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.

[coolbeansbikes]

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.

I agree with you! Never did understand it ....

[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.

[coolbeansbikes]

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?

I get that on my mountain bike if I'm trying to tuck to go down a hill -- haven't found a solution yet ....