Best Position For Cycling

[Mapster1989]

What's the best position to get in when cycling?

Obviously the more aerodynamic the better but I find it uncomfortable. Does it make that much difference to get into the aero tuck that makes it beneficial to be uncomfortable?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

what are you trying to achieve?
a fast ride?
a leisurely ride?
neck ache?
or just enjoying yourself out on the bike?

1 of my bikes (expedition/off road tourer) is almost bolt upright. my mtb more forward but still plenty of room to move around and look around, my road bike, more aerodynamic and takes more to enjoy the scenery.

(now wait for everyone else to contradict me )

 

[Sittingduck]

Depends on the situation...

 

[Hacienda71]

If you cruise at around 20 mph then yes it starts making a lot of difference. At 15 mph far less. The faster you go the more aerodynamics come into play.

 

[mattobrien]

What's the best position to get in when cycling?

I find positioning myself on a bike to be a good start :-)

 

[subaqua]

bum on seat , feet on pedals and hands on bars works just fine for me. sometimes i even take hands off bars

 

[Hip Priest]

It depends what you're doing.

The best position for a 10 mile TT will not be the best position for a 100 mile sportive!

I used to feel ridiculous in the drops. Probably because I was fat and slow, so it was ridiculous to be in the drops. Now I'm quicker, I enjoy being in the drops when I'm going hard, and it feels right.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

The best position is.... Wait or it.... The one most comfortable for the type of ride you are doing!

I rarely tick as I too find it uncomfortable, but it doesnt stop me achieving decent averages and max speeds up to 46mph (that was a long good downhill tho).

Yes, the better you tuck the more aerodynamic you are, but just find what's comfortable and go for it Mapster.

 

[subaqua]

The best position is.... Wait or it.... The one most comfortable for the type of ride you are doing!

I rarely tick as I too find it uncomfortable, but it doesnt stop me achieving decent averages and max speeds up to 46mph (that was a long good downhill tho).

Yes, the better you tuck the more aerodynamic you are, but just find what's comfortable and go for it Mapster.

this

 

[Pat "5mph"]

what are you trying to achieve?
neck ache?

 

[Mugshot]

What if you had a really decent tail wind and you were maybe chasing a strava segment (for example ) , will sitting more upright and acting like a sail be more advantageous than getting on the drops?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

What if you had a really decent tail wind and you were maybe chasing a strava segment (for example ) , will sitting more upright and acting like a sail be more advantageous than getting on the drops
?

Only if the wind's going faster than you...

 

[Shut Up Legs]

With you on top . A year ago, my bike ended up on top of me, and it was painful and left lasting scars.

As for the serious answer: if you do enough cycling, you can develop your core muscles and you may find that you can maintain an aerodynamic position for longer periods.

 

[Mugshot]

Only if the wind's going faster than you...

That's where I've been going wrong all this time! I knew it wasn't just me being rubbish

 

[GrasB]

Best positon on the bike?... Here are 2 rather good examples -

Aerodynamic, good anatomical support, good power production & very little position induced fatigue.