What's Your Saddle to Bar Drop?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 752
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Post Your Saddle to Bar Drop
I am just curious what the range and mean for saddle to bar drop may be for most racers nowdays. Mine is 7cm, which I suspect is less than most. But I am even older than Pcad, if such a thing is even possible.
Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 03:37 PM.
#4
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,307
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1456 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times
in
375 Posts
11cm, and I'm a fat old man.
In actuality, it doesn't matter that much. You can get as aero as you need without much drop at all, just by bending your elbows.
In actuality, it doesn't matter that much. You can get as aero as you need without much drop at all, just by bending your elbows.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#5
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Damn, I can't imagine being stuck at 10cm. I felt like 11cm on my old frame was practically a beach cruiser. I'm now head tube limited, but I could have put a -17D stem on my SL to squeeze another cm out of it.
#6
out walking the earth
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 752
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for your replies. I think I could go lower pretty easily without any discomfort. I have pretty good core muscles and flexibility.
Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 03:59 PM.
#12
Peloton Shelter Dog
Somebody measure this for me.
#13
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
It's going to depend on your frame size and seat height as well. I have short legs and long arms so I am very sensitive to head tube height. I would have more drop if I could but my bars can't go any lower and my saddle can't go any higher so I'm stuck...
#16
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,307
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1456 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times
in
375 Posts
No I bought one, so I have the same number all the time,and don't have to bother with it.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#17
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,307
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1456 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times
in
375 Posts
#18
zone 2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 591
Bikes: BMC Teammachine
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
15cm, but I think I might drop it another cm, since I've got some spacers still (short headtube - 138mm).
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
About 10 cm.
#20
.....
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Long Island
Posts: 4,816
Bikes: 2006 Cannondale CAAD8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I wanted to reply and then I realized I never took the time to measure. I would guess about 6". I have zero spacers and the stem flipped down.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Bottom
Posts: 175
Bikes: CAAD9, Specialized Transition, Van Dessel Drag Strip Courage
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just over 12 cm from top of saddle to top of bars. I'm long in the legs and arms. People say I have an upright position but... so what. I think its all about being comfortable in the most agressive position. I've been steadily enlarging the gap. I started out with the +6 degree stem then I flipped that to -6. Then I took out three spacers. It took a couple rides for my neck to adjust... but now I think I might take some more spacers out. I also may add some length on the stem which would stretch me out a little more but not really effect the drop...
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 752
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am kind of gathering that saddle to bar drop is not really a very critical measurement, as long as it doesn't somehow prevent you from riding reasonably aero most of the time (assuming riding aero might be a goal), and beyond that, it may be an aesthetic preference. I suspect that many people could deal comfortably with a range of saddle to bar drop measurements and from bike to bike it isn't always the same, whereas saddle height and saddle setback don't change much.
Last edited by Skewer; 02-12-09 at 10:17 PM.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,531
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
you're 6'3" too, right? It's good to smite those looking for a good draft.
I defaulted to 13-14cm and everytime I see the fitter for a small tweak he's like, "are you ready to go lower" and I just shrug and say sure. Either he reads this board or has a vendetta against spacers because I only have one left.
I defaulted to 13-14cm and everytime I see the fitter for a small tweak he's like, "are you ready to go lower" and I just shrug and say sure. Either he reads this board or has a vendetta against spacers because I only have one left.
#25
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,388
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1001 Post(s)
Liked 1,216 Times
in
697 Posts
This again? It always seems that these threads turn into a secret code for penis length. Anyway, mine is about 7.5cm (the drop, not the penis)
I'm stuck at 7.5cm with a -17 stem with no spacers, but I still have no trouble getting my back flat... I think... I should get some pics and post my own "check my fit" thread to be sure.
You shouldn't ask other men to measure your saddle to bar drop.
You shouldn't ask other men to measure your saddle to bar drop.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle