Angle of your back?
 

So lately I have been messing around with my saddle to try and get an idea of a better fitment and lets be honest, I definitely f***ed it up. My sit bones are not sitting right in the saddle and I am uncomfortable on it (I moved the saddle forward and now back).

I started to look up information on the correction dimensions and saw Carlton had started a thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=body+angle) about trying to get newbies the correct fitment information. I have the Fit Calculator that I am going to try, but I am still a bit confused.

Ideally, how are you suppose to sit on the bike in regards to back angle to the ground and reach I guess is another thing I am asking. I picked up a Kilo TT last summer and have all my spacers between my neck tube(?) and the bottom of my handle bars, but I see everyone getting rid of them usually and having a high saddle so I don't know if I am not sitting correctly on the bike or if my fitment is way off. Am I sitting too high?

Basically, I am looking for beginner information on how to properly align yourself on a bike. I am going to try and get fitted this weekend back in my home town so any tips or info on the fitment would be a huge help.

This is mostly a street cred thing. The more aggressive you want to ride, the greater your saddle to bar drop tends to be (the difference in height between your saddle and your handlebars). Touring or commuter bikes will often have no drop at all, while track and criterium bikes will have a pretty stout drop.

The most important things concerning fit (I think) are: saddle height, saddle fore/aft placement, and stem length. I wrote a big long paragraph describing all of these, but then erased it because there's plenty of literature on this and it's not too complicated. Just google it.

The height of your handlebars depends on what style of riding you want to do and your level of flexibility. Personally I like being pretty upright when I'm riding in the street so I can see everything that's going on.

sweet fixies usually have a ton of drop and no reach so you look cool to folks that have no idea and get to sit bolt upright for zero performance benefit.

Back to basics
 

Frame size, fit correct?

Seat post height for proper extension. Saddle level.

Seat fore/aft to get knee position correct w/regard to pedal spindle.

Correct reach for comfortable balanced hand position.

Raise/lower bars accordingly with spacers for threadless steerer or quill height for threaded. Replace stem?

Adjust saddle tilt for balance.

Readjust seat post as necessary to correct for tilt adjustment.

Ride. Adjust again to fine tune.

For all intents and purposes, your body is a 2-part system in how it relates to your bicycle.

Part 1) Below the waist.
Part 2) Above the waist.

Set Part 1 first. This is your foundation. This means set your saddle height and Fore/Aft position.

Part 1.1: Use KOPS (Knee Over the Pedal Spindle) as a good starting point. But this isn't the final word on it. It's just a good rule of thumb to start with.

http://hypercatcycling.files.wordpre.../10/kops21.png

Part 1.2: Put your bike in a trainer or sit on your bike while leaned against a wall and extend one pedal where it is furthest away from your butt. This will be just past the 6 o'clock position:
http://www.rehab.msu.edu/MovingU/Bik...eat-height.jpg

You may have to go back and forth between steps 1.1 and 1.2 to dial it in. Again, everyone is different. These are not absolute rules. They are simply neutral starting points. Some people like to have their heels above the pedal spindle which makes them "Toe Dippers". Some like their heel below the spindle which makes them "Heel Droppers".
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JH7bAMRj5F...games+1024.jpg
http://fittoride.com/wp-content/uplo...l_drop_450.jpg

Notice that we haven't talked about your reach, back, stem, bars or anything like that.

Once you get that settled, let's work on the upper body. Basically, the lower you go, you'll have less power and comfort but be more aerodynamic. So, for casual riding, don't go low, unless you have a reason to (like racing).

Before I go too far into Part 2, what kind of bars do you have? Can you post a pic of you on the bike. Chop off your head if you aren't a public person.

Thanks for all the help guys.

@Phil_gretz - Thanks for the tips.

@Jaytron - haha I have that saved! Saw it in one of your posts before so I need to do the measurements.

