Ryon

Disclaimer: As a self-diagnosed amateur velo-phile with limited cash. But I do have a trainer, camera, and photoshop.

It's difficult to maintain the posture, but consciously bringing in your shoulders and lowering your head helps.


This is a merger of the two. In photoshop you can also measure coordinates, so you can calculate relative distance. I was able to reduce my horizontal torso area by 12%. I was also able to drop my head by about an inch.

My season is officially over, but after doing this I'll be stretching my neck muscles more and I'll be doing long, easy rides on the TT bike, accommodating the correct posture. It's probably a bit easier than upping your power the same amount to compensate!

Let me know what you think.

Ryon

ridethecliche

Interesting!

Good on you for experimenting like this!

Fat Boy

It would be interesting to do some trainer time with your new posture to see whether it affects your power output. If not, then it's definitely a win-win proposition.

Youngin

If it's difficult to maintain, you're probably using more energy and it could affect power output as well.

Ryon

That's a good point. Power loss is always a concern. Though the position mostly causes discomfort in the shoulders.


Here is a comparison of what my current position is, and how I'd like to be for next season. Power loss is much more of a concern here. Through trial and error, and many hours on the trainer, I found my current torso height to be pretty close to ideal for me. Another cm lower and I start having minor breathing problems when pushing threshold.

I'll be taking yoga to gain some flexibility while experimenting in a lower position this summer.

jgg3

Looks like the chair is getting a better posture, too. I am not sure you are comparing what you think you are here. The background should be identical.

Blossom

Bike is identical. That is all that matters, not that the chair moved.

DannoXYZ 

Typically actual amount of power-loss is more than outweighed by the improvement in aerodynamics.

Ryon

I had my roommate take two photos and he shifted position a bit. I was too lazy to set up a tripod. I simply aligned the bike frame. Good observation, though.