Critique My Fit/Position/Technique

COVEC

Hi All,

I have posted a short video of myself on the rollers

HERE

If you have a few minutes spare (and maybe fancy a laugh) please have a look at it and I would appreciate any comments you have with regards to overall fit, my position and any major flaws in my technique.

I have been cycling for the past year and seem to have hit a noticeable improvement plateau, I try to get out twice during the week(20-30 miles) after work and both Sat and Sun for a longer(30-60 miles) ride.

The bike is a medium 2007 Giant SCR C4.

Cheers

weapons

Flatter heels - this will result in less power loss from heel lift.

Looks like a very upright position.

redddraggon

How flexible are you? What do you want to achieve/do? Race? Sportives? Enjoyment?

TBH it wouldn't necessarily be the best idea to get fitting advice off a forum - everyone is generally biased towards one type of fit or another. I personally go for a relatively long and low position that most people wouldn't find comfortable.

Remembering what I said before - I'd go for a longer stem and bend your arms a lot more.

COVEC

Hi,

To get my heels flatter do I need to adjust by saddle height or focus on maintaining it through technique?

I do feel that I can get lower when on the drops by bending my elbows and moving my hands up into the apex of the bend, this is generally my technique when attacking a stiff headwind.

To add a bit to my original post, the main thrust for the information is that I am thinking about upgrading my bike. Number one contender at the moment is a TCR Advanced 1, so it should allow a less upright position.

Also, it is not really noticeable in the video, but, my saddle is pretty much as far forward as it can go on the rails, so I was considering getting a smaller size in the TCR (moving from a med SCR to a small TCR). How would this affect my fit?

Cheers

shockedsoshocked

I'd say you need a bigger bike. At the very least a longer stem. Have you got spacers in?

Also you could probably knock the saddle back a little.

The video is to jumpy to judge your technique, although it doesn't look that bad.

COVEC

The video is to jumpy to judge your technique, although it doesn't look that bad.

I don't think it is the video

I'd say you need a bigger bike. At the very least a longer stem. Have you got spacers in?

So at the very least I would need to stick with a medium on the TCR?
The only spacers below the stem are a 5mm one and the sort of conical jobbie(looks about 10-15mm) that protects the workings of the headset. Can the conical one be removed and the stem placed right on top of the headset workings?

To assist the conical one is of the same type as the left hand one pictured

HERE


Cheers

liversedge

go and get a fitting!

to my untrained eye you appear to be lacking extension and probably neutralising the quads and glutes to some extent. certainly a flatter heel and greater extension from changing your layback / crank length would help. but frankly I'm just some bloke on a forum.

recommend cyclefit.

chrisw12

I'd try a longer stem, I'd also try moving your saddle back. I'd also try lowering your saddle. I certainly wouldn't get another bike until you feel 100% confident of what's best for you.

IME when I'm trying things out, it's best to try the extremes. So my advice would be buy the longest/cheapest stem possible then drop and extend your position. You can always come back up and in if you don't like it.

BeaconRuth

Black socks? :shock: :roll:

I can't even bring myself to wear black socks on the turbo.

Ruth

Anonymous

My first thought is that the bike is too small but it's difficult to tell just from a video. Go and speak to someone you trust at a shop, that's what I did and I'm V Happy!

FCE2007

Saddle back a little bit imo.
Also you may want to re-apply the Giant stickers and move your drivetrain to the 'usual' side

COVEC

OK,

Saddle is going back a bit, my plan is to move it in small increments to see how it goes.

Also if my memory of O level mathematics is right, then lowering the stem by removing the spacers under the stem will have a similar effect as getting a longer stem(for free) and might help out a bit with my upright position, correct?

I must admit that it is the 1st time I have seen myself on the bike and I am surprised at how upright and cramped looking I am.

Cheers
Ps. keep the advice coming, forums are great for this kind of stuff, such a breadth of knowledge.

itboffin

No really how come your drivetrain is on the left, did you record that footage in a mirror? :?

my 2p worth, lower your saddle 1/8" until your hips wobble just a little less, try to always keep your torso still, its not easy

cycling1964

COVEC wrote:

Hi All,

I have posted a short video of myself on the rollers

HERE

If you have a few minutes spare (and maybe fancy a laugh) please have a look at it and I would appreciate any comments you have with regards to overall fit, my position and any major flaws in my technique.

I have been cycling for the past year and seem to have hit a noticeable improvement plateau, I try to get out twice during the week(20-30 miles) after work and both Sat and Sun for a longer(30-60 miles) ride.

The bike is a medium 2007 Giant SCR C4.

Cheers

Hi -

Get proper advice from a coach. But my comments/observations:

There is nothing wrong with a toes pointed down style so no need to worry unduly about dropping the heel- many top riders have this style, but make sure your seat is not too high.

There are loads of articles on line - about correct seat height - Lemonds method will get you within 1cm. Don't just put your seat back just because someone on a forum says so.

http://cafevelo.blogspot.com/2006/06/sa ... ethod.html

I agree with most everyone else here - It looks like your stem is too short. But I would not increase stem length by more than 1 cm at a time - a longer stem will make the bike less twitchy though which may help you ride the rollers more smoothly.

Don't be afraid to experiment - there is quite a wide 'fit window' and more than one way to set up your position - even a professional fit will have a 1 cm variation each way that you could still perform well in - and for example Tom Boonen rides 20mm lower than the recommended.Loads of articles on line about fit.

' Technique' will be improved from a good fit, and varying your cadence but mainly work on keeping it high. One legged pedaling drills (on the turbo) will really help you as it will teach you to pedal smoothly all the way around.

Good luck with the training Keep riding, and you will improve.

Manaru

Bend your elbows more.

COVEC

itboffin wrote:

No really how come your drivetrain is on the left, did you record that footage in a mirror? :?

Ha ha, weird eh, I did not really notice it. The recording was made from the camera in my MacBook, so I guess Apple like to mess with our heads.

Cycling 1964, when I do the LeMond calculation it comes out very close to my current saddle height(my saddle is roughly 0.5cm higher than the calculation).

I filled in the competitive cyclist fit guide and have been working round the bike measuring its recommendations for the competitive fit and its suggestions match the general tone of those voiced here.

According the the fit guide my saddle is a bit too far forward and my stem is a tad too short. I think I enjoy this tinkering with position and may in the end be constantly fettling, the old adage of little and often seems well suited to this situation.

COVEC

Alex_Simmons/RST

See here:

http://www.cyclefitcentre.com/pdf%20fin ... g_2004.pdf

COVEC

Good link Alex.

Thanks