Boobage and drop handlebars

[alison_in_oh]

Anybody find that their knees hit their chest when riding in the drops? Now that I finally have a saddle that permits me to use the drops fairly comfortably, I find that I get good leverage and aero position for tough efforts (racing traffic into a headwind, whoo!) but my chest definitely interferes! (Fortunately not by much, thank goodness for sports bras. )

Any adjustments that spring to mind? For example, would changing my cranks raise my seat height, or could I get a longer stem?

[spazzdog]

I think this calls for a photo alison... load that bike on the trainer and get someone to photo you in that drop position (from the side - we're not going for cleavage here).

I can honestly say my little "coin purses" have never come in contact with my knees... that, of course, is changing as I get older and gravity does its work.

spazz - looking wistfully at her 34 A.5 pullover bras knowing Victorias Secret will always be a secret from me.

[alison_in_oh]

LOL. OK, I'll see what I can do but no promises.

I'm not massively endowed or anything, 36C or so and shrinking as I lose bodyfat but I do feel I have less clearance than the fellas I ride with, and they're no help in solving this dilemma.

[SadieKate]

Uh, girls just stick out farther in front. Either squish 'em more or raise your bars, though the latter will be a less aero position. Raising your seat height would make it worse because you still have to lower your back to the same level as your bars. Not sure what changing your cranks would do - what do you mean by that? You really don't want to sacrifice optimum position for your skeleton and muscles structure for this reason.

I'm a 34D and they're in the way when I'm on the drops, but I'm don't even notice after a while.

[singletrackmind]

36DD. I'll be on the aeros for a little bit but it just gets annoying as heck after awhile. I just thank my lucky stars they aren't the 36H's they were back when I was breast feeding!! I didn't even know that was a size!

I'm listenin' for ideas, too...aside from losing the fat. I'm workin' on it already. Don't understand why women go through makin' theirs bigger...they're a real pain in the back-and front.

[betagirl]

Heh, don't have that issue with my tiny titties

I guess this is a good reason for being the "national average" in terms of bra size. Put on a sports bra and those babies are smashed to the point I look like a pre-pubescent girl. No really I do have boobs.

[alison_in_oh]

Uh, girls just stick out farther in front. Either squish 'em more or raise your bars, though the latter will be a less aero position. Raising your seat height would make it worse because you still have to lower your back to the same level as your bars. Not sure what changing your cranks would do - what do you mean by that? You really don't want to sacrifice optimum position for your skeleton and muscles structure for this reason.

I'm a 34D and they're in the way when I'm on the drops, but I'm don't even notice after a while.

I read on some forum about changing the crankarms changes the effective seat height and I was envisioning an altered riding position that might give me the few centimeters of clearance I need; but I see what you mean about sacrificing proper position.

If it's normal I'll deal. I tried to poll my "expert" friends on Monday night's ride -- "Hey, so my knees hit my boobs in the drops, is that normal?" but it degenerated into a conversation about what they, happily male-bodied people that they are, would look like with boobs.

Thanks!

[SadieKate]

Changing the crank arms probably just means changing the length. If you go from a 170mm arm to a 172.5 your pedal at the bottom of the stroke will be closer to the ground. You will then have to lower your saddle so that you maintain the proper knee angle. Shortening your crank means the opposite. Again, you sacrifice optimum position. Choice of crank length is made on leg length, cadence preference, etc. I wouldn't make it based on amount of cleavage.

[Adventure Girl]

Choice of crank length is made on leg length, cadence preference, etc. I wouldn't make it based on amount of cleavage.

Oh, SadieKate.....

Possible response from a men's cycling forum: "That chic's got a nice set of cranks!"

[SadieKate]

Good one, AG! There is a good reason I don't let my hubby see this forum because he'd be off and running with more euphemisms. In another thread, I said he gave a jersey 2 thumbs up, actually it was more of a 10-digit assessment but we won't go there.

[RoadRaven]

A pic would be good, I agree

I wonder if you need to put your seat back a fraction?

I usually ride on the drops, I just prefer that to on the hoods (looking forward to getting my TT - think that position will suit me too)

I have never had this prob and at the moment I am a 36C (they are shrinking slowly --- my tum has been a prob as my thighs hit the high side of their cycle... but thanks to this exercise, my tum is slowly diminishing) so I wonder about the seat height, the seat position... I don't know

It would be damned irritating tho!


EDIT: I wear a crop top, not a bra... maybe that flattens me more and makes a difference?

[CorsairMac]

rode the road bike today and paid closer attention after this thread! (thanks alison) I didn't have any issues with knees hitting chest @ a 36C, but that's because the knees were actually hitting my tummy. I was laughing on the bike thinking about it! I'm with whomever said they prefer to ride in the drops - that is also my preference, I can only guess how much tummy would've been in the way last year at this time if I would of been riding! I guess I'll have to get back with you on this if I ever lose enough of the tummy to let the boobs hang free!!!! (visual of boobs sighing that at last, Finally, they're free to hang when I'm in the drops without that nasty ol tummy getting in their way!)

[SadieKate]

Sung to the tune of the Continental Soldier

Do your boobs hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder like a Continental Soldier?
Do your boobs hang low?

[JesTutripup]

Sung to the tune of the Continental Soldier

Do your boobs hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder like a Continental Soldier?
Do your boobs hang low?

Sadie, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

At the young age of 14 I wore a 38C (my cousin, also heavily endowed, but smaller than I gave me the nickname, 'Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder').

Now 21 years later I'm a 54H . For some of us it doesn't matter what position we're in..

Alison the the best thing to do is grab some weights and do butterflies (lay on your back, or sit up straight or kneel halfway on an armless chair and bring the weights to you slowly.)

When I turned 20 I hit the gym and loved this workout as it tightened muscles around my breasts, back and shoulders.

The setback: HEAD LIGHTS!! Men always looked 'there' when greeting me even when I was smaller.

Good luck and enjoy.

[mikki]

Fortunately, I use a MTB for road riding - you'd have to see the roads to understand, it's a self-preservation thing. Anyhow, my boobs do not get in the way there (42DD). However, the guys do have their own troubles in this type of arena. My hubby is have the damnedest time not squahing his balls as he rides. Apparently, we aren't the only ones who suffer gravity as we get older. LOL.

Another thing, as we get bigger, sports bras become less effective. Anyone got the physics of it? Are we exceeding the rated tension of the fiber involved or something?