Your TT position - pics

xscreamsuk

Here's my latest position, been an evolution since getting the TT bike just over a year ago. Pretty happy with what I've got now,

gabrielevans

I have been trying to really nail down my position but can't splash out on bike fittings/wind tunnel visits. I've taken a video my position whilst riding on a turbo and I was hoping the chaps here would be able to offer some advice.

Video of position: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wF0-OwruFI

I have experimented with lots of different saddle heights and I have settled on the one in the video which seems to allow a powerful and smooth stroke without over-extending.

I have raised my pad height a fair amount since last season where I think I was much too low (note the pedestals under the extensions). This now feels more powerful, but I don't think my back is as flat. Was this a mistake?

I try to "hunch" my shoulders as much as possible when racing - I have seen impact this has on frontal area in the mirror but I struggle to hold it as it causes the muscles around my neck and shoulder to ache. Does anyone have any tips about this (specific stretches/exercises?)

I'm sure there are improvements to be made, so any advice from you guys would be very appreciated.

Thanks a lot
Gabriel

gabrielevans

Thanks Luke, on Time Trialling Forum people also suggested doing planks so I will factor both of those into the schedule.

Wow, Bottrill's back is perfectly flat - not sure how he accomplishes this but his saddle looks all the way forward and he must be very flexible in the hip region. No wonder he goes so fast!

Agent57

Here's my video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeRZJurL8A4

Has side, rear and front views.

Any tips gratefully received. I think my saddle was too low, so I raised it a bit - but now I'm thinking I might have raised it too much.

No helmet on but I ride with a Giro Atmos rather than a long-tailed aero hat, so it's probably not that relevant.

gabrielevans

Your saddle looks on the high side of acceptable at the start video - I wouldn't move it up at all, possibly down a couple off mm as you look slightly over-extended.

After you put your saddle up in the video your back becomes much flatter, so to accomplish this with a good saddle height see if you can lower the front end by 1 or 2cm - it looks like you have another spacer you could move the stem down.

Agent57

Thanks for taking a look.

I'm not sure whether the spacer below the stem is one I can remove or not:



I've assumed not, as it's shaped and branded in such a way that it looks like it's supposed to be there.

Agent57

Cheers. A Google image search for "slammed stem" suggests the same. I'll have to take a hacksaw to the steerer tube though...

indjke

New position.
First real test is tomorrow

meanredspider

Been reading through this thread to see if I can get some pointers for initial set-up. There doesn't seem to be a post that says something very basic like this(from what I've gleaned):

1. Elbows directly under shoulders, arms bent at 90 deg at the elbows, forearms horizontal
2. Flat back
3. Head up - tail of pointy lid on back
4. Sat on nose of saddle (hips therefore over BB)
Etc
Is that broadly it??

I've bought some clip-ons for the Foil initially because it's always bloody windy in NL. But I've often wondered if I'd make a good tester (if only because I'm too big to be fast up big hills... )

Grill

@Luke- You already have Botty's position. All you have to do is switch to the shallow tail on the Selector so that the fit is closer to the Javelin that he uses.

Grill

madasahattersley wrote:

Grill wrote:

@Luke- You already have Botty's position. All you have to do is switch to the shallow tail on the Selector so that the fit is closer to the Javelin that he uses.

And lose 15kg and gain 100 watts wouldn't go amiss either been trying to change the tail but can't find anywhere how to get it off. Any ideas?

Just pull it. Do you have both tails?

andi1363

Can't ride at present so am having to entertain myself while I heal.

Grill

Move your saddle back. It looks as though you've gobbled the whole thing up with your ass (plus it's not great for your hip angle).

andi1363

Grill wrote:

Move your saddle back. It looks as though you've gobbled the whole thing up with your ass (plus it's not great for your hip angle).

Cheers. Not had a TT bike before this year. I had a lot of issues getting the bars where I liked them. The seat post has 2 positions and I am using the forward one so plenty of room to move back.

