Originally Posted by
rkwaki
Great response - position is a funny thing. I had criticism thrown my way a while back due to the setup of my hoods (much like Cavendish) and the fact that I race predominantly on the hoods. I don't worry about my saddle to bar drop (I will try and grab a pic) though it is probably a little more than LA - when on the hoods I have a very relaxed comfy position, when on the drops I and sprinting I am kissing the front tire.
And you are a racer. I have ridden with guys who ride a bike two sizes too small with 6inch drop. They aren't any faster than the other guys out there, just more uncomfortable and use their hoods more because drops are more unusable or their power falls off because their hip angle is shut when in the drops. Post up a pic of your hoods if you get a chance. I use to ride with my bar rolled back with hoods up a bit higher and feel too much pressure on the heel of my hand and now my hoods and tops of my bar are a bit more level to the ground or conventionally positioned.
Below is a pic from another guy who almost won the TdF with a riser stem...and hoods way up in air as well. He had a bad hip and maybe why his position wasn't more aero but bottom line is he
'could compete and beat the best riders in the world' with that position. What does that say for the rest of the 200 watt riders out there?