adjusting reach/saddle position

[alexb618]

having a lot of trouble getting comfortable on my road bike, when i ride i spend most of my time with my hands on the corners or in the middle.

i dont know if i need to bring my bars back towards me of get the seat further forward.

how can i work out if the saddle is in the correct position in relation to the bb?

i guess if i get that correct then i just adjust stem length to get comfortable?

[Ham]

having a lot of trouble getting comfortable on my road bike, when i ride i spend most of my time with my hands on the corners or in the middle.

i dont know if i need to bring my bars back towards me of get the seat further forward.

how can i work out if the saddle is in the correct position in relation to the bb?

i guess if i get that correct then i just adjust stem length to get comfortable?


you shouldnt change your saddle to get more reach, get a longer stem if you put your hands in the drops and look down you shouldn't be able to see your front hub.

as for saddle position if you have it further back then you engage your quads more and also makes it more comfortable to use big gears, further forward and it encourages spinning.

i have my saddle just a little bit back so i can slide further or back depending on what im doing, ie climbing i slide all the way back for more power.

[giraffe boy]

having a lot of trouble getting comfortable on my road bike, when i ride i spend most of my time with my hands on the corners or in the middle.


Have a look at cyclingnews.com & go to their Fitness Q&A pages.

Might take a little reading but you find some things that are helpful in terms of saddle set up.

As for stem length, are you really struggling to put your hands on the hoods? Is that why you ride with your hands on the bends or on the tops?

gb

[alexb618]

i can ride on the hoods if i stretch out a bit but for longer rides its a lot more natural about 2-3 inches towards me. i have shortish arms and a bad riding posture = not much reach

basically i just want to work out if i should get a shorter stem or shift the saddle forward (using a thomson type clamp post rather than the normal ones that sit back an inch or so)

[giraffe boy]

i can ride on the hoods if i stretch out a bit but for longer rides its a lot more natural about 2-3 inches towards me. i have shortish arms and a bad riding posture = not much reach


Are you sure about 2-3 inches? That kind of distance would normally make me think your frame is too big for you.

If you move too far forward with the saddle, you may give yourself knee problems. Depends on how far forward you already are.

Try to borrow a shorter stem, and if you can get a 17 degree rise (most are 6). If you have the steerer length to do it, lift the stem up a bit - I left my steerer a little longer so I could adjust stem height - you may not be able to do this. Lifting the bars will give you a little more back comfort

See how you go.

gb

[alexb618]

I was probably getting a bit excited. More like 2 inches. I have a 90mm stem on my mtb with a bit of rise, might give it a crack over the weekend.

[ScottD]

The ideal position on a road bike is a around a 120mm stem and sitting behind the BB. How far depends on your flexibility, riding terrain and type of frame.
When someone is new to road riding and doesn't have flexibility issues or injuries I generally try and put them on a 110mm stem with the aim of getting them on a 120mm in 6 months time.

Have a look at how your STI's are set up too. Often people are running the correct length stem but think its too short cause there STI's are sitting too low on the bars.

[Ham]

The ideal position on a road bike is a around a 120mm stem and sitting behind the BB. How far depends on your flexibility, riding terrain and type of frame.
When someone is new to road riding and doesn't have flexibility issues or injuries I generally try and put them on a 110mm stem with the aim of getting them on a 120mm in 6 months time.

Have a look at how your STI's are set up too. Often people are running the correct length stem but think its too short cause there STI's are sitting too low on the bars.

im curious about your method as to why a 120 mm stem?

surely different lengths would suit different people, for instance leg to arm length ratios would come into play.

im not having a dig im just wondering why?

im 6"3 and run 130 mm stem and that's perfect for me id imagine 120 mm would be a tad short for me.

[bazza]

i'm having the same issues. seat above the bb, about a 110mm stem, 54cm frame with almost a full extension on my ec90 post and still i feel like my hoods are miles away. i have just started to ride mainly on my flats. if i set myself up on the hoods i feel way too over the front of the bike and streched out.

[Ham]

i'm having the same issues. seat above the bb, about a 110mm stem, 54cm frame with almost a full extension on my ec90 post and still i feel like my hoods are miles away. i have just started to ride mainly on my flats. if i set myself up on the hoods i feel way too over the front of the bike and streched out.

what's the top tube length, also what type of frame is it traditional or compact.

sounds like the frame is too long for your arm length.

[ScottD]

im curious about your method as to why a 120 mm stem?

surely different lengths would suit different people, for instance leg to arm length ratios would come into play.

im not having a dig im just wondering why?

im 6"3 and run 130 mm stem and that's perfect for me id imagine 120 mm would be a tad short for me.


Of course there is the odd exception but the fitting system I have used bases everything off a 120mm stem. Anything less than that has dodge handling so also find its safer for begginers. Works in the theory that a smaller frame is needed if your needing to put anything <100mm stem on a bike

I am also 6'3 and run a 135mm stem.

[Ham]

Of course there is the odd exception but the fitting system I have used bases everything off a 120mm stem. Anything less than that has dodge handling so also find its safer for begginers. Works in the theory that a smaller frame is needed if your needing to put anything <100mm stem on a bike

I am also 6'3 and run a 135mm stem.

oh ok so its sort of for an average person, thanks for explaining that for me.

[alexb618]

you shouldnt change your saddle to get more reach, get a longer stem if you put your hands in the drops and look down you shouldn't be able to see your front hub.

had a look at this tonight

in the hoods i cant see the front hub... might try the shorter stem anyway for a week or 2 and see how it feels. maybe its all in my mind.