Geometry tweaks - help please

[Unsteady]

Hi all,

Probabaly a bad title for this question but I need to bring the handlebars and saddle a little closer together than the standard fittings allow - by about 1 inch. I find I'm having to push my butt back in the saddle too much to get perfectly comfortable, and of course when I do this I'm stretching to reach the handlebars. I've adjusted the saddle as forward as it can go.

My ride is a Spesh Allez Sport 18 and its got the standard 100mm handlebar stem and the standard BG saddle.

Suppose the frame may be just a little on the large side for me but not by much, and a small adjustment of one inch will make all the diference.

I know I can relplace the handlebar stem with a 90mm version and that will help.

So my question is - does anyone have any experience with a saddle that allows a bit more horizontal adjustment or a saddle post that clamps the saddle in a more forward position?

Many thanks in advance,

Mark.

 

[fossala]

I think 1inch is a lot to want to adjust it by. Do you have the right size bike?

 

[fossyant]

Don't start moving the saddle front and back just to reduce reach as that's why you want to sit further back. You should have at least 5cm set back from the nose of the saddle to behind the BB axel if you drop a plumb line down (unless you want a TT bike, where the saddle is much further forward).

Can you post a pic of the bike, from the side.

You would be better off with a shorter stem. Does sound like a) you aren't used to the bike yet, or b) the bike is too big.

 

[mickle]

You shouldn't move the saddle if the bars are too far away, you should move the bars. Bear in mind that the sensation that the bars are too far away can also be caused by having the saddle set away from the horizontal (nose down) and if the saddle is too narrow for you.

Some fitting advice here:

 

[cyberknight]

Don't start moving the saddle front and back just to reduce reach as that's why you want to sit further back. You should have at least 5cm set back from the nose of the saddle to behind the BB axel if you drop a plumb line down (unless you want a TT bike, where the saddle is much further forward).

Can you post a pic of the bike, from the side.

You would be better off with a shorter stem. Does sound like a) you aren't used to the bike yet, or b) the bike is too big.

Saddle set back depends on leg length, saddle type and frame geometry so 5 cm is a guideline as written in the UCI rulebook but is a good starting point.
As fossy+mickle have said you should get your saddle height + set back set right before you adjust your reach with stem length and stem angle, you can get handlebars with shorter reaches as well but be aware that shortening the stem by a large amount can affect the handling of the bike.
I have always found this link to be very useful for settting up a bike...
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

 

[MattHB]

Careful if you shorten stem length too much, I tried it and the bike went mad due to the lack of rotational distance around the steerer pivot point.

The best thing that helped me with reach was loosing weight and becoming more supple. The allez has an aggressive riding position, so you may need some body changes if you want to fit that geometry. Pilates can help enormously with that and lots of other things in your life. Of course there are other ways, but that's my favourite.

Good luck

 

[Unsteady]

Thanks for the advice guys - really appreciate it. Shortening the stem rather than changing the seat position makes good sense so thanks for that. Understand that shortening the stem will alter the handling which I hadn't thought of before so I'll be careful as you advise. Thanks for the links mickle + cyberknight. I might try an 80mm stem instead of the 100mm and see how it goes.

Fossyant - I can't upload a photo for some reason - assuming that you need to be a subscriber to do this but I'm not sure. But yes, I might not be used to the bike yet - only had it two weeks so I'll need to clock up a few more miles.

MattHB - thank you. Very interesting re your advice on my own body geometry which sadly rings very true so a few adjustments required there as well...

Thanks again. I'll let you all know how the adjustments go...

 

[Unsteady]

Hi guys, just reporting back as promised... Got a replacement 80mm stem and fitted it turned upwards. I also turned the handlebars up slightly.

This less agressive setup is perfect for me now but I expect to be able to gradually move back towards a more agressive riding position as I get used to it (still in old-fart mode at the moment...). Definitely not shuffling forwards and back in the saddle any more.

I was reluctant to pay more than £30 for a new stem just in case it didn't work as expected so I got a XLC Pro-SL stem that matched the bike and it seems a good solid stem. Was slightly nervous of doing up allen bolts without a Torque wrench so I reckon that this is going to be the next investment.

Anyway thanks again for all the advice guys.