Yeah, old Roger.....
Every time I ramble on about this, some gen-y 'dude' tries to point out that I'm wrong, coz he doesn't wanna hear that there's an alternative to having his bars a foot lower than his saddle.
We don't need low bars to get aero -- see fig.1: old Roger.
His bars are barely any lower than his saddle, yet his back is obviously as low as anything. "
Oh my god! How is that possible?!?" I hear the kiddies ask.
If a rider is well balanced over the bottom bracket, by using (firstly!!) the correct size bike (not one that's 2 or 3 sizes too small, with a 74.5 degree seat tube), 'enough' setback, and perhaps even (shock/horror) a
slight upward saddle tilt, then heaps of weight is taken off the hands (as Swampo suggested). This means we should be able to ride low without having to hold ourselves up with our arms, which obviously reduces hand numbness, and shoulder and upper back discomfort.
I like the old test of riding low and taking the hands off the bars to see how far ya can ride; it's a ripper.
I dunno how the fark guys like Hesjedal can ride like that for more than about an hour, and that's in a race, where you tend not to notice pain as much.
And if someone doesn't like Roger's position, then check out the guy Swampy loves: Alf Engers (fig 2)
And if ya don't like that, check out just any other legend from the old days.
Better yet, check out the Youtube below of the 1989 World Championships. At the 7m48s mark, after they've got back onto flat roads, Lemond attacks, and the other riders go after him. Check out how aero they ride when they're hammering, even though they all have little saddle-to-bar drop. There are a billion other videos from the 80s and 90s showing the same thing. The old dudes knew how to farkin get aero without riding an XXXXXS frame with bars so low that they're barely legal.
The only half-decent criticism I've heard of the "old style" is that lower back flexion is increased, instead of flexing at the hip, as guys like Hesjedal apparently do. However, I don't remember the pro peloton being riddle with back injuries in the
days of yore. (If someone mentions Merckx, I'll spew up)
I've also heard guys saying that they need uber-low bars for sprinting. Firstly, I don't really buy it; secondly, super-deep drops were available for those who wanted them (check out pics of Cipollini's bikes); and thirdly, most guys I see sprinting don't make full use of low bars anyway, coz they still have their upper body sticking up in the wind. I can't believe more guys don't copy Cavendish.
So there!
Eh, I've lost interest....
Fig. 1: Roger De Vlaeminck being awesome
Alf Engers
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