Hood position

Michael Warner said:

Bleve said:

The obscured hub thing is another one of those hairy old myths that
perpetuate, like KOPS, the 'lemond method' and so on. It's basically
bull.

They're a safe, reasonably comfortable starting point for people who can't
or won't spend the time and money needed to be fitted by experts such as
yourself, though. The problem is when they're taken as gospel, and people
won't experiment to find out what improvements they can make.

I wouldn't say it was 'safe', but yes, it works sorta for sorta average
people. I don't tend to see many average people though. Maybe that's
just because a lot of the people that see us for fits tend to need
remedial fixes, moreso than original setups. BTW, I wouldn't lay claim
to being an expert on fit, I have _much_ to learn and not everyone we
see I manage to get comfortable. I do know that a lot of fit lore out
there is bollocks though, and that things like the 'fit kit' are bad
science.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Good stuff. It's interesting that frame size seems to be at the bottom
of his list of priorities.

Apart from glaringly incorrect sized bikes, I tend to agree with it not
being hugely important. There's such a range of headstem sizes and
angles available, and seatpost angles, that the frame itself isn't as
critical as it was in the days of quill stems, IMO anyway, and as long
as it's 'near enough', a suitable combination of bits can make it work.

Unfortunately, of late I've had to try and make some people fit bikes
that are *way* out of shape for them (not anyone that posts or reads
this newsgroup, btw, that one wasn't what I'm talking about, AFAIK I
have at least one very happy camper 🙂 ) and have in some cases not
been able to get riders comfortable - generally women and bikes that
have top tubes that are miles too long or older men with poor hip and
back flexibility, that want to ride a roadbike with a racing 'look' but
that aren't capable or comfortable with much/any weight on their hands.
It's frustrating for me, I want to get them comfortable, and not much
fun for them, as they've bought some bike that's the wrong size for
them and we can't help much. We're doing quite a trade in very short,
very steep headsets of late .... and head tube extenders. Not pretty,
but often the easiest way to turn an aggressively setup bike into one
that's ridable.

Bleve said:

them and we can't help much. We're doing quite a trade in very short,
very steep headsets of late .... and head tube extenders. Not pretty,
but often the easiest way to turn an aggressively setup bike into one
that's ridable.

I've noticed a lot of steeply rising stems around too, as well as nominally
horizontal ones turned upside down. Maybe head tubes are becoming
too short for an increasing number of people.

I seem to be unusual in that I've actually dropped my stem a bit by moving
a couple of the spacer rings above it. But like I said, I have long arms
and (so far) a good back, and I need all the aero help I can get chasing
some of the racers I ride with :-)

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Michael Warner said:

Bleve said:

them and we can't help much. We're doing quite a trade in very short,
very steep headsets of late .... and head tube extenders. Not pretty,
but often the easiest way to turn an aggressively setup bike into one
that's ridable.

I've noticed a lot of steeply rising stems around too, as well as nominally
horizontal ones turned upside down. Maybe head tubes are becoming
too short for an increasing number of people.

Possibly, but I think it's more that roadies are getting a bit (a lot)
trendy (a good thing, IMO) but that some shops are not taking proper
care when selling bikes to people, and getting them on inappropriate
sized or setup bikes.

Quoted message said:

I seem to be unusual in that I've actually dropped my stem a bit by moving
a couple of the spacer rings above it. But like I said, I have long arms
and (so far) a good back, and I need all the aero help I can get chasing
some of the racers I ride with :-)

That's not uncommon for someone who's riding a lot. I changed my
position quite a lot after I dropped 10kg too 🙂

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rayc said:

Artoi said:

Are you kidding? My 6 yrs son often ride for more than 30mins... Shock
and horrors, he hasn't been fitted (whatever that means)!!!
--

Ok, fair comment, but I bet the six year old isnt planning 50+Km in a
single ride.

Yeah, I was just stirring. 😉

But you are right, it would be good to get some objective opinions on
bike fitting. Even I am thinking of it.
--

Brendo said:

Quoted message said:

I tend to agree a bit. The more youride, the more flexible
youget, the further forward you will be willing to lean.

Brendo

Not necessarily. You will only get more flexible if you activley work at it.....stretching program, yoga, etc. If you cycle alot without working on flexibility, you will tend the other way, and become quite restricted in your range of movement in the lower back and hips.

Pat