Is this bad? I'm 5'9", 160lbs, riding a size 54 endurance geometry road bike 105mm stem. Saddle is set up at kops.

If I get low and fast in the drops, I have to keep my knees in and my elbows out or they will hit. Even in an aggressive straight elbows on the hoods it would happen.

Does this mean something is wrong? My saddle is not too low....in fact, most people say it is too high, but I pedal toes down, so it works for me.

That's common.

If everything else works for you, keep doing what you're doing. Elbows in and knees out is highly ineffective.

For example

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...AlgQMwgeKAIwAg

That's pretty extreme.

I prefer almost touching inside of elbow to outside of knee. If I exaggerate my pedal stroke and really bend my elbows in the drops, I can just barely bump. Otherwise it is just very close.

Yes, a very aggressive position in that picture, so more overlap that he would have in a higher position. Anyway, overlap doesn't bother me, the elbows should always be wider than the knees. Too much overlap would suggest too short a bike.

Tomke is riding the rivet, so to speak.

To the original poster, if you think your hands might be in too close, try a longer stem. The general rule is, about a 90-degree angle between the humerus and the back when the hands are on the hoods and the arms are nearly straight. The idea is to achieve some sort of balance between control of the bike, support, room to move (on the saddle and out of it), comfort, power from back muscles, and aerodynamics.

Actually, I don't have pictures, but I feel like that's what I'm experiencing.

It's not a problem.

This looks more proper to me:



I usually have my elbows just ahead of my knees, not quite as far as this photo. Does it make a difference? I think it's less tiring and easier to have a straight back with about this much reach.

Back in the 1970s & 1980s that was quite common in racing setups when riding on the drops and was a big factor in determining the width of a handlebar.Check out the 44:00 point here:


Cheers

I think it depends on body proportions. If that rider's torso were shorter and femurs and/or forearms longer, he'd have knee/elbow overlap. No big deal. You want the knees in for aero anyway, if not for biomechanical. And it's hard/awkward to get the elbows narrower than the shoulders.

Plus that rider isn't on the rivet like Boonen is in the other photo.