Getting a position of comfort on clip on tri bars.

subscriber

I have clip on tri bars for the last month and Im having real difficulty finding a position of comfort with them, i'm guessing this is quiet a typical problem to find with clip on's as the bike set up is not designed for an aero position. I'm feeling far to out stretched on the bars in the aero position and feel all my weight is forward causing me to be off balance and to loose power transfer to the pedals also.

Another problem I am finding is that my seatpost height has to be adjusted down lower to what it normally is to get rid of this terrible s bend shape it puts in to my back which, again is causing me to loose power transfer to the pedals. I have the seat itself as far forward as it will go but doesn't really solve the problem.

I have seen seat posts that claim to solve this problem by pushing the seat forward to allow a more natural position on the clip'on's but i'm sceptical.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/profile-fast-forward-carbon-seat-post/#more

Anyone any ideas or opinions on how to solve this problem, what have you done to allow yourself a comfortable position on the clip'on's??

catweazle

It will probably cost more than the tri bars but have you looked at getting fitted, you are based in the west arent you

http://www.bikefit.ie/

Daz1214

i used aero bars on a road bike as well and found them uncomfortable. I used a fast forward seatpost then and found the position a bit more comfortable...the different geometry settings between tt and road bikes will make it a little harder to get a more natural aero position but the seatpost will certainly help

peter kern

a lot of bike fitter would not fit a road bike for tts as they would think you cant get the right position.
and yes it will never be perfect .... ( yet it can be ok to good depending on what you need )

so with all the money you will spend you could almost buy a 2nd hand tt bike ...
if you decide to get fitted I would see if someone sells the aluminuin profile forward post ( way cheaper)
also you could try shortening your stem ( less than 70mm tends to start to get a bit wobbly ( depends on bike )
but without forward seatpost of shorter stem and shorter cranks
I would almost suggest you wont get the result you want .

the best bars for road bikes tend to be the profile cobra bars as quite adjustable.
I hope that helps a bit
and one more thing do not put up with the current position !
I am sure you will get many different opinions on it but
at least in my mind, your best bet would be what a client of mine did and invest 750 euro in a tt bike ( she got one that has won Irish titles so good enough for most ;-)

next thing is shorter stem and forward seatpost.
and ps everybody loses a bit of power in tt position .......

and if money is really an issue and you are a triathlete I would seel my road bike and change for tri bike ( a lot of pros that travel the world have only tri bikes ( now that is a whole new debate but if money is really short I would take the 3 or so min gains a tt bike will make over a road bike )

BennyMul

Hi,
Im in the middle of this myself, and currently looking for a saddle pillar. I have seen a Thompson on for slightly less. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/thomson-elite-setback-seat-post/

subscriber

Correct me if I’m wrong but would there be any point in going to bikefit.ie for a fit if I didn’t have the components that need changing bought first or do they also supply/sell equipment to readjust setup?

Unfortunately I wouldn’t be in a position to invest in a TT bike on top of my road bike but even if I was, I’m not sure I would as I’m planning on doing a few sportives this summer plus my local tri club don’t permit tri bars on our Sunday spins as we join up with one of the cycling clubs in town. Therefore I need the bike to be adjustable and changeable depending on the requirements on the day!

So I suppose the best thing to do is adjust the bike to suit the aero position by fast forward seatpost, shorter stem and shorter cranks. Now that’s one thing I don’t understand, what is the idea behind shortening the crank arms, what does that achieve? Would that not effectively mean that the cyclists legs would not stretch out as much with each revolution, and hence reduce power. I was under the assumption that the longer the stretch of the leg and the more extension (within reason) that the bigger transfer of power to the pedals....hence why professionals seatposts are so high up?

BTH

I can't answer your question on cranks, but I do know that I have a zero offset seat post I could give you if you wanted it. Used it on my road bike in my first year in tri. Not a forward set post, but it'll still bring you much further forward that your standard seatpost. Getting it to you will all depend on where you are though.

A quick review of my ChainReactionCycles account from 2010 tells me I own this in a 27.2mm http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=47178
At the moment its just gathering dust at the back of the wardrobe along with the saddle I used to use on it. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12079

catweazle

subscriber wrote: »

Correct me if I’m wrong but would there be any point in going to bikefit.ie for a fit if I didn’t have the components that need changing bought first or do they also supply/sell equipment to readjust setup?

No idea perhaps email them first - I know where I went a few years back he spent a long time with me on the bike fit even though it was only a road bike with clip ons, he decided to change the stem I had on, opened a big press full of spare parts and just swapped the stem with one of his

subscriber

catweazle wrote: »

subscriber wrote: »

Correct me if I’m wrong but would there be any point in going to bikefit.ie for a fit if I didn’t have the components that need changing bought first or do they also supply/sell equipment to readjust setup?

No idea perhaps email them first - I know where I went a few years back he spent a long time with me on the bike fit even though it was only a road bike with clip ons, he decided to change the stem I had on, opened a big press full of spare parts and just swapped the stem with one of his

sounds like a decent enough chap, how much did you have to part with for the fit catweazle?

BennyMul

On crank lenght, this is a personal thing and there appears to be very little difference in power o/p from the normal range of lenghts, 170mm cranks will\should work for most with ~0.5% power differecne. (1.5 w per 300w)

http://www.plan2peak.com/files/32_article_JMartinCrankLengthPedalingTechnique.pdf

peter kern

I hope you understand that i have never seen you on the bike I cant know what you need and not . i can only guess

if you dont go to the fitter I would take up the offer of BTH and give him maybe half the value of the seatpost.
and if you dodnt have a tt saddle I would make him a fair offer for that too as this is a saddle that works for many people. ( if you dont take it I will buy it of him )

As for cranks ( its not about length per se giving more power or shorter giving more power it is more about achieving the right angles of your hip. ( you see a lot of guys touching their beer guts when in the tt position ,a shorter crank would help there ..........

"I didn't feel like I was pinched at the top of the stroke with the longer cranks, but I probably was. I'm a bit lower, a bit more comfortable, and a lot more powerful". this guy claims a 5% in power increase..
I hope that helps a bit what shorter cranks CAN do and not will do (again I can only guess)
To keep your balance issues in bay ( you already complain off) shorter cranks could help to open up the hip ankle without moving the saddle too much forward.and getting a decent aero position.
but first get seatpost and or 2ndly stem.
or even better go to the fitter .