Correct Ride Position

[email hidden] schreef ...

Quoted message said:

I had done over 3000miles on my bike, a relatively cheap 26" wheeled hybrid, when someone
suggested that the ride position might be a bit stretched, since then I've been wondering whether
my ride position is ok or not and trying to find a good web site with info. on setting this up.

I'm 6' tall with a 34" inseam and after trying out bikes at the LBS it was recommended that I buy
a 22" frame size. Since I believe that hybrids/comfort mountain bikes a sized as road bikes this
sounds about right (I've come across .67xinseam as a rough guide to sizing). A number of other
people have looked at my position and seem to think that the bike size and ride position are fine.

My ride position is such that my upper body is about 60-70 degrees to the road (if I was to use a
sit up and beg position the bars would be slightly too far away). I have a slight bend at the
elbows (more than enough to be able to pull hard on the bars when climbing) and my weight is
distributed between the saddle and bar, in this position, my shoulders come about half way between
the saddle and the bars. At the top of the pedal stroke my knees are in line with my elbows. All
of this seems ok according to most ride position advice I can find. Does it sound ok?

I ride mostly road with some country roads and trails and regularly do 30-40 mile recreational
rides. I've done 3500miles without any back, knee or arm problems so am I, being rather new to
cycling, being overly influenced by others or do things sound ok?

The strange thing is that when I'm doing a particularly leisurely ride, sitting up and watching
the scenery the ride position can feel a little stretched but when doing an exhilarating 'go as
fast as I can' ride it can feel a little too short. I guess there's no such thing as a 'perfect'
position, perhaps I need more than one bike:-)

I'd appreciate any thoughts or pointers though.

With Kind Regards, Paul.

Bike fitting is a bit of black magic so everybody al always right, sort of ;-)

My 2 cents worth: if your elbows are slightly bent when cycling, you don't suffer any back and/or
seat-related pain, just keep it that way. I recognize your feeling of being "stretched" when cycling
upright. This is probably because the handlebars are rather low. When riding leisurely, you need to
reach down pretty far.

For an all-out speed effort the reach may feel a tad too short - same here. I think it's partially
caused because at speed I tend to sit a little bit more forward on the saddle. If you don't have
them already: try adding bar ends for that bit of extra reach. Otherwise: keep riding!

--
Regards, Marten

If you're too stretched you will get sore forearms and a pain between your shoulderblades or in your
neck on a long ride.

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had done over 3000miles on my bike, a relatively cheap 26" wheeled

hybrid,

Quoted message said:

when someone suggested that the ride position might be a bit stretched, since then I've been
wondering whether my ride position is ok or not and trying to find a good web site with info. on
setting this up.

I'm 6' tall with a 34" inseam and after trying out bikes at the LBS it was recommended that I buy
a 22" frame size. Since I believe that hybrids/comfort mountain bikes a sized as road bikes this
sounds about

right

Quoted message said:

(I've come across .67xinseam as a rough guide to sizing). A number of

other

Quoted message said:

people have looked at my position and seem to think that the bike size and ride position are fine.

My ride position is such that my upper body is about 60-70 degrees to the road (if I was to use a
sit up and beg position the bars would be slightly too far away). I have a slight bend at the
elbows (more than enough to be able to pull hard on the bars when climbing) and my weight is
distributed between the saddle and bar, in this position, my shoulders come about half way between
the saddle and the bars. At the top of the pedal stroke my

knees

Quoted message said:

are in line with my elbows. All of this seems ok according to most ride position advice I can
find. Does it sound ok?

I ride mostly road with some country roads and trails and regularly do

30-40

Quoted message said:

mile recreational rides. I've done 3500miles without any back, knee or arm problems so am I, being
rather new to cycling, being overly influenced by others or do things sound ok?

The strange thing is that when I'm doing a particularly leisurely ride, sitting up and watching
the scenery the ride position can feel a little stretched but when doing an exhilarating 'go as
fast as I can' ride it can feel a little too short. I guess there's no such thing as a 'perfect'
position, perhaps I need more than one bike:-)

I'd appreciate any thoughts or pointers though.

With Kind Regards, Paul.

I would say that if you have already done 3000 miles then your position

can't be that bad or your body would have complained by now.

Graham

Paul said:

I had done over 3000miles on my bike, a relatively cheap 26" wheeled hybrid, when someone suggested
that the ride position might be a bit stretched, since then I've been wondering whether my ride
position is ok or not ......

Quoted message said:

I ride mostly road with some country roads and trails and regularly do 30-40 mile recreational
rides. I've done 3500miles without any back, knee or arm problems so am I, being rather new to
cycling, being overly influenced by others or do things sound ok?

If it has taken a comment from someone to make you worry, don't worry. If there was something wrong
with your setup, 3000 miles plus would have let you know by now.

Still, the person may have been seeing things that made them think that your position could be
better for you. Ask them?

Quoted message said:

The strange thing is that when I'm doing a particularly leisurely ride, sitting up and watching the
scenery the ride position can feel a little stretched but when doing an exhilarating 'go as fast as
I can' ride it can feel a little too short. I guess there's no such thing as a 'perfect' position,
perhaps I need more than one bike:-)

So you have a straight bar? This is one of the things that a 'road' drop bar provides in one
package- relaxed upright, speedy lower, and many points in-between. So actually there is a bar that
is close to perfect 🙂 You might test ride a cyclocross or touring road bike to see if it is better
suited for the type of riding that you have settled into.

Barends can also give you a different position. I don't think that they are very effective for this,
especially compared to drop bars, but they are better than only one position.