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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Justify your torture rack

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Old 02-28-11, 06:06 PM
  #26  
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There is all kinds of space for function over form in life. FG/SS isn't one of them.

Duh.

Now go get yourself a pursuit bike. With proper drops.
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Old 02-28-11, 06:50 PM
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I like to race my bikes, and while I don't really need a sporty bike to commute on it just doesn't feel as good riding a plush bike when your used to something that's more aggressive. Also the SS is great for winter commuting, I don't feel the need to clean it every day so that my drivetrain will keep work.
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Old 02-28-11, 08:04 PM
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I like when my mountain bikes have decent saddle to bar drop, sometimes even quite a bit. But I'm not comfortable on a "road" bike unless it's nearly level. Otherwise sitting in the drops gets painful quickly.



This one ended up with so much drop because the frame was too small for me:

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Old 02-28-11, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by warnette
Not trolling, looking for something im possibly missing.
just be sure to match your seat angle to your stem angle and you'll figure it out...
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Old 02-28-11, 09:14 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by dookie
just be sure to match your seat angle to your stem angle and you'll figure it out...
Like this:



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Old 02-28-11, 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by HandsomeRyan
I think this thread could universally be answered with, "It's my bike, I'm the only one who has to ride it, and that is how I want it set up." This goes for anything from frame geometry to handlebar choice to coloway selection. One mans jackass tarck bike is another mans dream ride.
QFT. No further replies were needed.
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Old 02-28-11, 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by carleton
Thin guys (track/road endurance) with small chests and thin legs can get really low. Big guys (track sprinters) with big chests and large thighs will bang their thighs on their chests if they are too low and hinder their leg speed.

there are several issues with this example like different bars and noticeably different saddle position relative to bottom bracket, and bottom bloke could certainly get a flat back despite his bulkiness. id say with all other things equal that build will barely affect ultimate back angle.
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Old 02-28-11, 09:53 PM
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citation:

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Old 02-28-11, 10:05 PM
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This one has the most drop, but even then it's pretty comfy thanks to the big tires. I've found that when I'm speeding I don't notice it as much as when I'm rolling slowly. So in some ways it makes sense for some to have it low


A little less drop and even more comfy (and it has fender which are your friend )
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Old 02-28-11, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by adriano
there are several issues with this example like different bars and noticeably different saddle position relative to bottom bracket, and bottom bloke could certainly get a flat back despite his bulkiness. id say with all other things equal that build will barely affect ultimate back angle.
"noticeably different saddle position"??

I'm willing to bet that both Phinney and Hoy have their saddles exactly 5cm behind the BB which is as close as UCI will allow. Both sprinters and time trial racers want to be that close.
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Old 02-28-11, 10:48 PM
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taylors got the hanging off the saddle front aerobar position. either way, hoys gigantic and can definitely get flat.



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Old 02-28-11, 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by adriano
taylors got the hanging off the saddle front aerobar position. either way, hoys gigantic and can definitely get flat.
Maybe...or maybe not. Here is Hoy in the exact same on-the-tip position.



British Cycling has one of the most technologically advanced cycling programs on Earth...literally.

"If you do fancy riding on the same bike as Chris Hoy, and with a similar pair of handlebars, the chances are it'll cost you somewhere in the region of £200,000."
https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...ack-bikes.html

If they will spend £200,000 ($325,380) on a one-off bike for each member of the cycling team, I'm sure they have reviewed his riding position. Maybe.
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Old 02-28-11, 11:53 PM
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I understand that R&D is expensive and such, but damn that is hella price tag.
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Old 03-01-11, 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by carleton
Maybe...or maybe not. Here is Hoy in the exact same on-the-tip position.



British Cycling has one of the most technologically advanced cycling programs on Earth...literally.

"If you do fancy riding on the same bike as Chris Hoy, and with a similar pair of handlebars, the chances are it'll cost you somewhere in the region of £200,000."
https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...ack-bikes.html

If they will spend £200,000 ($325,380) on a one-off bike for each member of the cycling team, I'm sure they have reviewed his riding position. Maybe.
did i say they didnt, or do you think thats not low?
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Old 03-01-11, 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by adriano
did i say they didnt, or do you think thats not low?
He isn't as low as Phinney.

My point is that lower isn't always better. There is a point of diminishing returns.

