Good balance with no-hands: indicator of proper fit?
06-01-14, 07:21 PM
#1
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Good balance with no-hands: indicator of proper fit?
As per the title of this thread, is good no-hands balance on the bike an indicator of proper bike fit, or is it just a stand-alone phenomenon that doesn't "mean" anything?
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
06-01-14, 07:29 PM
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In my experience it has some to do with fit and some to do with the bike itself. Maybe geometry?
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06-01-14, 08:15 PM
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Not at all. Speaks to stable front end geometry, but not fit.
06-01-14, 08:25 PM
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There's more to "fit" than seat height.
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06-01-14, 08:28 PM
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As per the title of this thread, is good no-hands balance on the bike an indicator of proper bike fit, or is it just a stand-alone phenomenon that doesn't "mean" anything?
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
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06-01-14, 11:01 PM
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You should have no trouble riding with no hands with your seat set far too low. So no the ability to ride with no hands has little correlation to a good fit. It might tell you if your seat is too high and your hips are rocking but there are simpler ways to determine if your seat is too high.
06-02-14, 10:58 AM
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As per the title of this thread, is good no-hands balance on the bike an indicator of proper bike fit, or is it just a stand-alone phenomenon that doesn't "mean" anything?
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
The reason I ask is because several weeks ago I raised my saddle by about 5 mm, and I noticed my no-hands riding was a bit precarious. Today I lowered my saddle back down by about 2 mm, and my no-hands balance is much improved.
06-02-14, 11:36 AM
#8
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Yeah, that's why I used the indefinite article.
Interesting. The only variable that changed was saddle height, but you say my different experiences of balance are due to the front end geometry? I can't quite see the connection. Am I missing something?
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Ah. I was getting sore perineal muscles with the higher saddle height, which does indeed suggest that my hips were rocking. Or, at the very least, that my saddle was too high. My perineum is more comfortable now having lowered it slightly. Probably a more important issue than the no-hands balance, though even so, I think being able to ride straight with no hands is important for the times when you, erm, need to ride with no hands.
Originally Posted by chaadster
Not at all. Speaks to stable front end geometry, but not fit.
Originally Posted by halfspeed
It's an excellent indicator of good fit, as long as you plan on doing most of your riding no hands.
Originally Posted by gregf83
You should have no trouble riding with no hands with your seat set far too low. So no the ability to ride with no hands has little correlation to a good fit. It might tell you if your seat is too high and your hips are rocking but there are simpler ways to determine if your seat is too high.
06-02-14, 11:58 AM
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Ah. I was getting sore perineal muscles with the higher saddle height, which does indeed suggest that my hips were rocking. Or, at the very least, that my saddle was too high. My perineum is more comfortable now having lowered it slightly. Probably a more important issue than the no-hands balance, though even so, I think being able to ride straight with no hands is important for the times when you, erm, need to ride with no hands.
06-02-14, 12:01 PM
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I think its a combination of things, but I do recall that it was easier on a touring bike or relaxed geometry bike than on a road race bike.
