Rate my seating position

d87heaven

Any thoughts on my positioning on my bike?
First thoughts to me are my arms look a bit straight.



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Stuy-b

saddle too low, bars to high

Uchiga

You can raise that saddle up quite a bit. Once you do that you'll be naturally more down so your arms might not be as straight, however you could try lowering the bars, maybe turning the stem upside down or moving the stem spacers around the current position of the stem.

Im Bald Ok

Are you comfortable on the bike?
Also do you often rest your hands in that position? They seem a bit far forward on your bars, which IMO makes your upper body stretch out. May also be part of the reason why your arms aren't bent.
Saddle could also go up a few MM if you wanted. Unless it was uncomfortable.

d87heaven

Cheers guys.

Looks like the general concensus is to raise the seat a bit.
I feel ok on the bike but I feel like I am putting a lot of weight through my arms when on the hoods as per my images. I am on quite a short stem (90mm) so perhaps the bike is a bit big?

Stuy-b

tbh i was thinking the bike looks a bit small for you, as for your hands... have you got a pic of just the bike with out you on it so we can see the position of your bars/hoods.

stuy

Im Bald Ok

If your going to post another pic, include one with a different hand position, maybe in the drops or on the top of the bars.

stevec205gti

I think it's too subjective to judge from those pictures - as already said, how do you feel whilst riding? Personally, if it were my bike, for me I'd have the saddle higher (I prefer my leg a bit straighter, and when out on the road seem to ride very toe down), and I'd have the saddle a little further back so just below my knee cap was over the pedal axle with the pedals level (if I was as far forward as you I get a lot of pain in my knees). I've found it takes very little movement of the body to put a bigger looking bend in the arms.

If you're really worried about set up take some pictures/measurements of where everything currently is, then trying moving things around one component at a time and see how they feel on a ride - do a few miles rather than just whizzing up the road and back, see how things feel. If you don't like it you've got the reference to get back to where you were.

d87heaven

Stuy-b wrote:

tbh i was thinking the bike looks a bit small for you, as for your hands... have you got a pic of just the bike with out you on it so we can see the position of your bars/hoods.

stuy

Tadaa

Slack

You may be able to put the saddle back a wee bit also - say 1-2cm's. Make sure the saddle is level....

In fact, does that seatpost have a 'layback'?

Stuy-b

i would up saddle around 15-20mm, get a 0deg stem and some shallow drop/short reach bars. BUT... first of all i would go and get a proper bike fit.

derosa

Stuy-b wrote:

i would up saddle around 15-20mm, get a 0deg stem and some shallow drop/short reach bars. BUT... first of all i would go and get a proper bike fit.

Good idea to raise the saddle, but don't do 20mm all at once. Do 5-10mm and ride until you are comfortable with new saddle height, then raise again. Too much too soon can play havoc with the knees.

Pross

Bike certainly doesn't look too big for you. The arms being straight is because you are sat so upright on it. As others have said if you get lower your arms will bend more. I would also second Stuy-B and say if in doubt pay for a bike fit, probably the best money you can spend on your cycling.

Chris James

Pross wrote:

Bike certainly doesn't look too big for you. The arms being straight is because you are sat so upright on it. As others have said if you get lower your arms will bend more..

I agree with this, but guess the OP has locked arms because he isn't very flexible. Those suggesting putting his bars lower will just make that worse!

I think most people are agreed that the saddle up and back a bit would be a good idea. Otherwise I don't think he looks too bad.

d87heaven

Cheers for the thoughts guys. I will try the raising the saddle a touch and back a bit and see how it feels.

rake

you may find a little less power available going back with the seat but its more comfortable for long runs. you can just inch forward a bit if need be.

Berk Bonebonce

1/ Saddle appears a bit too low.
2/ Saddle appears a bit too far forward, hence the feeling of too much weight on your arms.
3/ You have the bars at what height is best. A younger guy who races might have them lower, but yours look fine to me.

I would not say the frame is too small, but it is a good job that you didn't get anything smaller. You could always try a longer stem.

e999sam

Your position certainly isn’t wrong, you could change it in all the ways that have been suggested but what ever changes you do make do them in small increments.
Your seat height is ok but I wouldn’t go any lower although you could go higher.
Your saddle fore aft position also looks just about ok, with your cranks as in the second picture you draw a straight down from the centre of your knee it should dissect the ball of your foot which in turn should be directly over your pedal axel.
If you push your seat forward you’ll get more power through your pedals and if you push it back it’ll be kinder on your knees.
Remember if you put your saddle position up you will automatically push your saddle position back because of the angle of your seat tube.
I would probably lower your bars you can do this by turning your stem the other way round.
Your position on your bike is very much a personal choice based on comfort and the kind of riding you intend to do.