Trouble with bouncing

Darkglasses

Hi all,

Lately, I'm finding that my rear is bouncing around on the saddle when I'm pushing to go a bit faster. I find the problem is particularly bad when I'm pedalling a higher cadence on the rollers.

I googled it, and found this answer to the problem on another website. Would you say this is accurate?

It is a matter of both fit (frame-geom, saddle position, stem & cranks), practice, and gearing.

Everyone has a max RPM after which they start "bouncing" and you'll find this RPM is even lower if you're at a relatively low gear.

Assuming the bike fits you properly, raising your max RPM is simply a matter of practice. This can't be done at will in one session. It is a motor skill that has to be trained by drills and observed for progress. Informally you can try forcing yourself to ride at lower gears than you're used to. Over time your body kinematics will become more efficient and your form will improve (bouncing will start at higher and higher RPM's).

A cadence of 100 without bouncing is achievable by almost anyone who tries for it. Elites on a track have motionless backsides at cadences of well beyond 150rpm.

I thought at first that it might be just a problem with my bike-fit, but if it's bound to happen at higher cadences then I won't change anything.

Thanks

colm_gti

It takes practice to spin a high cadence comfortably enough to not bounce on the saddle, keep practicing

Lumen

"Elites on a track have motionless backsides at cadences of well beyond 150rpm".

Well maybe, but they are pushing high gears even at that cadence.

I thought I was reasonably smooth until I starting riding my ridiculously undergeared single speed hack bike, but it turns out I'm not.

Solution: pedal slower or change gear (if you have them).

RidleyRider

Lumen wrote: »

pedal slower.

Don't think this is the correct answer:pac:

Beasty

Nil cadence, but plenty of "bounce";):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJT0jB6Llgk

The Big Lebowsky

You cold be bouncing for a variety if reasons....Cranks too long... leg length discrepency... Poor riding position...
inadequate core strength...Have you had an accident lately?....If so your GP should be your first port of call.

12 sprocket

Check your saddle, if its one of the more well padded softer, more flexible type of saddle they are inclined to cause the rider to bounce as they pedal.

CramCycle

Used to happen to me and I found that my saddle was too high, when your crank is at its lowest and you are sitting, what angle is made at your knee?

Lumen

CramCycle wrote: »

Used to happen to me and I found that my saddle was too high, when your crank is at its lowest and you are sitting, what angle is made at your knee?

Presumably at a low cadence you would rock the hips unnoticeably, and then past a certain level of enthusiasm the rocking becomes a bouncing, so to speak.

seamus

Ask someone that you really trust to stare at your ass while you cycle and tell you if there's any rocking in your hips.

Effort can also play a part. That is, if you're spinning at 120rpm with relatively little effort, then you have less stiffness in your legs and core and naturally you will begin to bounce about. But if you're putting in massive effort at 120rpm (as no doubt a track pro would do at 150rpm), you are overall more tense and controlled and so will bounce about less.

Lesson: If you're not putting in effort, then stop pedalling.

High Nellie

The Big Lebowsky wrote: »

You cold be bouncing for a variety if reasons....Cranks too long... leg length discrepency... Poor riding position...
inadequate core strength...Have you had an accident lately?....If so your GP should be your first port of call.

The main reason you bounce at a higher cadence than you are used to is because when your foot gets to the bottom of the stroke is still pushes down, as opposed to pulling through. This forces your body up - hence the bounce.
In other words, your brain doesn't keep up with your legs.
It's only a matter of practice to teach your brain/leg to pull through and stop the bounce.
Increase cadence until a little bounce begins - hold for a little bit and ease off again.
It'll come right after a while and a bit of practice - I don't know why it varies with different gears/efforts though.
[It would be interesting to see what a GP would say if you went to him/her with the problem of 'bouncing on the bike at a high cadence' - anyone got a spare 50 Euro to find out? :-) ]

cdaly_

Beasty wrote: »

Nil cadence, but plenty of "bounce";):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJT0jB6Llgk

"In stock and ready to ship"


Staying in stock and never shipping I'd suspect...

Dermot Illogical

Beasty wrote: »

Nil cadence, but plenty of "bounce";):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJT0jB6Llgk

1:36 - 1:46 for those short of time.

Lumen

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

1:36 - 1:46 for those short of time.

Probably real.
Definitely not real.
Real.
Real.

Vélo

This cyclist is having the same problem