Odd, Bouncy in the Drops?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Odd, Bouncy in the Drops?
I can spin up to 115-120rpm while on the hoods or tops just fine. but anything over 105 rpms (sometimes 100rpm) in the drops I get all bouncy sally. I thought maybe I need a bit more practice at higher rpms in the drops, so I did just that. I still get bouncy?
Now its not really a problem as I dont ride at that rpms for the whole ride, its just more of an annoyance.
Am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to just not think about it, and it will go away?
Now its not really a problem as I dont ride at that rpms for the whole ride, its just more of an annoyance.
Am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to just not think about it, and it will go away?
#5
Foward Leaning Attitude
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: RHODE-MF-ISLAND
Posts: 851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
Jet Jockey
Yup. Sounds like there's some saddle positioning issues here. Most shops tend to put saddles too high, and stretching for the pedals is more difficult in the drops, depending on flexibility. Therefore a rider in the drops will bounce/rock more for a saddle that's too high.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
#7
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: in the foothills
Posts: 420
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 1,136
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bouncing is usually a sign that your saddle is slightly high. It may be that getting in the drops is rotating your pelvis in such a way that your legs have to reach a little further. You could try adjusting the saddle height or angle to fix this.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Maybe my saddle is too high. I have never been professionally fitted, and still working on my fit by myself based on "feel". (I know, I know, once funds are available I may get a fitting)
I did have a lower saddle about 1-1.5cm lower and started to get IT band pain. Raised it now its gone. I cant recall if the bouncy in the drops was happening then?
I do pedal with my toes slightly pointed down. Been trying to break the habit. At first i thought it was because the saddle was to high so lowered it and like I said IT band started acting up.
I also thought it was because I was kneeing my fat self in the gut, so added spacers and raised the bars. Still was bouncy, but found my body liked the higher bars so i have stuck with it.
I did have a lower saddle about 1-1.5cm lower and started to get IT band pain. Raised it now its gone. I cant recall if the bouncy in the drops was happening then?
I do pedal with my toes slightly pointed down. Been trying to break the habit. At first i thought it was because the saddle was to high so lowered it and like I said IT band started acting up.
I also thought it was because I was kneeing my fat self in the gut, so added spacers and raised the bars. Still was bouncy, but found my body liked the higher bars so i have stuck with it.
#12
Foward Leaning Attitude
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: RHODE-MF-ISLAND
Posts: 851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,968
Bikes: '09 Trek 2.1 * '75 Sekine * 2010 Raleigh Talus 8.0 * '90 Giant Mtb * Raleigh M20 * Fuji Nevada mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's a term I haven't heard since ... waayyyy to long ago.
Ok, back on topic - how about seat front-to-back positioning? Where might that fit in?
Sallie forth! It's a good day to ride. (ooops mixed up the metaphors)
Ok, back on topic - how about seat front-to-back positioning? Where might that fit in?
Sallie forth! It's a good day to ride. (ooops mixed up the metaphors)
__________________
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Front to back?
Last month I moved my saddle back about 2cm, but can say that I was bouncy in the drops before that. Me knee is behind KOPS. When I tried KOPS I would naturally just scoot my but back anyways to get behind KOPS, that just put me in a uncomfortable spot on the saddle.
Last month I moved my saddle back about 2cm, but can say that I was bouncy in the drops before that. Me knee is behind KOPS. When I tried KOPS I would naturally just scoot my but back anyways to get behind KOPS, that just put me in a uncomfortable spot on the saddle.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 1,136
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You're talking about big changes to saddle position. If you're experimenting, move the saddle by no more than about 2mm up/down and 5mm fore/aft at a time.
KOPS is a load of rubbish by the way - it is a rule of thumb that's not supported by actual evidence.
KOPS is a load of rubbish by the way - it is a rule of thumb that's not supported by actual evidence.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 8,276
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Not sure how the saddle could have anything to do with it. When I first started riding I had the same problem. An ex pro that worked at the shop told me at high rpm's to work on pulling up more than pushing down. He told me the pushing at high rpms was causing the lifting action. He said pulling up would pull you down into the bike and counteract the bounce. I tried it and it worked for me - I was able to up my cadence by 10 - 20 rpm if I remember correctly. Anyway try it and let me know if it helps.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
the weird thing that perplexes me is why I can be perfectly smooth while riding the hoods or tops at 120rpm but when in the drops its a whole different ball game?
Do you think that when I go into the drops I might exaggerate the rotation of my hips?
Do you think that when I go into the drops I might exaggerate the rotation of my hips?
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Like I said its not really an issue more of an annoyance, and only a few times a ride will i get into the 120+ cadence and when I do its only for a short time.
#20
Jet Jockey
Front to back?
Last month I moved my saddle back about 2cm, but can say that I was bouncy in the drops before that. Me knee is behind KOPS. When I tried KOPS I would naturally just scoot my but back anyways to get behind KOPS, that just put me in a uncomfortable spot on the saddle.
Last month I moved my saddle back about 2cm, but can say that I was bouncy in the drops before that. Me knee is behind KOPS. When I tried KOPS I would naturally just scoot my but back anyways to get behind KOPS, that just put me in a uncomfortable spot on the saddle.
Given what multiple posters here have said about saddle height and stretching to the pedals, I don't know why this is so perplexing still. Either use the advice here and in other sources and see where it takes you, or go have someone fit you.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 919
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I thank everyone for the help, even you disgruntled Banzai.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,049
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1210 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times
in
107 Posts
You need to adapt to the position. It's easier to spin fast when you're more upright because your hip flexors engage more. With training, spinning in the drops will be as easy as the other positions.
#23
Voice of the Industry
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,572
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
To me, best saddle height is a balance between leg extension on the hoods and in the drops.
A further issue relates to how one rides in the drops. I would say that many better cyclists when trasistioning to the drops open their hip angle by riding the rivet aka scooting to the front of the saddle. This effectively lowers saddle height and opens the hip angle compensating for the addtional stretch to the drops.
Hope that helps.
#24
Jet Jockey
My apologies.
Consider your saddle height, and the fact that the significant aft move you made does equal raising your saddle about 7mm...a fairly significant height change.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 8,276
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Moving the saddle 2cm back is the equivalent of raising it almost 7mm. The fact that you don't appear to understand this relationship makes your next comment all the more predictable.
Given what multiple posters here have said about saddle height and stretching to the pedals, I don't know why this is so perplexing still. Either use the advice here and in other sources and see where it takes you, or go have someone fit you.
Given what multiple posters here have said about saddle height and stretching to the pedals, I don't know why this is so perplexing still. Either use the advice here and in other sources and see where it takes you, or go have someone fit you.