Grill

andi1363 wrote:

Grill wrote:

Move your saddle back. It looks as though you've gobbled the whole thing up with your ass (plus it's not great for your hip angle).

Cheers. Not had a TT bike before this year. I had a lot of issues getting the bars where I liked them. The seat post has 2 positions and I am using the forward one so plenty of room to move back.

Ideally you'll want to perch on the nose. This opens your hip angle so you don't lose too much power in an aero position and also gives you the ability to slide back in the saddle for when you're climbing.

Grill

It's difficult to see my position in this as I'd just got down on the bars. It was a 100 so my head was higher than normal as usually I'll shrug to sink it down. Nice weather for a long ride though...

Grill

Better shot of my position. Reckon I need to move the saddle back and maybe drop a few mm off the front. Oh and work on that shrug. Head is too high.

Grill

I see what you're saying. I have a 5mm spacer under the arm pads I was thinking of ditching, but am still undecided. Also, it's hard to see because of the type of saddle (Dash TT.9) but I'm sitting on the whole damn thing so pushing it back would give a few more options.

napoleond

Finally! I think I have a position I think I can do ok in. It's been 3.5 years since I broke my back. Fitness is coming, now I think I can get some good results next year.
Just been out and done a couple of hrs in this position, it's comfortable, bike handles really well and I think about as aero as I'll get without being uncomfortable/in pain/mega loss of power...

Niko14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iMedbli ... e=youtu.be
Any advice?

Pokerface

Pokerface wrote:

My contribution. Please ignore the front wheel as I got a flat right before the start and had to swap wheels!

I struggle with getting my head in the right position. But otherwise - open to suggestions!






Compared to position last year:


Have raised saddle and moved it back. Plus lost some weight!

Wow - came across these pics in this thread from when I started out in TT. Compared to now:



How's my position?

Pokerface

NapoleonD wrote:

Finally! I think I have a position I think I can do ok in. It's been 3.5 years since I broke my back. Fitness is coming, now I think I can get some good results next year.
Just been out and done a couple of hrs in this position, it's comfortable, bike handles really well and I think about as aero as I'll get without being uncomfortable/in pain/mega loss of power...

Actually looks very good. Maybe slightly lower in the front if possible, and drop your head a bit. Will help with proper helmet.

briantrumpet

Pokerface wrote:

How's my position?

You gotta be good to ride a bike like that ... National Champ level, I'd say.

napoleond

Been fitted properly now. I kid you not, 40w improvement at threshold HR, I'm more comfortable and can tuck my head in better!

supermurph09

Good thread this, just ordered my first TT bike so good to get some ideas. I'll be back in a few weeks for critique!

defender90

I got my first TT bike at the weekend, after having been racing with clip-ons on the road bike. I've spent the afternoon trying to do a preliminary bike fit and have been getting somewhere (I know the head position needs a lot of work). My real problem is that a front on shot shows my right knee splaying out at the top of the pedal stroke, indicating too tight a minimum hip angle I think? Any ideas how to sort this or is it just a case of getting used to it, increasing flexibility and it will come?



Cheers,
Pete

napoleond

Going to work on flexibility and hopefully next year get a bit lower at the front.

iron-clover

Hi all,
I thought I'd get your advise on my TT position- I think I'm nearly there but need to lower the front end a little from these pictures.
Any advise would be greatly recieved!





I was originally thinking I might need to put the saddle back a little, but I normally end up right on the nose most of the time anyway so not so sure.

KentS

What a great thread!
This is my current position. Taken mid race when I had no idea there was a photographer, hence the lack of composed facial expression :-) I have my saddle and aero bar as far to the front as UCI allows. I have been thinking about lowering the bar a bit but then I would have to get a shorter stem not to violate the UCI rules, as my bar is shortened as much as it can. Any suggestions appreciated. IMG_3032_ava by Kent Stråhlén, on Flickr[/img]

solstice21

1st few tt's this season. Any time saving advice welcome.