Why is my seat so far forward?

[anon_a_mouse@msn.com]

I'm a 39 yr. old male recreational cyclist who averages nearly 200
mile/week. I've experimented extensively (obsessively?) with my fit
over the years. It turns out that I'm the fastest with the saddle tip
a mere 3 cm behind BB, despite my very lengthy 91 cm inseam. (Don't
worry, I'll never qualify for a UCI race!) Everything I've read says
taller people should have their seats further rearward. I've tried
riding in a more "normal" position -- knee near or behind the pedal
axle -- for several years, including with the seat several cm lower
than I have it now (81 cm, BB-center of seat). (I do understand how
fore-aft affects seat height and vice-versa.) But I can still climb a
10% grade 2 - 3 mph faster in the "extreme forward" position. (I've
often read how a forward position is "not efficient" for climbing.)
And, yes, I did adjust the seat-bar distance when moving the seat
back. (I now know how reach can also dramatically affect power
output.) Any idea on why the "fast-forward" position is fastest for
me? Could it be related to my job as a mailman, with all the standing
and walking it entails? (Is that the reason tri-athletes use the
forward position, because they also run?) Or am I not doing something
else correctly? (I have read that Alexi Grewal had his seat only 1 cm
behind BB -- pre UCI rules??? -- despite being tall, so maybe I'm just
weird?)

[Davey Crockett]

* anon_a_mouse@msn.com a écrit profondement:
|
| I'm a 39 yr. old male recreational cyclist who averages nearly 200
| mile/week. I've experimented extensively (obsessively?) with my fit
| over the years. It turns out that I'm the fastest with the saddle tip
| a mere 3 cm behind BB, despite my very lengthy 91 cm inseam. (Don't
| worry, I'll never qualify for a UCI race!) Everything I've read says
| taller people should have their seats further rearward. I've tried
| riding in a more "normal" position -- knee near or behind the pedal
| axle -- for several years, including with the seat several cm lower
| than I have it now (81 cm, BB-center of seat). (I do understand how
| fore-aft affects seat height and vice-versa.) But I can still climb a
| 10% grade 2 - 3 mph faster in the "extreme forward" position. (I've
| often read how a forward position is "not efficient" for climbing.)
| And, yes, I did adjust the seat-bar distance when moving the seat
| back. (I now know how reach can also dramatically affect power
| output.) Any idea on why the "fast-forward" position is fastest for
| me? Could it be related to my job as a mailman, with all the standing
| and walking it entails? (Is that the reason tri-athletes use the
| forward position, because they also run?) Or am I not doing something
| else correctly? (I have read that Alexi Grewal had his seat only 1 cm
| behind BB -- pre UCI rules??? -- despite being tall, so maybe I'm just
| weird?)
|


100 Bragging Points for that TROLL

--
Davey Crockett - No 4Q to Reply

[Bob Simpson]

I think that using a more forward saddle uses the hamstrings more so
this is why a runner/triathelete might be able to go faster that way.

Ergonomics on a bike are very important and of course everyone is
different. It's all a mixture of where your arms are and how
comfortable you are bending your back etc. Hip flexors, pedal action
and aerodynamics at higher speeds are all factors for going your
fastest.

It does seem odd that you'd find that it's more efficient to go up a
10% hill sitting down but if that's your preference, that's fine.
That probably speaks more about a weird pedaling style, but I don't
want to sound critical. I was once following my friend up a long
gradual hill going very hard. The effort went up due to a higher
grade and the pace staying the same. My friend, put it into a HIGHer
gear and stood up at the exact same moment that I geared down and spun
more. That was just our different styles for hard climbing.

Speaking of critical, I don't understand the previous poster's comment.

[cyclintom@gmail.com]

On Oct 1, 6:21 pm, anon_a_mo...@msn.com wrote:
> I'm a 39 yr. old male recreational cyclist who averages nearly 200
> mile/week. I've experimented extensively (obsessively?) with my fit
> over the years. It turns out that I'm the fastest with the saddle tip
> a mere 3 cm behind BB, despite my very lengthy 91 cm inseam. (Don't
> worry, I'll never qualify for a UCI race!) Everything I've read says
> taller people should have their seats further rearward. I've tried
> riding in a more "normal" position -- knee near or behind the pedal
> axle -- for several years, including with the seat several cm lower
> than I have it now (81 cm, BB-center of seat). (I do understand how
> fore-aft affects seat height and vice-versa.) But I can still climb a
> 10% grade 2 - 3 mph faster in the "extreme forward" position. (I've
> often read how a forward position is "not efficient" for climbing.)
> And, yes, I did adjust the seat-bar distance when moving the seat
> back. (I now know how reach can also dramatically affect power
> output.) Any idea on why the "fast-forward" position is fastest for
> me? Could it be related to my job as a mailman, with all the standing
> and walking it entails? (Is that the reason tri-athletes use the
> forward position, because they also run?) Or am I not doing something
> else correctly? (I have read that Alexi Grewal had his seat only 1 cm
> behind BB -- pre UCI rules??? -- despite being tall, so maybe I'm just
> weird?)

Firstly forgive Davey who is used to stalkers on this group.

Secondly - There are a variety of reasons that you'd find a more
upright position faster but the most common is that your quads are too
tight. You can effect this with stretching and working on a lower more
laid back position but the question is why? Unless you're racing why
worry about the difference in speed you can obtain from a lower longer
position? It does require a lot of work and probably going in for deep
muscle massages and the like and for what?

[bjw@mambo.ucolick.org]

On Oct 1, 6:21 pm, anon_a_mo...@msn.com wrote:
> I'm a 39 yr. old male recreational cyclist who averages nearly 200
> mile/week. I've experimented extensively (obsessively?) with my fit
> over the years. It turns out that I'm the fastest with the saddle tip
> a mere 3 cm behind BB, despite my very lengthy 91 cm inseam. (Don't
> worry, I'll never qualify for a UCI race!) Everything I've read says
> taller people should have their seats further rearward. I've tried
> riding in a more "normal" position -- knee near or behind the pedal
> axle -- for several years, including with the seat several cm lower
> than I have it now (81 cm, BB-center of seat). (I do understand how
> fore-aft affects seat height and vice-versa.) But I can still climb a
> 10% grade 2 - 3 mph faster in the "extreme forward" position. (I've
> often read how a forward position is "not efficient" for climbing.)
> And, yes, I did adjust the seat-bar distance when moving the seat
> back. (I now know how reach can also dramatically affect power
> output.) Any idea on why the "fast-forward" position is fastest for
> me? Could it be related to my job as a mailman, with all the standing
> and walking it entails? (Is that the reason tri-athletes use the
> forward position, because they also run?) Or am I not doing something
> else correctly? (I have read that Alexi Grewal had his seat only 1 cm
> behind BB -- pre UCI rules??? -- despite being tall, so maybe I'm just
> weird?)


You're a recreational cyclist. Why does it matter what
the UCI rules (5cm back) are? Maybe you have short
femurs compared to your long legs, or got dropped on
your knee or head or something. 2-3mph up a 10% grade
is a very large difference, and many people stand
to pedal up 10% grades. Maybe you're overestimating
the grade, maybe it's in your head, maybe it's for
real, but since you've experimented extensively already,
what difference does it make?

Ben