Originally Posted by
timtak
I think that there are many people who want to ride "comfortably" and looking at the scenery, and who have back problems, and whose belly size does not allow them to go low. When I was like that it wasn't so much that going low was "uncomfortable" but that my knees and my belly could not coexist. But as my shape returned to normal, I had this weird parachute style of riding a road bike. It took me a while to realise that I needed to do as Robbie is doing, in order (again in Cobb's words) "for aggressive riding, and it doesn't have to be just racing, but when you are right and you want to ride a little harder."
I do like comfortable positions to ride at a relaxed pace appreciating the scenery. I can ride in such position in my present endurance bike fit for many hours. But I can still be aero if wanted to by simply bending my elbows 90 degrees.
Cycling is my ONLY exercise and my BMI is currently 19.6 (borderline underweight), flat abs, waistline 26", hip line 35" currently in my early forties. I have strong core muscles I suppose since I can pedal out of the saddle continuously for 15 minutes, or a total of 40 minutes in one hour of climbing. My total weekly ride time is only 6.5 to 10 hours. I never race, never enough time and resources to do it but my body build is close to that of specialist pro hill climber.
The comfy position did not make me fat at all.
So I really doubt riding posture has huge influence on getting fat or not. For me it's mostly diet and pedaling style (for the nice waist to hip ratio). I have absolutely no alcohol in my diet. I have no friends in real life so I can't even "drink socially". What a bummer but having zero friends has some advantages (I'll think of one eventually).