Am I too stretched out on my road bike?

[emily_in_nc]

My DH today mentioned that I looked very stretched out on my road bike. I've been riding my MTB a lot, so my road bike felt a bit stretched out since I'm not really used to it any more. But once I get used to it again, I don't feel too stretched out. He took a photo from the side, and I thought I'd get some opinions. Sorry for the blurry photo, but hopefully you can see enough to give an opinion. Thanks!

Attachment 16730

[nuliajuk]

Maybe. Your back is fairly upright, though, so perhaps your arms are less stretched when you've ridden a while and leaning forward more? I'm wondering if you could tilt the handlebars up a bit as well.

[Owlie]

My DH today mentioned that I looked very stretched out on my road bike. I've been riding my MTB a lot, so my road bike felt a bit stretched out since I'm not really used to it any more. But once I get used to it again, I don't feel too stretched out. He took a photo from the side, and I thought I'd get some opinions. Sorry for the blurry photo, but hopefully you can see enough to give an opinion. Thanks!

Attachment 16730

Maybe a little. Perhaps rotate the bars up a little?

[Hi Ho Silver]

You do look too stretched out in that picture. Your arms appear to be pretty straight (instead of moderately bent at the elbows so that you can use them to absorb jolts). If you accept the KOPS rule (the front of the knee directly above the pedal axle when the pedal is at the 3 o'clock position), you appear to be sitting too far back.

[Becky]

I agree with Hi Ho Silver's assessment. I would add that you appear to be bending forward at the low back, rather than hinging at the hip. IIRC, you've had some low back and pelvic issues due to an accident? Is it possible that your range of motion is reduced, contributing to some special considerations about fit?

[OakLeaf]

Everyone else already covered what I see. It does look to me like your low back is the main issue, whether that's because of your injury, being accustomed to sitting upright on your MTB, or whatever.

I would also bet that that waist pack is pulling your spine into flexion. If you must have it, try loosening the strap so the weight rests on your hipbones.

[pll]

The saddle looks like it might be too far back. I think the key question is whether you are comfortable? I can ride with my arms full stretched at points of my rides (or some days, depending on how I feel), so I, too, might look stretched then. However, the bike has been fit to me and I can ride comfortable with my elbows bent, hands in the drops, etc.

[TigerMom]

My DH today mentioned that I looked very stretched out on my road bike. I've been riding my MTB a lot, so my road bike felt a bit stretched out since I'm not really used to it any more. But once I get used to it again, I don't feel too stretched out. He took a photo from the side, and I thought I'd get some opinions. Sorry for the blurry photo, but hopefully you can see enough to give an opinion. Thanks!

Attachment 16730

As someone who rides both the mountain and road bike and previously had a hybrid, I also felt stretched out for a month when I first got on the road bike. But if you personally feel comfortable once you "get used to the road bike again", then I wouldn't worry about what your DH says.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks for the feedback!

I will do the plumb bob test again -- I thought we had done it, but perhaps we skipped it as I was so excited to ride a road bike again this spring when we got back from Belize. I have long femurs and usually need my saddle back quite a bit, but if it is too far back, that would indeed bring me closer to the bars.

I am not crazy about the idea of rotating my bars as I do like using my drops when descending, and I like them to be pretty level. I am not crazy about how they angle with the bars rotated, though I know it is "fashionable" now -- I'm kinda old school that way.

And yes, I did fracture my pelvis in my 40s and I'm also no spring chicken at 52, so I don't know that I am going to be able to change the way I sit on a bike or where I 'hinge'. I'd rather dial the bike in to my own particular physiology.

I definitely don't have my elbows locked when I ride this bike, but probably not enough of a bend in them either.

Thank you again for looking!

[ny biker]

I wouldn't tilt the handlebars, but a shorter stem might be something to consider, if you still feel stretched out after addressing the saddle position.

[ny biker]

I just saw this. Might be useful.

http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bic...e-neck-part-2/

[Triskeliongirl]

I agree with the comments that your seat looks too far back, but it could be an optical illusion depending on photo angle. But, depending on the STA of the bike, you may need the saddle in a different place on different bikes. What I noticed looking at this pic, and remembering pics you posted previously of you on your friday and Aegis, is that you are definitely riding more upright now than then, and your elbows are now locked. I don't know if that is due to your accident shifting your position, or you are just used to riding mountain and city bikes in recent years. You do want a bit more bend in your elbows. the things you can do to get there, are to bend a bit lower (looks like your back is making a ~50 degree angle, try a ~45 like i think u used to have), use a shorter stem or shorter reach bars, push the saddle more forward (assuming that still gives u the KOP relationship you want). But I also noticed that you started the post by saying 'your husband noticed you are too stretched out' not that you are uncomfortable. So if you feel comfortable and powerful, then all is good. Just curious if you are still riding your friday? I thought u loved it as an all purpose road bike and it fit you like a glove.