Tri geometry - forward seat post? - Triathlon Week

kgarnier · 05-06-2005, 07:01 AM

Looking for some advice on my bike set-up, right now I'm on a Can R600 with generic set-up, with the exception of a profile aerobars added on. Problem is it feels like when i'm in aerobars, I'm too "stretched out" to stay comfortable for any length of time. I don't think its the frame size because when riding in the drops its alright. I've considered the "seat-forward" seatpost Profile has to shift forward. Any advice on this?

Thanks.

kev

swibikerun_boy · 05-11-2005, 03:02 PM

run it by some guys at a local bike shop.

It all depends on the geometry of the bike and how you fit it.
All you might need is a smaller stem.

Hope this helps

Peace Tyler

pyschosyd · 05-11-2005, 04:41 PM

Are you only feeling streched when you are in the aero position? Was the bike fitted to you when you bought it? If so then you may need to scoot your saddle forward a bit. Before spending the cash you might be able to slide your seat forward a bit on the rails. Try this first (even if it goes beyond the manufacturours suggestions) just to see if it helps (Don't keep it there for extended use). If that feels better then you might want a forward seat post. Unfortunately road bikes don't allways take aero bars well. However, I believe the R600 will suit this.
There are different things to look for to see if your positioning in the aero postion is correct.
Correct handlebar reach(or stem length) places your ear over your elbow in the aero position. A gauge of this is that the distance from the front of your saddle to the back of the handlebars should be about 1-1.5 inhes longer than the distance from the back of your elbow to the end of your extended fingers.

julian · 05-12-2005, 06:03 AM

I had an cannondale 700 and also felt streched on the tir bars nor did I feel stable, but then again it was a borrowed bike and was not set up for me. Since then I have bought a new bike to my spec and now feel comfortable using them, I would do what swibikerun-boy suggests and take it to your local bike shop.
Cheers.
Julian.

Smartt/RST · 05-17-2005, 10:49 AM

For most people, the first qualifier of a good aero position is comfort/the ability to stay in the aero bars. It's hard to make a recommendation w/o seeing your position, but clearly you need to have someone check you out. If being to "stretched out" is indeed the problem, you should be able to "convert" the bike you have into a reasonable tri position (i.e.: a position that is comfortable if not quite the most aero one in the world) via a short stem and the seat post you mentioned.

kgarnier · 05-18-2005, 04:45 AM

Thanks for the input everyone.

kev

Bucky · 05-18-2005, 07:20 PM

I may be joining a bit late, but, I purchased a Cannondale R600 this year, and I too found myself feeling too stretched out. I wasn't sure if this was because I'd been racing on my mountain bike in previous years, if it was because my back was just too tight/inflexible, or because I'm more legs than torso and subsequently the frame fits my legs but not my upper body. At any rate, I resolved the problem by getting a shorter stem, which made a world of difference.

kgarnier · 05-19-2005, 05:23 AM

Bucky... what stem did you change to? Thanks.

Kevin

Bucky · 05-19-2005, 10:25 PM

Hi Kevin. With respect to which stem I changed to, I went down to a 5" stem, however, I can't recall the length of the stem that the bike came with. If you were asking about brand or make, I'm afraid I couldn't tell you. I went back to the shop I purchased the bike from, and they simply installed a shorter stem that they had in stock.

I hope that helps.