dhale50

Yes, another "how do I look" thread. I finally had a very good bike fitting and this position feels comfortable and powerful. I have been riding different bikes unfitted for years, but I have only done about 300 miles in this new position though. That being said, I see a lot of local racers, crit guys whose arms are very straight and locked when on the hoods and sometimes the drops.

My arms are still bent in the drops and hoods. Is there a such thing as too much bend in the elbows? When I lose a lot more weight this fall/winter, I plan on racing next season. I want to know does my position look to upright? I would lose the spacers but my back might not agree. The drop, even with the spacers, is exactly 3 inches (long legs), which seems to be the max I am comfortable with. So even with a 3 inch drop, my elbows still have a nice bend in them.

The Bike: LOOK 585 Optimum, 56cmTT, 57cm seat tube, 190mm head tube, 110mm stem, seat height:80cm

Me: 5'10, 185lbs, 35inch cycling inseam .

-I am not wearing the jersey because it was hot as hell in my apartment
-The two holes in the Assos bibs are the result of a crash from a couple months ago when i touched wheels with someone. Nothing like a pair of expensive "ripped" bibs

Thanks.

rbart4506

Finally someone posts pics in bike gear....So much easier to see the fit...

Saddle might need to go down a tad...

You look a bit cramped...

How is your knee in relation to the pedal (KOPS) saddle might be able to go back a bit or slightly longer stem...

Oh yea, I'm not a pro fitter so you can toss my comments out if you like...

cslone

If you had a pro fitting and it feels great, what do you need from us?

RacerX

your position looks fine. if you want to go for a more aggressive position, do a lot of stretching and wait until you put serious time into this position.

If it feels good, just forget it and focus on miles on the legs. as you loose weight, get adjusted and gain more flexiblility, you may naturally change your position.

dhale50

wasn't really a "pro" fitting. Just a guy who rides a lot more than I do, more experienced.

hollow

Doesn't look too bad. If anything your saddle might be just a bit high...your leg looks almost too straight. If you're rocking a bit on the peddle stroke you probably are...if it feels comfortable then don't change it. And if you think your back would be in pain if you remove spacers, then don't. Any gain you would have would be lost by having a bad back. If you lose weight by the spring you might go back into the shop and see if your fit is still good. But on the positive side it does look like your wheel is level.

^oZ

Looks like you could use a longer stem

10 Wheels

Lower Seat 1/2 inch. Need more bend in knee.
Your arms look Long, I think you might need about 4 to 6 inches more reach.
I like to stretch out. But it takes time to adjust your back for a long reach. Feels Good when you get there.
I had a Pro Fit. It was perfect.
Lost 25 lbs, 6,700 miles. Getting Stronger each week.

bike_curious?

I'd say your position looks great. I agree with the other post though, you should wait till you've been riding more before adjusting. When I bought my bike I had the stem flipped but now it's too high so I think I'll flip it back. Just work on those tan lines.

Dubbayoo

I also agree you might lower the saddle a bit, especially if you pedal with feet horizontal (as opposed to toes down) at the bottom of the stroke as you appear here.

Campag4life

Fit looks great. Saddle could come down a hair...a bit too straight legged at the bottom.
Great selection of bike. The Look 585 Optimum is one of my favorite framesets.
Ride safe and enjoy it.

waterrockets 

I think the reach is in the short end of the personal preference range. When you get out of the saddle on a steep hill, how often do your knees hit your bars?

Anyway, you look quite comfortable. If the pedals feel balanced, you're probably good to go. Reconsider in a month and see if you want to make any changes.

dhale50

Well, I live in Chicago what is this hill you speak of? Seriously, there is a very small "hill" that I usually ride over. When I am in the hoods going over it, my knees don't hit the bar but they do come very close.

Szczuldo

so i actually can't see the images. But if others are saying it looks good might as well go with the flow. To the first responder though, KOPS doesn't matter at all and should not be used.

rbart4506

I agree, but that photo...cranks parallel to the ground gives a better idea of how balanced he is on the bike...That's what I was trying get at...

Szczuldo

well my first statement of "so i actually can't see the images" meant that I can't actually see the pictures, seems that either photobucket or the guys account is having issues because his avatar is gone as well, or maybe he planned to be a red X. If it gets fixed then I'll be able to see for myself how he looks.

dhale50

The red X in my avatar is on purpose. I reloaded them on photobucket just now. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Chucklehead

NO.

dhale50, If you're finding that your saddle height isn't right, change it in smaller increments - like 1/8" at a time. 1/2" is a big move.

Doctor Who

I dunno, the saddle position looks decent to me. I actually think the saddle is about the right height, because when you're pedaling, the angle of your foot is likely to be a bit different, thus affecting the bend of the knee. If you're pain free in the knees and your cadence/stroke is smooth, I would be adverse to messing with anything. I would go 1-2cm longer on the stem, because you seem awfully upright when on the hoods, which is probably where you spend most of your time.

By chance are you often out on the LFP? I live in Chicago and I think I remember seeing you and your bike a while back.

cinegabe

Best fitting method EVER

dhale50

Yes! I have been out there for years, but now I am starting to ride along Sheridan road. Much much better riding done that way. LFP in unbearable now.

umd

I think this is the first "how is my fit" thread where the fit looked fine. Everyone is going to have some variation, but nothing looks obviously wrong and if you got fit and it feels good go with it. I don't think that you can really be too bent in the eblows, as long it is comfortable. That said, I would prefer to drop my bars down another inch or so but it would require a bike with a shorter head tube or an 84 degree stem.

FWIW, your fit looks pretty similar to mine (#952)

rizz

I like the way you fit on your bike. Some like to stretch out to get a flatter back, some prefer to bend the arms more and drop the bars. I'm guessing you're in the second category like umd and myself. Your leg does seem a bit straight, though. Stick your bike on a trainer and have someone watch your feet as you pedal, see if you are pointing your toes or getting some side-to-side motion in your hips.

SSRI

+1

Szczuldo

yes thank you, i can see them now, odd that it seems it was just me though :/

Your fit looks fine, if anything your saddle may be a bit high but if you are comfortable on 60+ mile rides and you don't have a lot of upper body movement then you are fine.