Hi all, thanks for the advice and responses...I really appreciate you all helping out a newbie like me. I will upload more pics shortly.
Originally Posted by
Elduderino2412
w/o seeing you on the bike it's just a crap shot, but i'm guessing your legs aren't that short. You should have like a 10-15 degree bend at most when legs are extended. Also your handlebars are rolled to far up. Drops should be parallel to the ground. You will get more flexible the more you cycle. Stretch your back, neck and legs everyday if you can. Maybe he just set the bike up that way until you get more flexible.
I'm thinking this is the case. He watched me cycling for a few minutes and did mention that I tensed up my shoulders a lot while riding. However, I'm not super inflexible or anything - I'm 28 yrs old and stay pretty active. I ride everyday to work (15 mi round trip) then usually do one 40-50 mi long ride during the weekend. I'm guessing he just wanted me to comfortable with the bike for now and then adjust it as I go.
Originally Posted by
justkeepedaling
There's no real reason for this setup unless you are super unflexible and/or on a frame too big (referring to seatpost height). Is your saddle even parallel to the ground?
He adjusted saddle to make it parallel. I will upload new pics with better angles.
Originally Posted by
StanSeven
That's hard to believe that's a 56 and you are 6 foot. Unless you have very short legs and little flexibility, it looks way off. Post some pics of you on the bike.
When you said fitting, what did that consist of and how long did it take? Was the shop employee knowledgable?
Hi Stan, thanks for the response. It is a 56cm, I am 6' (just measured in doctors office last month). I'm 28 and pretty active so it's not like I'm super inflexible. My inseam is around 31-32" I'm guessing.
The fitting took about 20 minutes. It is the kind that comes free with a bike purchase, see "new bike fit":
http://helenscycles.com/articles/hel...tting-pg78.htm
He took the front wheel off and put it on one of those things where you can pedal your bike like a stationary bike. I hopped on, he took various measurements of both legs in different positions. He used some kind of tool (maybe a level?) to measure where my feet when my legs were at the bottom of the pedal stroke. He watched me cycle for about 1-2 minutes, gave me some tips on stretching, adjusted the saddle.... that was pretty much it. He seemed very knowledgeable about cycling and answered all of my questions well. The shop is Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica. It's a pretty big shop, with multiple locations so it isn't a shady place or anything.
Originally Posted by
Nihilum
Have you dropped your handlebars down? If not, I'd suggest that as a starting point if you're really looking for a more aggressive geometry. I ride a less aggressive Cannondale Synaspe 7 Sora, but my brother rides a CAAD and he had the same issue. He lowered the handlebars by removing the steering stem spacers.
Question: Did they do an actual fitment (take an hour or more where they take actual body measurements) or did they just do an initial set-up where they just made sure your legs were at the right positions at the bottom and top of your pedal stroke?
Thanks for the tip Nihilum. I haven't dropped the handlebars yet but I will do.
The fitting took about 20 minutes with no body measurements. It seemed to be more like the initial set-up where they measured my legs at the bottom and top of the pedal stroke, watched me ride for 1-2 minutes, then adjusted the seat post/saddle. I don't think he adjusted the bars at all.
Do you find you reach too far for the hoods; are you feeling too stretched out? My bike has the saddle level with the handlebars and it is extremely comfortable, and I can use the drops all day long if I wanted to. I wouldn't judge a fitting by that alone...for sure.
Edited to say that I think your saddle is pointed down a bit much.
I don't feel stretched out at all. It feels very comfortable, but I'm just getting this feeling that this position is not typical by seeing all the other road bikes out there with their saddles higher.
I am willing to sacrifice comfort for performance.
Originally Posted by
Jed19
As mentioned by datlas, you may start by flipping the stem. That should bring the bars slightly lower than your saddle (all other things being set up correctly). To specifically answer your question though, no, it is not normal to have that kind of setup on a race bike meant specifically for the kind of riding you intend to do.
Originally Posted by
mihlbach
There are no set rules. You have a lot of room to experiment. Flip your stem and put some of the spacers above the stem. Try numerous configurations and see what works best. Focus in whats comfortable, not what it looks like. Keep in mind, if you are new at this, the optimal setup will be a moving target as your fitness improves.
Thanks for the tip guys.
Originally Posted by
JTGraphics
Along with everyones good advice remember it's not about the looks it's about the fit and your comfort, as long as you fill good thats all you shoud be concerned about. If not then seek a good fitter some shops fit you but its an general fitting and might I ask did this shop have all the sizes up and down you were looking for or did they sell you something because thats what was on the floor.
Thanks JT....they had all the sizes up and down.. just a massive amount of cannondales everywhere in their store.
