bike fit (again) seat tube angles & KOPS
I'm setting up a new road bike. It's not that comfy at the moment, which could be due to a background in MTBs.
It's reach thats causing problems. At first the hoods felt like quite a stretch, I was more comfortable about 2cm back on the shoulders. I was also getting crotch pain from pulling myself forward. So I had a look at the old KOPS thing.
Trouble is, to get KOPS I have to have the saddle all the way forward on the rails. It just looks silly. Although I can now rest comfortably on the hoods.
First thoughts, is bike too big? However, given a 73.5 seat angle, I am never going to e able to manage KOPS am I? If I take a smaller bike with less c-t on the seat tube, I will just have more seat post showing, as saddle-b/b won't change unless my inseam does. So that saddle will still stay all the way forward??
So what do I do? Effective t/t is 545mm, which is not big given I'm 177cm. Or am I wrong on the KOPS / seat angle issue?
It's reach thats causing problems. At first the hoods felt like quite a stretch, I was more comfortable about 2cm back on the shoulders. I was also getting crotch pain from pulling myself forward. So I had a look at the old KOPS thing.
Trouble is, to get KOPS I have to have the saddle all the way forward on the rails. It just looks silly. Although I can now rest comfortably on the hoods.
First thoughts, is bike too big? However, given a 73.5 seat angle, I am never going to e able to manage KOPS am I? If I take a smaller bike with less c-t on the seat tube, I will just have more seat post showing, as saddle-b/b won't change unless my inseam does. So that saddle will still stay all the way forward??
So what do I do? Effective t/t is 545mm, which is not big given I'm 177cm. Or am I wrong on the KOPS / seat angle issue?
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I have a similar problem!
In general smaller bikes have steeper ST's so by going a size down you would be able to have the saddle a little further back on the rails, but still be in the same position in relation to the bb. This would also effectively leanthen the top tube when you are in the saddle. It sounds like a smaller bike may be the solution...
I'm 5ft9 and currently run a 55cm top tube and a (I think) 74 degree seatube. To get my KOPS I have to have the saddle almost all the way forward on an inline seatpost, which as well as looking silly leaves me quite unbalanced on the bike
The only solution I can see is a bike with a steeper seatube which is what I am now in the market for. The best off the shelf bike/frame seems to be a Felt F series, which in the 52cm size (54cm ish effective top tube) has a 75.5 degree ST. I think this would leave me alot more balanced and comfortable.
PS: PM me if you're selling a 52cm Felt Fx frameset/bike
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If you’re new to road bikes from mountain bikes it may take a while to adapt to the position. It took a while for me. I started with short rides and built up gradually, in the beginning the road position just felt wrong, but within a few months I was doing centuries comfortably.
If you’re still not comfortable in a week or two you could try a slightly shorter stem. Even flipping your current stem (If it’s a typical 110mm 6 degree) will reduce reach by 1cm and raise the bars by about 3cm. I’ve read many arguments against KOPS, for me moving the saddle forward into a KOPS position transfers too much weight onto my hands and causes pain in my shoulders. Having the saddle back on the rails shifts your centre of gravity backwards counterbalancing your upper body so you can achieve a lower longer position more comfortably.0 -
I had a bike fitted for me using KOPS. I have since moved the saddle back slightly and find it more comfortable and feel I can spin the pedals much better and feel like I develop more power (of course, I could be just getting fitter and it's all in my head). Anyway, basically they jury is out for me on this KOPS business. I am curious as to what others say.0
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