A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » General
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Big power loss in low position . . .



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old November 17th 13, 04:49 AM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default Big power loss in low position . . .

If I have a bar drop of more than 4 cm, or a reach -- tip of saddle to bar -- of more than 53 cm -- and I mean by just 5 mm -- my power output drops by 20 - 25% for a given perceived effort. (I know power drops as you get lower, but shouldn't it be more gradual?) Is this just due to my ridiculously short torso? (I'm 73.5"/187 cm tall with 36"/92 cm inseam.) Or, could this mean my saddle positioning isn't ideal? (With all the fiddling around I've done, I would think I would have come across the right combination by now.) Or is this just how some people are? The position is comfortable, not complaining about that. Just can't stop wondering if it means something with the fit isn't correct.
Ads
  #3  
Old December 2nd 13, 02:38 AM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,345
Default Big power loss in low position . . .

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 7:49:54 PM UTC-8, wrote:
If I have a bar drop of more than 4 cm, or a reach -- tip of saddle to bar -- of more than 53 cm -- and I mean by just 5 mm -- my power output drops by 20 - 25% for a given perceived effort. (I know power drops as you get lower, but shouldn't it be more gradual?) Is this just due to my ridiculously short torso? (I'm 73.5"/187 cm tall with 36"/92 cm inseam.) Or, could this mean my saddle positioning isn't ideal? (With all the fiddling around I've done, I would think I would have come across the right combination by now.) Or is this just how some people are? The position is comfortable, not complaining about that. Just can't stop wondering if it means something with the fit isn't correct.


It isn't unusual for you to have been originally fitted improperly and for you to get used to riding a bike that is set too small for your body size. When this is the case you will find even slight changes in position that effectively change the position to even smaller to have disproportionate effects on your power output. In the LeMond years it became "normal" to ride bicycles one to two cm smaller than proper because "it makes me more aero." Since then it's done nothing but gotten worse. Especially now that new bikes are sold in sizes rather than cm lengths of the seat tube and top tube.

Though it sounds more to me as if your top tube is too long and the bars too low to begin with.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Slight knee pain/cleat position/seat position. Claes Australia 22 December 14th 05 12:25 AM
My thoughts on seat position, crank length, and cleat position [email protected] Techniques 22 November 16th 05 03:35 PM
Damaged Carbon Frame - Power Loss? GH - Sydney Techniques 21 May 27th 05 05:49 AM
Western Power Power House Rd who is a Janitor at the Muja Power Station in Australia. why is Marty Wallace m...@geo.­net.au calling people and post­ing at 3:05am Marty Wallace J­an 29, 3:05 am because he can'­t do it with the hooker that y­ou hear in [email protected] Racing 1 January 30th 05 09:30 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.