
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I don't consider it "hunched" at all - I'd call it "leaned over" because it's not really humping the back or hunching the shoulders. Just leaned forward, drops and hoods.
I'm about 20-30 degrees from horizontal near as I can tell.
I'm about 20-30 degrees from horizontal near as I can tell.
03-08-14, 05:42 AM
#10
Senior Member
On my 29er or MTB, it's more of a semi-upright position but on my road touring Kona Sutra, I ride the hoods but not with the hoods between my thumb and forefinger, instead, I put the heel of my hand on the hoods so my fingers are loose over top: not good for braking but then, I only do this on the long highway portion of the ride.
03-08-14, 06:28 AM
#11
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My saddle is about 2 inches higher than the top of my bars. So, I'm probably a bit more upright than many others with drop bars.
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03-08-14, 06:43 AM
#12
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Upright/inbetween. My commuter is an xtracycle converted '97 hardrock. It's far from a go-fast rig, though once it gets moving....look out. I have it set up with jones bars with the rear facing grip portion about saddle height. I can move all over the bars though. I get more aero by grabbing the front facing extensions and somewhere in between on the middle bit.
That said, I'm not a cyclist. I'm just a guy that likes bikes and rides bikes for fun. My sport is pole vaulting which is very upright(most of the time, either right side up or otherwise). My body is most comfortable upright.
That said, I'm not a cyclist. I'm just a guy that likes bikes and rides bikes for fun. My sport is pole vaulting which is very upright(most of the time, either right side up or otherwise). My body is most comfortable upright.
Last edited by vaultbrad; 03-08-14 at 06:47 AM.
03-08-14, 08:07 AM
#14
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03-08-14, 11:46 AM
#17
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03-08-14, 02:12 PM
#19
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03-08-14, 02:36 PM
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
How about "Leaning forward", "Leaning over", "Forward lean" as alternative words for "Hunched over"? As long as you understand the posture referenced (the position in a cycling race), may I have your kindness to vote? 
I'm hunched over to bow to you for showing your kindness. 
I'm hunched over to bow to you for showing your kindness.
03-08-14, 02:40 PM
#22
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My commute is about six miles each way, and I'm a sit-up-and-beg, head-on-a-swivel, fully upright rider. It's just my preference. For some reason I feel taller and more in control this way. I ride mostly through residential neighborhood streets and a some on a main road with lots of traffic lights. The upright posture allows me to enjoy the view in the neighborhoods and clearly see and communicate with drivers along the bigger road.
03-08-14, 05:43 PM
#23
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Also curious why the "hunched over" terminology. It seems so negative. Maybe that applies to somebody with zero hip flexibility.
Forward lean is the most natural position to me, mostly hoods sometimes drops. Saddle is about the same height as bars.
Upright position jars my spine and is miserable in the wind. Flat back is hard to breathe with my extra pounds.
Forward lean is the most natural position to me, mostly hoods sometimes drops. Saddle is about the same height as bars.
Upright position jars my spine and is miserable in the wind. Flat back is hard to breathe with my extra pounds.
03-08-14, 10:33 PM
#24
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