As I become a more experienced road and mountain rider, I find myself more and more comfortable on smaller and smaller bikes. At 5'5" with a 29.5" inseam, I have finally settled on a extra-small Giant TCR Aero. I love this thing size-wise, but I've got one issue unsolved. The seatpost that came with the bike had 15mm offset, and was too far back even with the saddle all the way forward. I replaced it with a 0-mm offset Thomson, slid it all the way forward on that, and now it feels just right.
I'm a bit concerned with the fact that my seating position is so far forward on the bike before it gets comfortable, but with my height and inseam, does it seem too far off the norm? I'd also like to get some more space for my seat bag because it's all crammed up on the smallest bit of rails available.
As I become a more experienced road and mountain rider, I find myself more and more comfortable on smaller and smaller bikes. At 5'5" with a 29.5" inseam, I have finally settled on a extra-small Giant TCR Aero. I love this thing size-wise, but I've got one issue unsolved. The seatpost that came with the bike had 15mm offset, and was too far back even with the saddle all the way forward. I replaced it with a 0-mm offset Thomson, slid it all the way forward on that, and now it feels just right.
I'm a bit concerned with the fact that my seating position is so far forward on the bike before it gets comfortable, but with my height and inseam, does it seem too far off the norm? I'd also like to get some more space for my seat bag because it's all crammed up on the smallest bit of rails available.
-- Phil, Squid-in-Training
Short femurs? KOPS, altho certainly not etched in stone, is a good constant and a good place to start. If your saddle/seatpost result in KOPS, then it's right. The only other problem with smaller frames is that sometimes it's too hard to get the handlebars high enough, particularly with carbon fork steerers, that limit the number of spacers you can use.
I'm a bit concerned with the fact that my seating position is so far forward on the bike before it gets comfortable, but with my height and inseam, does it seem too far off the norm?
Smaller frames on road bikes tend to have steeper seat tubes than the larger frames; so you'd want to slide your saddle farther back rather than forward (1 degree of angle is about 1 cm at the rails). Plus the small frames have a shorter reach to the bars... which wouldn't tend to make you want to move your seat forward either.
I'd first check to make sure that your seat height and tilt (level!) are proper.
This looks like a decent calculator to check bike fit:
I'm a bit concerned with the fact that my seating position is so far forward on the bike before it gets comfortable, but with my height and inseam, does it seem too far off the norm?
Smaller frames on road bikes tend to have steeper seat tubes than the larger frames; so you'd want to slide your saddle farther back rather than forward (1 degree of angle is about 1 cm at the rails). Plus the small frames have a shorter reach to the bars... which wouldn't tend to make you want to move your seat forward either.
That's the thing! I'm riding, not only an aero time-trial-style bike, but an extra-small (48cm seat tube and 52cm top tube equivalent) frame at that! It *still* feels like my saddle is too far back, and I'm not using aerobars or anything like that. The Thomson has made it much more comfortable, but still... I was hoping to get the clamp about halfway on the rails.
Quoted message said:
I'd first check to make sure that your seat height and tilt (level!) are proper.
Yep - they're the right height and a little down from level... I have a WTB Rocket V saddle that needs to be angled down slightly.
Quoted message said:
This looks like a decent calculator to check bike fit:
