Seeking Bike Fit Help

[lph]

I'll definitely be nagging my bike shop about this now, come spring and road riding. My thighs hit my chest at the drop of a ... helmet (and believe me, it's not because of my voluptuous bosom ), either when I ride in the drops, or when I ride where most comfortable out at the very front of the hoods and tuck in to minimize drag. I sit like Veronica here when I have my hands on the hoods! I think I need to:
a) lengthen my stem
b) tilt it up
c) check out shallower and maybe narrower handlebars, as I really have trouble reaching the brakes in the drops, and don't mind keeping my hands closer on the top.
I have a lot of knee/elbow overlap, and it doesn't bother me. Maybe it would with narrower handlebars, though?

[Kathi]

Although I'm not in my drops here is a picture of me on my Serotta shortly after I got it. The picture is the last post in the thread. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=19474&page=2

My other thought is that the width of your shoulders will determine where your arms and knees will align.

[Ana]

I wonder if I'm just not as flexible as you are because I have a hard time bending over that far, especially since I"m not an aggressive rider.

[Veronica]

Are you talking about my picture or Kathi's picture?

I don't think I'm bent over that far at all. My saddle and my handlebars are at about the same height, so that when I do go into the drops, I am not bent that far over.

I just did my yoga workout, so I know I can bend a lot further than that.

V.

[GLC1968]

Ana -

The way you describe your body is exactly how I would describe mine (short but with a long torso, short legs, small hands (and I also have short arms). I'm 5'4" and I ride a 19" terry (48.5 cm)...so we are quite similar. My bars are the same width as yours, my cranks are the same length and my saddle and bars are at the same height as each other. My guess is that your stem is probably too short. When I had my bike professionally fitted (a 3+ hour procedure), she lengthened my stem and lowered it. I was concerned about comfort being less upright than I thought I should be, but with a little core strengthening, I was fine. (and I mean 'little'...it didn't take much!). What I got out of the deal was WAY more comfort on the bike overall. My back, neck, shoulders, elbows and hips felt better not only while I was riding, but better once I got off the bike even after a 6+ hour ride. I also greatly increased my power, so I *finally* was able to keep up with my fellow riders in the flats (where they always used to drop me). This was just a bonus, too...I was mostly being fit for increased comfort.

I basically only use my drops in a descent (in the picture in my avatar) or in a flat when I'm trying to hang on to the 'big boys'. Most of the time, I ride on the hoods. As you can see, I'm not all that bent over and my knees do not hit my elbows. If I were to crouch lower (trying to pick up speed, perhaps), my elbows do need to go to the outside of my knees...but it feels natural, not like I have to think about it or anything.

When you are on your bike (maybe on a trainer) have someone check to see (or use a mirror) if the angle between your upper arms and torso is about 45 degrees. If it's less, you are probably too upright for effecient pedaling and joint comfort given the geometry of your bike.

Disclaimer - I'm no fit expert...I'm just speaking from my own experience of being a shorty with a tough body to fit on a stock bike!

[VeloVT]

When you are on your bike (maybe on a trainer) have someone check to see (or use a mirror) if the angle between your upper arms and torso is about 45 degrees. If it's less, you are probably too upright for effecient pedaling and joint comfort given the geometry of your bike.

FWIW -- at my recent fittings, I was told that they're looking for an arm/torso angle of about 90 degrees.

[GLC1968]

FWIW -- at my recent fittings, I was told that they're looking for an arm/torso angle of about 90 degrees.

Yes, yes, yes...sorry! I meant 90 degrees...not 45. Oops!