Riding position alteration/question

[urbanfireblade]

Seems we're all echo-ing the fact your seat height may be a little low. So i'd def start there.

Agree with Anthony on increasing the stem length is generally not the best way to sort this, same as fitting longer forks, you get a 'wierd' feeling when you ride it as you've upset the frames geometry too much, but +/- 10mm on stem length i'd say is not gonna be a problem.

 

[taffy]

i'll echo the above - put your seatpost up .

I'd go with anthony on the stem (that or some riser bars) though when you say improve comfort could you be more specific? Are you getting certain aches and pains?
Or are you looking for a more relaxed or less cramped position?

 

[Epoch]

First of all thanks for all the reply's

I'm 6' 1 tall but have a 33 inch inside leg with a longish body

Seat Height
The relatively low seat height is partly inrelation to increasing confidence on the downhills sections I'm currenlt riding (nothing impressive, but I'm building confidence all the time). I promise to go out and raise it to the correct height before my next ride.

Stem Length
Sorry guy's I should have probably covered one of the reasons for the change to 100mm stem length was following on from recomendations of fork travel readjustment from Anthony and Fluffychicken in the thread about my bike. The forks on it now are 80mm travel and the bike was built with a 57mm July SL fork IIRC. I fitted a wider bar recently which helped with my less youthful riding ability.

Many thanks for the offer of the stem Anthony, I'll get back to you on this if that's OK, because I saw a 15 degree black one going reasonably the other day, I'll ring the shop tomorrow and see if they still have it. Makes sence to follow Kona's example to start with i guess.

 

[Epoch]

Just been out to the garage and raised the saddle about 40mm

I'll see how i go on this Thursday's outing

 

[uno-speedo]

hard to tell but your cleat position might be a tad to far back. also now you've jacked your seatpost up (which was needed) i would get a riser bar (maybe a two inch rise) to get your arms bent or get a +deg stem as you've mentioned. i also think your knee is to far forward when your pedal is at the 3 o'clock position. but then raising your saddle might help that (i think!). i am by no means a pro fitter so take it as you will

if you're worried about downhill sections then thats what a QR seatpost clamp is for. lower it when descending.

 

[brocklanders023]

Have a go with the seat set as suggested (straight leg with heel on the pedal) then drop it when you come up to some naughty down hill bits. That's what I do.

 

[Anthony]

Just been out to the garage and raised the saddle about 40mm

I'll see how i go on this Thursday's outing

I agree with the comments that your leg is too bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but do bear in mind that raising the seat by such an amount will throw your weight forward and put far more weight on your hands. It's a young man's position if I may so so. From what you've said, that could make your problem worse rather than better. Combine it with raising the bars and you could be in business.

 

[perry]

The relatively low seat height is partly inrelation to increasing confidence on the downhills sections I'm currenlt riding (nothing impressive, but I'm building confidence all the time). I promise to go out and raise it to the correct height before my next ride.

Don't worry about it , it's not a road bike and over the years their idea of sizing is getting phased out . Riding a bike offroad isn't the same as on a road .

Your only worry with a lower seat is the legs not getting a full extend , over many many many miles your legs won't be quite right and it places a bit more stress on the knees . But it's not a road bike and amazingly ( and seemingly forgotten by most ) a bicycle can be ridden while stood , giving you the full extension making it pretty much a non issue . My bmx doesn't have a full height seatpost and it wasn't that long ago that I could happily ride that for 20 miles a day

I'd go with a layback post , seatube angles are still too steep and hopefully it wont be long before companies find the revelation by slackening them a bit like they did by lengthening toptubes and using shorter stems . 100mm is pretty long , I don't like anything over 50mm If you feel like it take a photo in the attack position , ie not stood upright and not seated , that crouched position where your not pedaling but your skipping over some rocks or stuff . I bet with a shorter stem it isn't far off comfy .

 

[Epoch]

Thanks for all the above info

I've managed to source a black 100mm 15 degree stem for very reasonable cash and that should be here this week.

More action shots of a fat lad on a bike to come once it's fitted

Thanks again for the stem offer and Kona info Anthony.

 

[elPedro666]

What length are your cranks? You just look cramped to me, but I can't put my finger on why...

Definitely saddle up as said (& done), that might be enough. Looking forward to more pics!




What? It's interesting!