To size a triathlon bike apropriately, it is necessary to look beyond the height chart and consider the way in which a bike must accomodate the bodys specific geometry for long durations. It is essential to ensure that the triathlon bike is correctly sized for the individual to maintain an aerodynamic position while also allow for an efficient transition into the run portion of the race. If the frame size of the triathlon bike are not correctly sized to the individual, they may experience discomfort in there shoulders or their hips.
Additionally, they may experience inefficiently pedal strokes. To size a triathlon bike, a persons height is only one of the measurement that must be considered. Additionally, you must also consider a person’s inseam length and torso length.
How to Fit a Triathlon Bike to Your Body
Individuals who is shorter than average will require a bike with a more compact design to avoid overstretching the body. Those who are taller than average will require a design that allow there legs to stretch more to avoid placing too much of their body into a high stack. Triathlon bike have a reach and a stack to determine the position of the individual on the bike.
The reach is the distance from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube. This measurement will determine how far an individual must stretch to reach the handlebars. An individual who has a reach that is too short will feel cramped on the bike.
An individual who has a reach that is too long will eventually round there back to accommodate their body, which will create more aerodynamic drag. Stack is the vertical measurement of the front end of the triathlon bike. This will determine the height of the handlebars.
A low stack will require the individual to tuck in further into the wind to reduce the drag created by there moving body. A high stack will make it easier for the individual to breathe while maintaining their position on the bike for long distance. Another component of the triathlon bike that you should consider is the setup of the aerobars.
The elbow pad on the aerobars should be sized to match the shoulder width of the individual. Elbow pads that are between 10 and 14 centimeters in distance from one another will reduce the drag created by the aerobars while allowing an individual to breathe adequate. Additionally, the extension of the aerobars should be adjusted so that they hit the elbow bend of the individual at approximately 140 degrees.
This will allow individuals to more efficient power their pedal stroke without raising their shoulders. Finally, the saddle of the triathlon bike should be set back as minimal as possible. This means that the saddle should be between 0 and 5 centimeters behind the plumb line of the bottom bracket.
A minimal saddle will allow an individual to maintain a hip angle of between 50 and 55 degrees. An individual’s body shape and flexibility will play a role in the positioning on the triathlon bike. The position that flattens an individual’s back to the cycle is the full aerodynamic tuck.
This position will require an individual to have a high level of flexibility in their body. For many individual who compete in long distances for a triathlon, the balanced aerodynamic position is preferred. This position is sustainable for many hour.
An individual’s body shape accounts for 40% of the resistance that an individual experience when cycling, meaning that an individual should consider their body shape and how their position on the triathlon bike will amplify their gains in positioning their body. Another consideration of the triathlon bike are the material of which the bike will be comprised. Carbon fiber is a common material for the construction of the bikes due to it’s stiffness and its lightweight properties.
An aluminum frame is more affordable, while the titanium frame is more durable. In terms of the wheels for the bike, deep section rim are best utilized on even flat surfaces, while disc wheels are best utilized when the wind condition are calm. Finally, the most efficient means of ensuring that a triathlon bike is sized appropriately for the individual is to use a professional fitter to make small adjustment to the bike until an individual’s power with the pedals becomes efficient transferred to the bike.
A professional fitter will ensure that an individual’s knee track correctly over the pedals and that the cleats that attach to the shoes are aligned with the ball of the foot. By ensuring that the geometry of the triathlon bike is correctly sized for an individual and that the professional fitter adjust the bike accordingly, an individual can maintain the proper position while competing in a triathlon race. You should of worked with one.
