"Natural" cycling position

rflynnr

Just looking for a steer on something. I have a three year old Trek 1500. It's nicely specc-ed and there's no intrinsic reason for me to consider replacing it. However, I've recently become more conscious that when sitting in my "natural" riding position (i.e. the position I tend to adopt without thinking most of the time I'm in the saddle), my hands come to rest about 1-2 inches back from the brake hoods. I can reach the hoods quite comfortably and yet over time my hands inexorably slip back. I'm 5'9'', the frame is 54cm with a pretty much horizontal top tube, and a 130mm stem. I had myself "fitted" when I acquired the bike and using the "can you see the front hub when on the hoods?" rule the bike is perfectly set up for me.

Nonetheless does the tendency of my hands to slip back suggest that my natural position is more suited to either a smaller frame or one with a more sportive-geometry (i.e. a sloping top tube)?

Rofo

Or you could pick up a 10cm stem 2nd hand and see if that feels better.

Lumen

You're probably just sitting up as you fatigue.

So you can either train yourself to fatigue less (flexibility/core) or pander to the weakness and change the bike to allow you to sit more upright. :pac:

ROK ON

I have same size frame as you but am 1 inch shorter. FWIW I use a 90mm stem.
Play around with stem size to find a more comfy position.

rflynnr

Thanks for the advice. I should probably concede that vanity plays a part here: when I'm on the hoods properly I look more like a "real" cyclist than when sitting up. Hence, although the stem-changing is tempting, some combination of Catholic guilt at sloth and a Protestant work ethic, impels me towards the improved flexibility approach. Yoga, here I come.

Inquitus

I found that as time went buy I got more flexible and more comfortable lower down. When I first got my road bike I used to spend a portion of the time on the flat section of the bars, then I moved down towards the hoods, then on the hoods, to the point where now I think my bikes geometry is too relaxed, and am looking to lower the bars by adjusting the stem.

Lumen

rflynnr wrote: »

Yoga, here I come.

FWIW and YMMV....

I have crap flexibility and crap core strength. I have been working on both, but TBH the flexibility hasn't improved at all, I'm just preventing myself from getting worse, but the core has - I can do more hateful exercises than I used to be able to.

I now find myself more comfortable on the drops, even with the same flexibility.

rflynnr

Inquitus wrote: »

I found that as time went buy I got more flexible and more comfortable lower down.

You'd think but, as I say, I've had the same bike with pretty much the same setup for three years and, if anything, I'm moving further back as time goes on. (There is also the fact that I'm 40 now which hardly helps my flexibility.)

rab!dmonkey

rflynnr wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I should probably concede that vanity plays a part here: when I'm on the hoods properly I look more like a "real" cyclist than when sitting up. Hence, although the stem-changing is tempting, some combination of Catholic guilt at sloth and a Protestant work ethic, impels me towards the improved flexibility approach. Yoga, here I come.

Flexibility is not what you want. Just like a bodybuilder constrained by the bulk of his muscle is not ideal, neither is the yogi who can tie himself in a knot. You say you can reach the hoods easily, but you slip backwards, so flexibility is obviously not the problem: core endurance is. You'd be better off doing some weights and planks. Your core should be strong, not flexible.