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#1
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this
group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. Correct? Thanks. |
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#2
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
On May 20, 8:14 am, Richard Catrambone wrote:
I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? Nope. Fitness level, flexibility, and body weight can greatly affect preference for upper body positioning. One thing to consider is that flat bars are generally too wide for comfortable road use. Most can benefit from a good 1-3cm lopped off the ends. If you're having trouble with your hands, do try a different bar, like a trekking bar, arc bar, Titec H-bar, North Road bar, or even an Albatross. With pop top stems, it's pretty quick to switch, and it's almost like getting a new bike! |
#3
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
On May 20, 2:14*pm, Richard Catrambone wrote:
I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? *The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). *I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. *As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. *Correct? Thanks. For a start, move the seat back as far as it will go. Secondly, get a steer tube extension, preferably one that will take a quill, because a quill gives you both several inches of heigh adjustment and, if adjustable, a rotatable arc for the handlebar mounting which influences both reach and height (again). Thirdly, buy Kalloy's adjustable quill (or stem) and start adjusting it until you've gone too far, then take a step back. You can see how I treated the same problem when I got fed up with back and hand pain. Here is my Gazelle Toulouse, a Dutch city bike with fast touring capability http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20Bauhaus.html -- scroll down to find the pic in the body of the text and note relative position of seat and handlebars. The quill stem is a custom Gazelle component which can be adjusted for height, reach and handlebar angle without tools. Here is my amazing Trek Smover http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...%20Smover.html -- you're looking at a much more sporting bike, probably much more like the one you want to "fix". Notice that I first fitted a seat in the place of the saddle to get my bottom back far enough even to start work on the handlebar postion. Notice further that I needed a steerer extension (the black piece above the headset locknut) to get enough height; you might need one of those too if you can't find an adjustable quill/stem with enough heighth. The adjustable quill itself came with the bike and is the standard inexpensive but perfectly adequate Kalloy I mention above. It is a lot of work dialling in a bike just right for your body shape. Pay attention to what I say about starting with the seat as far back as possible or all your efforts will have to be repeated when you do move the seat back.. A more upright position will take most of the weight off your hands. But there is still vibration from the fork. A suspended front fork helps, and so does a suspended seatpost. I have front suspensions that can be adjusted from ultra-soft to soft with reasonable precision in the handling, and one from harsh to solid (super-precision handling in all modes); even the latter helps with tingling hands. I've had quite a few seatposts and found the cheapest Post Moderne to be the most agreeable on my mostly smooth roads (there is a reason that so many Dutch upmarket bike makers fit Post Moderne's basic suspended seatpost -- it is better than more expensive ones from PM and other makers). The Kalloy suspension setpost fitted as standard to my Trek is supposedly adjusted in all dimensions by a single rotating ring -- it doesn't work: unless set very hard in the vertical dimension, the side to side stiffness is compromised; I have come not to mind a certain amount of side play in my seat but I can quite see that it would irritate the hell out of someone who defines "ergonomical" as equivalent to "eficiency". Of course, if you have a suspended seatpost, you will have to stop posing as racer at the cyclists' cafe... In a straight choice between being a cafe racer and being comfortable, guess what I chose. Andre Jute http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20CYCLING.html |
#4
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
Richard Catrambone wrote:
I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. Correct? Are blondes 'better' than redheads? If you're not happy, change it! "Best" is only relevant in terms of 'best for you on this particular ride'. -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org/ Open every day since 1 April, 1971 ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com ** |
#5
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
A Muzi wrote:
Richard Catrambone wrote: I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. Correct? Are blondes 'better' than redheads? If you're not happy, change it! "Best" is only relevant in terms of 'best for you on this particular ride'. Also, aerodynamicism is not all that important to many of us. |
#6
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
catzz66 wrote:
A Muzi wrote: Richard Catrambone wrote: I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. Correct? Are blondes 'better' than redheads? If you're not happy, change it! "Best" is only relevant in terms of 'best for you on this particular ride'. Also, aerodynamicism is not all that important to many of us. Don't tell me you're one of those aerodynamicynics.... ~ |
#7
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
DougC wrote:
catzz66 wrote: A Muzi wrote: Richard Catrambone wrote: I'm betting the question I ask below has been addressed before in this group, but I can't find the answer, so here goes: Is there an accepted "best" position when riding, specifically when riding a hybrid/mountain bike on city streets? The reason I ask is that I feel kind of too hunched over on my bike, plus the base of my palms gets kind of numb as though I am putting too much weight on my hands while riding (I wear bike gloves that have decent cushioning). I was thinking of raising the handlebar stem to make me a bit more upright, but I thought I would check here for comments before randomly messing around with the stem height. As an aside, I assume that the more upright one's torso becomes, the less aerodynamic one is. Correct? Are blondes 'better' than redheads? If you're not happy, change it! "Best" is only relevant in terms of 'best for you on this particular ride'. Also, aerodynamicism is not all that important to many of us. Don't tell me you're one of those aerodynamicynics.... ~ Thank you all for your feedback. I'll explore some of these options! |
#8
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best ergonomic position when riding hybrid bike on streets
On May 20, 12:52 pm, A Muzi wrote:
Are blondes 'better' than redheads? Amazing. Only in rec.bicycles.tech would you get exactly no responses to one of the world's most burning questions :-) Had you asked about Italian vs. English BBs, threaded vs. threadless headsets, compacts vs. triples, Campy vs. Shimano, etc. you would have been barraged with hundreds opinions on both sides. But, ask about something that really matters and...zip, nada, zero, nuthin'... BTW, the answer is "Yes". |
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