Violating KOPS rule big time
alexul
Posts: 69
Hello all,
After buying a new road bike I decided I deserve a professional bike fit with video analysis, pressure point etc. The main point was being comfortable, not the most efficient. During the sessions I was marked with different stickers on the joints and we talked only about lengths and angles. We made a lot of minor changes from saddle height to the way braking hoods and levers are placed. Since then I did several rides, ranging from 45 minutes to 90 and felt much more comfortable. This weekend I was looking for some new shoes online and jumping from link to link I arrived on a bike fit article which mentioned about the well known Knee Over Pedal Spindle rule. Never talked about this in the bike fitting session however I was curious if I follow it. Since I received also an electronic report of the session with screenshots of my position I started drawing a straight line from the pedal spindle up to my knee. To my surprise it intersects the sticker on the joint, but the sticker is on the side of the knee. Obviously the kneecap is further and so the magical point from which you drop the plumb bob is in front.
Reading about this kind of position it seems to be favored by time-trialists and it's an aggressive one, not a comfortable one. The general opinion is to be exactly over or even behind for more comfort. On the contrary I don't feel any pressure on hands. Any disadvantage of being set up like this? I also don't ride that much, maybe an average of 5-7 hours per week, with the longest rides being around 2 hours in the weekends. Thanks
After buying a new road bike I decided I deserve a professional bike fit with video analysis, pressure point etc. The main point was being comfortable, not the most efficient. During the sessions I was marked with different stickers on the joints and we talked only about lengths and angles. We made a lot of minor changes from saddle height to the way braking hoods and levers are placed. Since then I did several rides, ranging from 45 minutes to 90 and felt much more comfortable. This weekend I was looking for some new shoes online and jumping from link to link I arrived on a bike fit article which mentioned about the well known Knee Over Pedal Spindle rule. Never talked about this in the bike fitting session however I was curious if I follow it. Since I received also an electronic report of the session with screenshots of my position I started drawing a straight line from the pedal spindle up to my knee. To my surprise it intersects the sticker on the joint, but the sticker is on the side of the knee. Obviously the kneecap is further and so the magical point from which you drop the plumb bob is in front.
Reading about this kind of position it seems to be favored by time-trialists and it's an aggressive one, not a comfortable one. The general opinion is to be exactly over or even behind for more comfort. On the contrary I don't feel any pressure on hands. Any disadvantage of being set up like this? I also don't ride that much, maybe an average of 5-7 hours per week, with the longest rides being around 2 hours in the weekends. Thanks
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Comments
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KOPS is a general starting point for fitting yourself to a bike, not a hard and fast rule. Everybody is different. Some prefer to be behind spindle, some directly over, some ahead. The important thing is to be comfortable. And it sounds like you are.0
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From the Late Great Sheldon Brown
http://sheldonbrown.com/kops.html0 -
Thanks for the link.
I was only worried about possible long term injuries. I have also read that this rule may apply only for bikes with seat tubes up to 74 degrees and that short riders prefer to be more in front. Mine has a 74.5 angle and I'am also barely reaching 5ft7. For the moment it's a very natural position for me. Probably in the coming months I will get lower in front and push the saddle a little bit backwards0 -
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You'll know if you eventually need to move your saddle back as you'll naturally start to slide back on it.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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First, speaking as a fitter, KOPS should never be a binding principle.
A useful guide, for sure, but nothing more.
Second, even if a fit was carried out using KOPS, it actually refers to the tibial tuberosity at the top of the shin, not the knee itself.
The upshot is that the front of the kneecap would actually be in front of the axle.
Hope that helps,
James0
