31
votes
Accepted
Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
Here's what you need! Lightweight and upright --
- 52.4k
30
votes
Accepted
Is it poor technique or physiology that causes people to cycle with their knees sticking out to the side?
Based on the people I've seen riding, knees-apart is a symptom.
New rider - it takes time to develop a good pedal stroke, and some people haven't got there.
Saddle too low - If your position is ...
- 99.3k
28
votes
Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
Consider trying a recumbent. They fail on your "light" requirement, with weights well above a diamond-frame.
However for a crook back, sitting in a comfy armchair is magical compared to being on a ...
- 99.3k
19
votes
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What body positions (or goals) create more stability over obstacles in mountain biking, and how do I lower my center of gravity?
Why are roadies so hunched over?!?
Let me begin by characterizing why road bikes have their riding position vs why MTBs have theirs. It's a gross generalization of course, but most riders and riding ...
- 10.9k
15
votes
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Why exactly did Boardman manage a further distance than Wiggins?
Boardman used what is known as the "Superman" position, as shown in this image.
This position has been deemed to be against the rules by the UCI. Compare it to the position that Wiggins had on the ...
- 21.4k
12
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Standing to pedal is extremely tiring - should it be this difficult?
Standing up on a bike, especially when you lack fitness, is a good way to go "anaerobic." Put simply, that means your body is working so hard, it can't get enough oxygen. You can only do that for a ...
- 1,128
11
votes
Why are BMX saddles so low?
I ride a pro racer XL BMX. They are built for speed. I keep my seat down for 2 reasons.
all my pedaling is done standing up -- power is everything for a racer.
My saddle is made of one material ...
- 111
10
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Does the superman style have any chance to be seen in competition?
I really doubt it. A number of problems pop into my head immediately.
Corners.
French/Italian/Spanish road surfaces.
Holding your legs up long enough to be worth it.
I'm pretty sure this video is ...
- 5,736
10
votes
Ride a Century Without Stopping?
I've almost done this, and its not "easy" but it should be possible.
However a non-stop 100 km is much harder than simply doing 100 km. Try working up do it. I don't know what your current distance ...
- 99.3k
10
votes
How to make a derailleur work in opposite directions?
When you switch to the crankset behind cogs, you need to move the derailleur above the cogset.
Think of it as rotating the entire drive train 180 degrees forward or flipping the entire bike over the ...
- 19.4k
10
votes
Is it a good idea to lift the front wheel to go through small bumps?
Potential for damage to wheels depends on sharpness of the bump, speed, bike and rider weight, tire volume and pressure, and how tough the wheels are.
Moving your weight back or pulling up on the ...
- 74.3k
9
votes
Foot position on pedal
I think most people find the bike-to-run transition quite difficult while the legs adjust from going in a circular motion to running. Particularly for longer distance courses.
Here's an interesting ...
- 530
9
votes
Accepted
Would Tri-Bars be advantageous for a 260 mile 2 day event
I would suggest attaching the bars and doing some test rides.
Is your bike, with it's aggressive geometry, stable when using them?
Are you comfortable using them?
Does this new position provide some ...
- 1,127
9
votes
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Potential risks of sitting upright on the saddle during a daily commute
Of course, you will have less control over your bike if you don't hold the handle bars, especially if something unexpected happens (like a truck coming out of nowhere at full speed for example).
...
- 366
9
votes
how do you develop the strength to be able to hold a aero right angled forearm position?
It's all about core strength, not arm strength. If you want to ride like this for long periods of time you should be supporting most of your weight with your core muscles - not your arms. Your ...
- 494
9
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I'm 37, can my legs still grow?
Your observations are confounded with time and lots of things can change in the intervening time, this include your flexibility (e.g., hips and/or hamstrings) and your components (e.g., your saddle).
...
- 29.8k
9
votes
Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
Many of the (continental?) European "every-day" bikes have a relatively upright and straight back position (you basically get a continuum there from sportive strongly forward tilted position to ...
8
votes
Why are my wrists the first part of my body to start aching during a long ride?
As @Daniel has commented, and I agreed, you probably have a bike fit problem. We cannot be sure; the only way to find out for sure is to get a professional fitting done. Having said that there are ...
- 17.1k
8
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Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
Does something already exist? Probably not. Could something be custom-built for you? Definitely.
Super-light bikes are generally only in the "hunched over" aggressive positions, because generally ...
- 11.7k
8
votes
Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
How upright are we talking? It’s true that racing oriented road bike frames have geometries for a relatively hunched-over seating position. However, training road bikes or “fitness” bikes (road bikes ...
- 19.7k
8
votes
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Are Adjustable Stems With Reasonable Merit?
Whether they work: Short answer yes, they do not have major widespread problems. Most problems that do occur are related to undertightening the bolts on them to start with, or adjusting them without ...
- 66.8k
8
votes
Sliding Back in the Saddle while Climbing
If a climb is steep enough, I would aggressively lean forward and tension my arms. Not quite getting out of the saddle, but just-about.
This shifts more weight to the front wheel, which for me gets a ...
- 99.3k
7
votes
Why are my wrists the first part of my body to start aching during a long ride?
Regarding part 1:
I'd start by raising the stack height a bit so that you lean on your wrists with less weight; your position will be more upright and less aerodynamic. Along with this, make sure ...
- 5,254
7
votes
Standing to pedal is extremely tiring - should it be this difficult?
Pedaling while standing always takes more effort; we do it when we need the extra boost.
When you were younger and rid[ing] a bicycle a lot, you were also fitter. I'm guessing you have had a ...
- 17.1k
7
votes
Is it poor technique or physiology that causes people to cycle with their knees sticking out to the side?
it might be for therapeutical reasons.
once I hit a pole with my knee and it hurt. I asked a physiotherapist how to ride until it gets better (I had to because I was working as a messenger) and I was ...
- 211
7
votes
Ride a Century Without Stopping?
it would seem to me that nutrition, hydration, waste disposal and arm fatigue would be the greatest challenges
Nutrition: isn't that hard, although if you haven't already, you might want to spend ...
- 2,926
7
votes
how do you develop the strength to be able to hold a aero right angled forearm position?
Kevin's answer about core being used to hold the position is correct, but I wanted to add some clarifications about factors that can affect how you engage your core muscle when in an aggressive ...
- 29.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Is it a good idea to lift the front wheel to go through small bumps?
Hitting any obstacle with the front wheel has always a worse events development potential compared to hitting the same obstacle with the rear wheel: one can loose control over the bicycle and fall ...
- 13.8k
7
votes
Does a bike exist that is both very light and does not need to be ridden in a hunched over position?
I will add another suggestion to the conversation, by throwing in the Pedersen.
It is a very unique and stylished bike, which would definitely fit your requirements :
It has a hammock saddle, which ...
6
votes
I sit real far back on my saddle
As others have said, just because the bike shop says it's a good fit, doesn't make it so. Their incentive is to sell a bike off the floor so they'll find the one that fits best and sell it to you.
I ...
- 8,916
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