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I had a go at a couple of TTs last season and bolted on a set of profile t1s. I didn't adjust anything from the previous bike fit, just bolted them on. Weird thing is I feel much more comfortable using the bars as opposed to riding on the hoods. Everything I read says it should be the other way round.
I have lower back/tight itb issues which I have to work hard to keep on top of, I,m wondering if the fact I'm resting on my elbows is helping cover up a weak core and why I am more comfortable on them.
The other thing might be ive become more flexible, the bike fit recommended quite a short upright stem (85 +16) and pushed my saddle up and back quite a lot. This was on my first road bike after riding a lot of mtb. I'm thinking after 3 years I maybe better suited to a longer flatter position akin to what the clip ons are putting me in.
Has anyone had similar and understand my ramblings? What do you think should I start fiddling abouts with the position again? Can it change over time?
TT position rotates you forward slightly, even in your road position you will move further up the saddle towards the nose. You might like to move your saddle forward on the rails 0.5 cm and lower 0.25 cm to get the same effect on the hoods. A high saddle mounted back can over extend the ITB. I suffered for ages with this. Cured by the above. Looks like you have found the same.
Flexibility does not really impact saddle position relative to BB. It will change handlebar position relative to saddle, but it sounds like your saddle position needs a little tweaking first.
I'lol give it a go. When you pay for a retul fit you kind of think it would be right.
I'lol give it a go. When you pay for a retul fit you kind of think it would be right.
lol.
But your fit was 3 years ago? So yes, you may well have changed.
I had a Retul fit nearly 4 years ago for my first road bike, as I had no idea where to start. Made the bike super comfortable and haven't changed a thing.
I'm about to book another Retul fit for my TT bike. It should be half price as a follow up fit I believe. I think it is actually money well spent as it makes you more efficient and more comfortable.
Core strength has nothing to do with sitting on a bike properly. Don't know why so many idiots keeping banging on about doing core work in the gym so they can ride their bike properly? WTF are they on about, don't recall the grand masters of the past doing core exercises everyday. It's riding a bike, you sit down and pedal it, you use your arms and hands to turn the bars; why the hell do you need core strength for this??????
Quick tip for comfy road miles; push saddle back on seat post; fit 140mm stem; sit on saddle and rotate pelvis forward, hold the handlebars, adjust saddle position to find a good balance point; ride your bike. It's that easy. £150 for that? They must be having a laugh.
I think it's impossible for anyone to suggest how to set up your bike via the internet. It sounds like you have a starting point about what feels good for you, so try experimenting with small adjustments in that direction to fine tune your position. You can get very cheap stems to experiment with reach.
If you are setting up for short distance TTs, your objective is probably speed, rather than comfy road miles!
I didn't suggest how to set it up - just how to change the set up based on observations. DTF has it about right. Get the saddle in a nice neutral position, so the weight is taken through the legs. And move the bars to somewhere comfortable. TT bars will rotate your position about the BB.
The ITB issue is over-extension. It's not hard to correct that.
Google ISM saddles...
Honestly.
And watch them fall apart. Our local bike/tri shop won't stock them any more!
Hope mine don't...have them on all the bikes now...
Core strength?
Some people find that they benefit from core work exercises.
http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/exercises/sport-workouts/2088/mf-meets-olympic-champion-bradley-wiggins
http://www.dwfitnessclubs.com/blog/2015/week-4-fitness-role-models-mark-cavendish/
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-stretching-and-core-work-with-tinkoff-saxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVoGJuasBX0
http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/exercises/sport-workouts/128/greg-minaar-mtb-workout
Nicole Cooke and Phil Burt say
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/11/nicole-cooke-improving-cycling-technique
Your bike fit WILL need to be different now, compared with 3 years ago. You were new to road riding, now you're not.
Book another FIT with a certified fitter. Or start fiddling with it yourself.
You say you had a RETUL fit. but who was using the tool/ fitting you? RETUL is a tool. The person using it is the fitter.
Core strength?
Some people find that they benefit from core work exercises.
They're all professional athletes who are pushing the boundaries of what's physically possible.
For your average joe who rides 200 miles a week, it doesnt seem worth it.
Stretching is no doubt worth while (I don't even bother doing that anymore though so I'll probably be crippled in 30 years time).
Main thing is bike setup, I think the biggest mistake alot of people make is going for a setup that's too short and up right. It forces you to sit "up" and gives you no space to stretch out.
Look at all the bikes you see fitted with 40mm of spacers and 80mm stems. Bike designers can't have got it that wrong surely? They haven't made all their bikes a stupid size that means people have to run high short stems to use them; no, alot of people just havent figured how to sit right.
TiRed said you'll be rotated forward around the BB; that's the key. Then just adjust seat setback and stem length to find a balance. If you've got your bike setup too high and short, you won't be able to rotate forward since there's not enough space.
Also, it's definitely worth adjusting it yourself. My bike setup has slowly evolved compared with it three years ago. My saddle has got lower, it's gone further back, my stem has got longer and lower and yet I ride with more comfort and never suffer with back or neck ache.
"Apples have cores, cyclists don’t"
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insightzone/features/article/izn20130617-Busting-The-Core-Myth-0
I'd have a crack at messing about with your position before paying to see a fitter again, you can get quite a few apps/ tools to video yourself from and check angles etc (ubersense, bike fast fit etc.) Get some sticky dots or a marker pen and mark up the points on your arms/legs and have a go. It's quite fun when you get the hang of it, took me an afternoon to do 3 bikes.
Iain
Well swapped the stem to a +6 100 saddle forward a little, dropped a little and removed the aero bars. Now I seem much more comfortable in the drops still don't like the hoods. Really odd this fit stuff on the road. I have never had any issues on the mtbs fit it to what seems right and can quite happily do 6hr races. Just can't seem to get the road bike perfect. Costing me a fortune in saddles and stems