From a personal point of view, last season during training I put my aerobars as low as I could handle (see attached pic). Lower is better, right? But I was slower (slower than my usual slow self, haha). With the power meter I could actually quantify it.

Using an indoor trainer, I raised the bars 1cm and watched my wattage go up. Raised them another 1cm and the wattage again went up. Raised them 1cm more and the wattage stayed the same, so I went back down to the previous spot.

There is no one best riding position for everyone of all body shapes and sizes.



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Old 03-01-11, 12:12 AM
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THIS is low :


He is 6'4" tall.

Last edited by carleton; 03-01-11 at 12:15 AM.
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Old 03-01-11, 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by carleton
Big guys (track sprinters) with big chests and large thighs will bang their thighs on their chests if they are too low and hinder their leg speed.
yup yup
I dont really bend my arms much in the drops or I'll start to touch myself
at least when I was body building, now I'm doughy

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Old 03-01-11, 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by carleton
He isn't as low as Phinney.

My point is that lower isn't always better. There is a point of diminishing returns.

From a personal point of view, last season during training I put my aerobars as low as I could handle (see attached pic). Lower is better, right? But I was slower (slower than my usual slow self, haha). With the power meter I could actually quantify it.

Using an indoor trainer, I raised the bars 1cm and watched my wattage go up. Raised them another 1cm and the wattage again went up. Raised them 1cm more and the wattage stayed the same, so I went back down to the previous spot.

There is no one best riding position for everyone of all body shapes and sizes.



of course, theres a balance for everyone, and i never said otherwise. i think a better comparison of the effect of build would be between people of the same height. taylor is going to have more drop to the aerobars because of his longer arms. hoy has less drop but also has a lower saddle. he is low.
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Old 03-01-11, 12:31 AM
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this whole jawn isnt supposed to be able world champions on aerobars anyway.
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Old 03-01-11, 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by adriano
this whole jawn isnt supposed to be able world champions on aerobars anyway.
True. Sorry guys.

Back on topic:

It kills me to see a guy riding some deep drops but can't see through his shoulders to see if it's clear for him to change lanes or not.
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Old 03-01-11, 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by carleton

It kills me to see a guy riding some deep drops but can't see through his shoulders to see if it's clear for him to change lanes or not even when his elbows are locked out and grabbing right next to the stem.
..
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Old 03-01-11, 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted by adriano


On the rivet, brah.
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Old 03-01-11, 03:15 AM
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Originally Posted by warnette
In lurking a common theme/trend/wtf ive noticed is the claim that a frame "isnt aggressive enough" and it honestly makes no sense. While a track frame with its geometry may have its advantages on a TRACK i see none for street usage.

Maneuvering to me frankly is BS. If i can get a a mtb with its slack angles, upright/back riding position, and 4" of suspension to easily navigate tight single track switchbacks.

Such a riding position is also unapologetically masochistic in anything but a but a trendy jaunt around town in an attempt to generate hipster steez. A person may be able to complete a daily commute like this, but I see it as far from the right tool for the job.

When in traffic why do you want to be in a position that makes it so hard to be aware of surroundings?

This is in no way against single speed/fixed gear, just the over popularization of impractical frames for "everyday" street usage while playing bike messenger dress up.

Not trolling, looking for something im possibly missing.
its the same thing with drillings for brakes... people used to (and sometimes still do) get all up in arms over this. as if the drillings might make the bike slower or something... there is many things like this in the bike world and not even just ss/fg... Ive most learned to just let it go, i dont feel like getting worked up over it anymore...
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Old 03-01-11, 06:42 AM
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Aero and wind

Originally Posted by carleton
Plus, aero only matters if you are time trialing or going over 30mph (ballpark figure). Comfort and efficiency trump aerodynamics in most cases.
Or if you are riding 15mph into a 15+mph wind, which is pretty common in many places.
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Old 03-01-11, 06:51 AM
  #50  
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this picture has a pretty good cross section of how I set my bikes up all ae set up for me t ride them all day comfortably
the little gray bike in the mix with the 3spd style bars is my wifes but all others are mine
the T1 you used as an example actually has a pretty shallow drop compared to other bikes
btw most of these bike have been thru a 100+ mile day

to each there own man drop the holier than thou attitude most newbs on this forum get and just chill look at bikes ask and answer questions as needed but this has been gone over many many times it always ends in the exchange of the h word and poo butt kids on bikes
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