Shifter question

[GLC1968]

SK - I don't know if this is true as I'd never be able to ride this way due to my super short legs...but a couple of the guys I used to work with had shifter locations similar to the ones on that Fast Woman you posted. I asked how that could be even remotely comfortable and they insisted that it was... When I next saw them riding, I knew why. They had their seat significantly higher than their bars. This meant that their bodies and arms were already somewhat angled downward over the bars and level bars and shifters would have cocked their wrists up. They had to have them tilted that way to be comfortable. Maybe Georgina displays the Fast Woman that way as their 'race' bike? I agree that it looks totally awful, but I also ride with my saddle and bars almost level like 90% of the people I know!

Oh, and I agree that Ultegra shifters are worth $75 and while you are at it, I'd also ask about an Ultegra front deraileur. I switched from 105 to Ultegra with my last bike and it felt worlds better. Personally, I'll definitely stick with Ultegra going forward (for the zippy road bike).

[SadieKate]

Yeah, if you look at a lot of the pro-racer boys they're riding very small bikes for their size which does mean exactly what you say -- their torsos are much farther forward over their bars than the average rider. Of course, they also spend the entire race on the hoods and have the core strength to do that.

And these guys are about, what, less than 0.5% of the population?

And you also notice that it is the rare race that goes over 5 hours in the saddle.