TT / triathlon bike set up

TT / triathlon bike set up

Author
Discussion

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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What distance do most of you have between the tip of the saddle and the bottom bracket (horizontal saddle set back may be the correct term)? I was reading a guide on British cycling by one of the Retul founders and his advice was for UCI requirements set it exactly 50mm back from the BB. For anything else line them up. Mine is on the maximum limit for the saddle and 64mm back.

I'm reevaluating the fit on my bike (this was done using Retul) and feel I'm probably too stretched out for my strength &/or flexibility but it probably is the optimum fit that this bike can achieve for me. Not sure what angle it presents at the shoulder but I do find they burn like hell very quickly. To some extent I can make that feel a little better by moving the pads onto my forearms but that isn't really a solution. Think it may be best to go for a smaller frame (it's a Planet X Stealth in Large)?

okgo

37,860 posts

197 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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Upload some pics of you in position

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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As okgo says.

However, the px is quite a long / low bike already; unless you've got a requirement to meet the UCI reg, or are particularly flexible, it would be quite unusual to have the saddle that far back (and it depends a lot on what the saddle is too, nose lenght varies). 'Most' tri fits are quite forward / not UCI legal - the exact distance is going to be personal.

Also, moving the saddle is probably the wrong way to fix cockpit length - establish the correct saddle position / seat angle you're comfortable riding, and then fix the cockpit length with a stem (or as is slowly becoming evident in my case) changing the frame..

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I had a fit last year and run an ISM Adamo saddle, so seat tip was less use.

Instead he focused on how far forward of the pedal axle my knee hinge was at the 3 o'clock position. I forget the exact number, perhaps about 2 cm. This means that my knees just brush the back of my arms when in the right place on the tri-bars.

All of this may be utterly useless of course, because I'm 6'8'', and was being fitted to a Trek 64 cm aluminium road frame with clip on tri-bars. So I'm probably a bit special.

Short answer, find someone reputable to do a decent fit for you.


m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
I'll sort some pics on Sunday. The saddle is an ISM Adamo so int need to sit on the nose more. It's as far forward as it'll go and still 14mm further back than the UCI limit (50mm I think). For non-UCI requirements I've seen it suggested to align the nose with the BB. Anyhow, see what you guys make of the pics. Then I'll talk to the fitter. I'm considering buying another PX Stealth and using this frame as a road bike (think it would be fine for that) and going for the next size down as a TT. Funnily enough the guy I bought it off was a similar height and leg length and found his road bike preferable. Not sure if he was a stiff runner too!

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Sorry for the delay. A few pics and a slo-mo video (hopefully!)











And the video link:
https://youtu.be/-g09jOUsR8k

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Sorry but I just don't think that's the right size bike, that stem has an unusually high positive angle for a TT bike. A smaller frame will only exaggerate the difference. To compensate your saddle also looks too high. Looking at the pictures you could lower the saddle by an inch and drop the bars to get a similar effect. I don't think you'd be too cramped either.

If you've been fitted and its largely comfy then go work it out but it sure as hell looks odd!

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 3rd May 19:18

mikees

2,745 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Isn't your back supposed to be flat ? Looks like the stem is too high angled up ? I would also think you might be to far back. Longer stem and lower might help. But as Pablo says, get a bike fit.

Mike

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
Dropping the front won't be comfortable unfortunately. The stem was added during the Retul fit to get me into a better position. Is it of any use positing the Retul report?

ETA that is the saddle in the most forward position it can do (64mm set back on the horizontal from the BB). Do the only say to move it forward would be to drop the seat post. Think that would put my knee angles out and they feel ok.

Edited by m444ttb on Tuesday 3rd May 19:25

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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I edited the post when I re-read the OP and realised that the current position is post retul bike fit. For me it depends if you had a fit then bought that bike or were fitted to that particular bike.

Either way, I think you sit too high on the bike, drop the saddle and the bars to compensate. In my very limited experience, your knees should be closer to your chest.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 3rd May 19:32

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
pablo said:
I edited the post when I re-read the OP and realised that the current position is post retul bike fit. For me it depends if you had a fit then bought that bike or were fitted to that particular bike.
Second hand job off eBay unfortunately. I thought at 6ft 1 a large would be just fine. It was nearly unused (ridden c.100k by previous owner) and effectively half price for it. I was going to buy the same bike anyway so if I went for a medium frame and experimented with stems to set that up id be at about the same cost as new.

mikees

2,745 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Could you get a pick of you in full position including back head on the bike.?

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Ok I appreciate he's a world champion with higher levels of fitness and flexibility but compare Tony Martin's position to your own. So I get that you may not be as flexible and thus not keep quite as straight a back but his saddle/bar height are nothing like yours.




I chose that picture because his right leg is in exactly the same as yours in the first picture of you on the bike but his knee is far closer to his chest. Drop the saddle at least an inch and see how it feels.

Finally, I don't think you can have a TT and triathlon position as the tri position must compensate for the run leg that follows, put simply a TT position should be much more aggressive.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 3rd May 19:48

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
Yeah, from the reading I've done the purposes of TT vs Tri are different. This bike is for triathlon for me so the legs aspect does take some of the aero benefit.

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
Here's a slightly better video of me on the TT (please excuse the attire): https://youtu.be/vSZqvy7xeaU

And if useful here's one on the road bike. I find it quite comfortable to ride in the drops: https://youtu.be/fUlEYD3izgY

matt-ITR

892 posts

188 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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I think your legs are slightly over extending. Although you might be comfortable pedaling in that toe down position, to me it looks like you are over stretching.

What size cranks are you using out of interest? Shorter cranks may be an idea and/or dropping your saddle.

m444ttb

Original Poster:

3,160 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
Cranks are 175mm on the road bike and 172.5mm on the TT. I've dropped the TT saddle 5mm since the Retul fitting (the other day as an experiment).

matt-ITR

892 posts

188 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
pablo said:
Finally, I don't think you can have a TT and triathlon position as the tri position must compensate for the run leg that follows, put simply a TT position should be much more aggressive.
This does depend on the athlete and the level of racing, but a tri position can end up being far more aggressive because they don't have to stick to UCI guidelines.

I can understand what you are saying though and a tri position, rider dependant they may try and remove some pressure from the lower leg where as a TT position it is all about maximising power and aero efficiency.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
m444ttb said:
Here's a slightly better video of me on the TT (please excuse the attire): https://youtu.be/vSZqvy7xeaU

And if useful here's one on the road bike. I find it quite comfortable to ride in the drops: https://youtu.be/fUlEYD3izgY
It's a bit hard to be certain, but it looks to me like your hips might be rocking at the top/bottom of your pedal stroke on the PX.

matt-ITR

892 posts

188 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
m444ttb said:
Cranks are 175mm on the road bike and 172.5mm on the TT. I've dropped the TT saddle 5mm since the Retul fitting (the other day as an experiment).
How tall are you?