Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Sizing and flexibility

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Sizing and flexibility

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-19-10 | 05:55 PM
  #1  
Specialized2k10's Avatar
Thread Starter
Pedal Warrior
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: NorCal

Bikes: 2010 Specialized Allez with SRAM Force gruppo

Sizing and flexibility

I went to get a bike fit last week. I have a 54cm allez frame. I'm using an 80mm stem and riding at about 43-44 degrees. Not very aggressive at all. My problem is that I'm not flexible at all, specially in my hamstrings. The fitter recommended a stretching exercise and yoga. My question is, would a smaller frame or maybe 70 mm stem allow me to ride more aggressively (lower than 43*) even with my lack of flexibility?

Last edited by Specialized2k10; 09-19-10 at 05:58 PM.
Specialized2k10 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-19-10 | 06:24 PM
  #2  
fuggitivo solitario
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,107
Likes: 13
From: Northern NJ
Originally Posted by Specialized2k10
I went to get a bike fit last week. I have a 54cm allez frame. I'm using an 80mm stem and riding at about 43-44 degrees. Not very aggressive at all. My problem is that I'm not flexible at all, specially in my hamstrings. The fitter recommended a stretching exercise and yoga. My question is, would a smaller frame or maybe 70 mm stem allow me to ride more aggressively (lower than 43*) even with my lack of flexibility?
forget about aggressive position until you can touch your toes without bending your knees. 70mm stem on a 54cm stem is awfully short & is probably quite unstable
echappist is offline  
Reply
Old 09-19-10 | 06:32 PM
  #3  
mrvile's Avatar
The bus, Gus
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
From: NYC
An aggressive position is an aggressive position is an aggressive position, period. The way you ride a bike doesn't change between sizes if it's set up steeply. McJimbo's right, it's time to face the music and do all that stretching you've been neglecting to do since you were a kid. As your flexibility increases, you'll notice that you'll be able to ride in the drops for longer, and will be on your way to losing spacers or running a steeper stem. But it's going to take work.

Also, I wonder how your bike is set up as a whole? Even an 80mm stem sounds twitchy as hell...I'm used to using 120's.
mrvile is offline  
Reply
Old 09-19-10 | 07:06 PM
  #4  
umd's Avatar
umd
Banned
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

As others said, you don't need another frame to get a more agressive position, you just need to be flexible enough to bend over more.
umd is offline  
Reply
Old 09-19-10 | 09:00 PM
  #5  
Specialized2k10's Avatar
Thread Starter
Pedal Warrior
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: NorCal

Bikes: 2010 Specialized Allez with SRAM Force gruppo

Originally Posted by mcjimbosandwich
forget about aggressive position until you can touch your toes without bending your knees. 70mm stem on a 54cm stem is awfully short & is probably quite unstable
yea that i cant do yet. its only been 3 days of stretching. the fitter told me it took him about 6 months to start noticing the difference. i think it will take me longer though.
Specialized2k10 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ATPAH
Fitting Your Bike
8
11-10-17 11:04 PM
kenshireen
Road Cycling
13
05-11-16 08:13 AM
lawlessbeanr
Fitting Your Bike
12
09-06-14 11:38 PM
thesmoothdome
Road Cycling
11
09-26-10 02:40 PM
Taki
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
3
05-23-10 03:05 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.