@Carlton - Thanks for the information. I was told about the KOPS before, but I was doing it myself and was looking directly down to get an idea. I will put a mirror next to me to get an idea of where the knee is in reference to the pedal. The saddle height I need to adjust. In your pictures for the saddle height I am more of the picture to the right than to the left on leg extension. So I need to adjust it to the left picture's angle more.

I am traveling this weekend, but will post a picture of it next week. I have a Kilo TT. It has the stock drops on it. I did the stand over and I it is the 47" which is the 50".

Thanks for all the help.

:)

I use the measurements from the fitment on my road bike and they tend to line up with KOPS etc.

A technique used to find out where it is is to take a plumb bob (or anything with weight and a point) and just let the string fall from you knee.

It's "Carleton" :)

The pic on the left and right are the exact same saddle height. Please re-read my post.

Notice that he is touching his heel to the pedal spindle in the second photo.

<slightly OT>
@carleton ~ have you gotten your back to bend like this yet?...j/k, but I do remember reading a post where you were starting to train and increase flexibility in your back, any luck? Suggested workouts?... yoga, anything else?

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lp...xnpgo1_500.jpg

I still ride with all the stock spacers on my Kilo, hahaha. I feel like I'd be leaning too far forward if I took all of them out.

That's an awesome tuck. I wish I could go that deep, but big thighs + big chest keep that from happening for me. My knees would be into my chest. My build is that of the anti-cyclist. When I mention that I race bikes peoples eyes look me down then back up...then they tilt their head like they misunderstood what I said, haha.

Yes, my flexibility has increased dramatically! This book helped a lot: http://www.stretching.com/index.php?...&productId=113

I haven't tried yoga yet. It's on my list of things to do.

Apologies Carleton haha. I botched that up.

Finally will have a free night to play around with the height of my saddle tonight.

My fore/aft on the saddle though - this will also be adjusted (in addition to my saddle height) to get the KOPS you have spoken about before?

No problem :D

Yes. But, remember, KOPS is a good starting point, not a hard and fast rule.

There will be lots of trial and error micro adjustments. Just set aside 30-60 minutes, put on some good music, and set up your bike in a trainer. Spin the bike in the trainer with AND without the resistance unit on the rear wheel. Riding without resistance will help you feel when your pedal stroke is not fluid, which you sometimes can't feel when load is on the wheel.

After you get it set, take some tape and mark on the saddle rail where it meets the clamp. Also mark on the seatpost where it meets the seat tube. That way, if something moves, you'll see it.

Notice the very small white squares on my seat post and saddle rail? That's me marking the saddle position and seat post extension.

https://p.twimg.com/AnKex0uCMAA8IPb.jpg

So I had time this weekend to finally mess around with the bike. I just adjusted the saddle and took it for a ride around the block. It feels good. How does that look?

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6105/7...86bc966b_b.jpg

Do you specify that it is track racing?

Track:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/...34cf34b8d5.jpg

Not track:
http://andy-lee.com/blog/andyschleck.jpg

It looks like you need to have someone else take the picture while you actually get into a position that resembles how you ride the bicycle.

*This assumes you are not a bicycle paparazzi.

Sorry, man. That photo doesn't tell us much. Maybe get a friend to shoot a photo of you.

Also, your pedal should be at the furthest point from the saddle to determine leg extension...or lack therof. Like this:
http://www.rpechner.com/Clients/Saxo..._N4aM4-L-1.jpg

Notice how the crank is at the 5 o'clock position, not 6 o'clock.

Hahaha! When I mention "track racing" they thing this:
http://combattrainer.com/wp-content/...05/bolt-22.jpg

...and give me the same look, haha.

:roflmao:

You obviously need to pick a more mainstream sport, silly.

I know, right?

ambitions2o, try to wear something more snug than baggy basketball shorts. We need to see your leg angles. Jeans would work.

Unless your a G.

Depends on who's pushing.

/what?

How about this time?