Themes Within the Pro Peloton
One way of keeping myself amused through the dull moments of a bike race (mostly on TV, sometimes in real life), is to think about each racers set up. In particular, I enjoy looking for the bikefit themes within the team. This will be influenced by many factors including the bike they are riding (geometry) , their history, their body shape, and their team ‘bikefitter’. I use inverted commas as I am sure that some teams do not use a bike fitter as we know, but an aerodynamics expert, bike builder, directeur sportif, etc instead.
Here are five patterns I have noticed within the pro peloton. I may be completely wrong and it could be a coincidence that they are all set up this way, but I think there is probably an external influence. I don’t have much data to back this up, but I think it is an interesting discussion. Please comment if you think I am wrong or if you have noticed any themes, and don’t take anything too seriously!
1. Cervelo Test Team- Using a frame one size smaller than standard and having very large amounts of drop
Almost all the teams riders seem to running frames smaller than their body size would normally suggest (maybe one size?)- even by professional cyclist standards. This leads to very large amounts of drop. I guess that the thought is that by riding a smaller frame you will be lower and therefore more aerodynamic (I think they may have even done wind tunnel tests). The problem I see with this is that the riders are rarely seen in the drops, and adopt the gear levers as their default racing position. I can’t imagine it being too comfortable either with all that tension running through the back and hamstrings. Read my previous posts for the downsides of too much drop.
2. HTC- Columbia Riders running saddle higher than average
HTC make a big deal about their bike fitting with cyclefit.de, so I was surprised to see some slightly unorthodox saddle heights throughout the season. Tejay Van Garderen and Michael Rogers in particular seemed to run them very high. Maybe they used this before they joined HTC? It looked quite uncomfortable from the sofa anyway; a large amount of flexion in the back to reach the handlebars and quite a lot of movement in the hips.
3. Liquigas – Very Externally rotated cleats (heels in) to compensate for lack of varus support
This one I am convinced is linked to a bike fitter at the Liquigas team. Each of their GC contenders has the same set up, a relatively wide stance and no varus correction causing the foot be externally rotated to maintain contact with the pedal. Wedges are needed!
4. Xacobeo Galicia- Internally Rotated Cleats (heels out)
In contrast to Liquigas, whoever set up the XG team seems to favour using cleats with little float and holding the feet internally rotated (heel out). I couldn’t find many pictures but many of the riders seemed to have this set up when I was watching the Vuelta. This forces the knee to track inwards towards the top tube. I don’t know the reason for this.
5. Sky Team- Unusually aggressive handlebar position
I am the least certain about this trend. A lot of the Sky riders look like they have extremely stretched out positions, especially Geraint Thomas and Brad Wiggins. They are both exceptionally flexible but I think that the metabolic cost and discomfort to maintain such a postion must be greater than the aerodynamic benefits. This relationship becomes more crucial on the climbs (speed low =aerodynamic benefit is low), where Wiggins is looking for every advantage possible.
Good sleuthing and observations Sandy.
Geraint’s stem must be at least 130mm – what do you think? It would be fascinating to do a documentary on a few pro teams when they do the bike fitting.
I notice my right foot has a tendency for heel out at times, although the wedges have helped.
Cheers,
Jon
Hi Jon,
I think its a 140mm, and the bars are long reach also (extra 2cm). Maybe a documentary will be created some day!
I think your foot naturally sits heel out, caused by your body mechanics, rather than being placed outwards like the Xacebeo galicia boys.
Interesting observations.
I remember Wiggins saying he’d changed his position this season to improve his climbing. Common factor in the Sky setups is GB track and lots of pursuiters? Not seen the Europeans on the squad riding such a long position (eg Flecha).
Liquigas – Do they run BB30 on those Cannondales? Could be that the slightly wider BB causing the wide stance?
Cervelo – as they have to use stock sizes with big gaps in the size range, a case of making best of limited choice so going to a smaller frame is better than shorter stem in their minds?
Hi Alex,
I wonder what Wiggins changed? Top Secret I suspect.
I think the BB30 bottoms brackets are actually narrower than standard?
Good idea with the Cervelo frames. Maybe need more sizes?
Paolo Bettini always ran a frame as small as possible as he liked to be ‘on top’ of the bike. Obviously it worked for him but as he was talented anything may have worked
BB30 is no wider than a standard BB (both 68mm on a road bike). BB90 and other similar such ‘standards’ used by the likes of Trek are wider though.
Cervelo also claim that their bikes can suit a wider range of sizes – rubbish in my experience as their 56cm bikes leave me with a massive saddle-bar drop and their 58s are too long for me. I’m inclined to agree that most riders are opting for the shorter frame with a longer stem.
Don’t forget a longer stem will also stabilise the handling of a bike and make it less twitchy – that could play a part.
At the end of the day though I very much doubt all of this is down to a team bike fitter – these guys ride like this all day every day so they have to be comfortable. No matter what someone tells me about how my bike ‘should’ fit, if I’m not comfortable like it I won’t ride like it. Foot angle has too much bearing on the knee for it to be suggested by a team bike fitter, it simply must be a personal thing. Ultimately my guess would be coincidence.
As for the massive saddle-bar drops and long stems – hasn’t that been the case for the last 5yrs or more?
Hi Rich,
I used this info regarding the q factors for various chainsets- http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/bb30-low-qs-requesting-info-7252.html Don’t know if it is accurate though
I definitely agree with you that the Cervelo geometry warrants a review. There should be more choice for such expensive bikes.
Regarding the team bike fitter, I think we will have to agree to disagree. At Cyclefit I have been amazed what some people’s bodies can withstand in terms poor adjustment. The riders who make it to the top are often the ones who can stick it out without falling into injury. They simply work around the poor set up and never understand what is possible (unless they get injured). The riders will not complain of being uncomfortable until they know what true comfort is. Ignorance is bliss!
As for massive handle-bar drops and long stems, I was just pointing out that Cervelo seemed to be even more extreme than other pros.
Sandy
Hi Sandy – brilliant comments I think must have been a hybrid between HTC and Sky… new setup, my ‘crazy bike’ as you call it feels good though. Getting used to shorter cranks too. Week off the bike this week then winter training in earnest. It’s 23 degrees here though and just lazing about!
Go enjoy the weather, relax, and stop thinking about Cranks!
Great Sandy, Its seems like Liquigas team is fitted in Mapei center, where the biomechanical work is sometimes……..snifffff. How about Garmin? Its like hig and long….
Since you mentioned the Cervelo Test Team in your post: There is some info available about the frame sizes, stem lenght and height of the Test Team riders (and CSC) on the Cervelo forum.
http://forums.cervelo.com/forums/p/5643/40242.aspx
I know only height is way to less info but looking at the riders height, frame size and stem length they ride I wouldnt say there all running onze size smaller. Offcourse there are some extremes: Haussler, Reimer, Klier on 54′s
But the rest seems to be pretty normal, just long stems/stretched out.
What do you think?
Thanks for the data, they do seem to be on almost normal frame sizes. Maybe it is just the very aggressive geometry tricking my eyes.
Konovalovas also looks like a big exception
Great work keep it coming
excellent article.
Personally I saw 2 years ago to my LBS one “big fish” – winner of Giro stage last year- from HTC.
Well I don’t think he followed or had any instructions about fitting because he was doing by himself and was asking advices to the mechanic (which is not a fitter) about cleat positions (fixed red Shimano) trying to solve his “rotated pelvis” feel. He wanted to try positioning cleats as far back as possible on his shoes, and the mechanic took out some old fashion paper with average center cleat-top of the shoe measures telling him that all back is BS…….that’s pros…lol.