Originally Posted by
bikerjp
Have you measured your cycling inseam? That saddle looks pretty low for someone 6' tall on a 56". I'm 6'3" on a 58 and I have a lot of seat post. Probably could ride a 60-61. Your saddle/bars do not have to conform to any rules but there is a general trend for road bars to be lower than the saddle. If this is properly fit then it's properly fit. However, without some more data (like cycling inseam) it's hard to say. It's possible the shop set you up based on preconceived notions about newer riders rather than something more comprehensive and based on your actual body style and flexibility. A pic of you on the bike would probably help.
I have not measured my cycling inseam. I will posts some pics of me on the bike.
Originally Posted by
Will Goes Boing
Well first off, you have like a bajillion inches worth of spacers AND your stem is at a positive angle. If you want your bars to be lower than your saddle all you have to do is place the spacers on top of the stem instead of below it, and then flip your stem.
I work at a bike shop and from personal experience I have seen some customers that need their saddle really low even with the proper leg extension. For people who are chubby/heavy set the problem seems to amplify drastically.
I agree with the fitter that a 54 would be too cramped for you. If it bugs you that the saddle is so low... do what I said and just flip the stem and slam it.
Thanks for the advice, will try flipping.
Originally Posted by
gaucho777
No, that set up does not look right to me. You might see the hoods higher than saddle on touring or city bikes (a la the "French Fit," though even then it's usually at or sligtly below saddle level) , but not on a bike such as yours. Plus, the downward saddle angle is just wrong. I'm about your height (5'11") and also have long torso/short legs, but would not want to ride your bike for very long. If that were my bike, I'd start by flipping the stem, leveling the saddle and tilting handlebars forward. Start with a minimal saddle-to-bar drop, and lower as your comfort/flexibility allows. Oh, and ask for a refund from that fitter.
Thanks for the tips, Gaucho. The fit came free with the bike purchase.
Originally Posted by
bengreen79
Don't compare your setup to the setup you see on bike photos in magazines. No one is riding those - they're just taking pictures. Instead look how people who are actually riding are setup for a more real life comparison. Even in the tour, some of the guys are using less aggressive setups than some of the guys here. It's no indication of skill.
Yours does look a little "mild" but that doesn't mean it doesn't fit right. My Allez is a 56.5 cm. I tried a 54 but I felt cramped on it. It may have been fixable with a long stem and setback post but at the time I was 45 lbs heavier than I am now and flexibility wasn't a strongpoint of mine.
Edit: For perspective, I'm 5'11.5" and my cycling inseam with shoes on is only ~32 in. Short legs here too.
We are very similar in height and inseam. I feel comfortable on it now, I'm just wondering if a more aggressive position is better for performance and speed.
Originally Posted by
bikebreak
Yeah, ride the bike, do stretching (after the ride), gain strength and flexibility.
Your seat will come up and your bars will come down. You may also need to get a longer stem.
In the meantime, google french fit and eddy fit. People really do ride bikes like that.
Originally Posted by
topflightpro
That looks fine.
There is no "Normal" for a bike set up. Fit is very specific to each individual. As others have said, if you have low flexibility, then you may need your bars above your saddle. Don't worry about what it looks like. Ride it and if you are uncomfortable, then make changes.
Thanks for advice guys, I feel pretty good on it now.
Originally Posted by
pallen
Without seeing you on the bike, no one can say if its right for you. (even seeing you on it doesn't answer everything)
The only concerns I see are the saddle tipped down like that could cause you to put too much pressure on your hands. I would rotate the bars down so the hoods and tops of the bars are level, but that's more cosmetic. If the saddle to bar feels good, go with it. If you're curious and you want to experiment with lower bars, try flipping the stem and ride it for a while like that. You can always flip back if you don't like it.
Thanks for advice, feels good now but im going to experiment with flipping and see how that feels too.
Originally Posted by
Brian Ratliff
I would guess the bike shop fitting did little or nothing with the bars. The most important part of fit is the leg extension, so that is what most fitters concentrate on. Lower the bars as you see fit; you have lots of room. I've noticed the bars on most showroom bikes are set high so the shop can leave lots of steerer length and lots of room for downward adjustment.
Yes Brian, you are correct. They just measured the leg extension and didn't touch the bars. Will lowering the bars really help my performance a lot?
Originally Posted by
clydeosaur
I went through something similar 4 or 5 years ago. I bought a road bike & started out with a fitting & bars level with my saddle
As time went on, I became more flexible and more comfortable in a lower position. As well, My mileage & riding kept improving. As of the last picture (last year) you can see the changes I have gone through.
These changes were due to comfort, not looks.
Since the last picture, I have cut the fork & dropped another one or two cm.
Nice bike! Did you see a big difference in performance when you changed to a lower position?