TT-Position... I was wondering?

[KF]

I'm in the process of finetuning my TT position and have come up with quite a good position, after having changed stem and seatpost a couple of times.

Here's the question:

Whenever people ask you guys about their position, you advice them to get their elbow angle as close to 90 degrees as possible. I don't get why this is what we should go for?

If it is optimal, wouldn't Chris Boardman have used that position in his time?

Can someone please enlighten me?

TIA

[STARNUT]

90 deg is right. That way you support your upper body on your bones and not yout muscles. You should be ble to drop a plumb bob line from your ear lobe through your elbow. I think the Boardman position your talking about is now banned (superman position?). Unless, Boardman used another position. Secondly, that position is very unstable and requires some serious fitness and flexability to ride in. What you see now in TT bikes is a happt compromise between aerodynamics and comfort.

If you want to real good feedback on your position go over to http://www.biketechreview.com. Post some pics over there and those guys will set you straight. They talk about aerodynamics like we talk about weight. Most guys over there know more than you'll ever want to know about this stuff.

Starnut

[chisa]

yep, the superman position is now banned, otherwise everyone would be using it.

[slowrider]

Or the Graeme Obree position

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/individual ... obree.html

[chisa]

Or the Graeme Obree position

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/individual ... obree.html

interestingly that is legal

[STARNUT]

Or the Graeme Obree position

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/individual ... obree.html

I've seen video of that guy in the 'drome. He doesn't look up very much, if at all (notice how flat his back is and the smooth transition between his lid and his back). He follows the line on the track. Not very applicable to a TT on the road. Plus, I could never figure out how he was able to breath deeply enough to rip in that position. He figured it out though, it was fast.

Starnut

[slowrider]

Yes thats true, i was very impressed when i read his story on a local
tech magazine when i was a kid. He did the bikes himself and everything.

[KF]

Thanks for the input!

@ Starnut! I've been reading a little at BTR, and those guys seem to know what thay talk about!

[Ivan]

Or the Graeme Obree position

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/individual ... obree.html

Hey thats my avatar

Yes thats true, i was very impressed when i read his story on a local
tech magazine when i was a kid. He did the bikes himself and everything.

Once saw a docu of him on TV, kept thinking about him for several days after that. Interesting guy.

[chisa]

there is a film coming out about him soon. called "flying scotsman" (i think).

he wrote a good book too.

[Irish]

Obree is a REAL cycling HERO. Riding a bike he built himself with his own unusual riding style he beat the hour record in Hamar(Norway).Went to ride the worlds in Italy & officals told him to change position or not start when lining up for start(F****ng UCI officals).They (UCI) then banned his position & he invented the superman position(Also Banned by ...UCI).Joined Porfessional team in France called Le Groupment but left when he fell out with them over their "medical programme"(he wouldn't cheat).Basically an honest genius ran out of the sport by the UCI(because he was a maverick)& crap ethics of profesional cycling.Yes indeed a true cycling hero.

[NGMN]

90 degrees isn't the end all be all of fastest positions. However, it is typically the most comfortable(for reasons given by Starnut) which in the end will lead to faster times.

I believe 90 degrees was pushed hardest by triathlon bike fitters and there is some overlap in interest and it has rubbed off on the TT market.

A superman position is faster, but usually harder to handle and not many frames suit that style of fitting.