Finding The V-Locus is something of an extension of the Goldilocks Principle; bars set somewhere between Sit Up and Beg and a face-plant, saddle height somewhere between speed skater and Baryshnikov, and reach somewhere between a unicycle and the Batpod. This is art more than it is science, a process of iteration and refinement. And everyone knows “iteration and refinement” is the formal way of saying “we’re making this up as we go along.”
We are in the midst of a Sit Up and Beg Epidemic, and with that comes an emphasis on the rare rider who looks completely natural on their machine. There is a sense of ease that belies the power the rider generates; the position must allow for balance between opposing forces experienced while riding on two wheels, not to mention the sophisticated coordination required to coax a system of muscles that can only push or pull into generating power through a perfectly circular pedal stroke.
Cyrille Guimard is known to be a kind of grand master of il posizione, having been responsible for developing all three of the dominant Grand Tour riders of the late seventies and eighties. These three riders – Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon, and Greg LeMond – shared a common theme: their positions on the bike was so beautiful it has been scientifically proven to have cured infertility in women who watched them race, indirectly accounting for the baby boom in the 70’s and 80’s.
Of the three, LeMond stood out as being the most perfect, pioneering the use of the wind tunnel to refine his position to maximize the balance between physiology and aerodynamics in order to wring the most V from himself and his machine. He had the advantage of living in an era when frames were tailor-made like a suit on Savile Row but he used it to great effect, tweaking seat tube angles to maximize use of his long thighs and stretching his top tube to account for his long reach reach. In America at least, it’s easy to pick out riders who took a page out of his book on positioning, riding long and stretched out positions and mashing gears heels-down at 60rpm while gently rocking their shoulders. It brings a tear of joy to my eyes whenever I see it.
In our day of cookie-cutter carbon frames, we’re often left to refine our position through stem length and seatpost setback, but that’s no excuse for allowing us not to Look Fantastic and natural on the bike. Take heed of the Apostle LeMond and don’t stop tweaking until you have found your V-Locus.
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@tessar
Same goes for women's frame geometry - biggest load of shit. VMH rides a fucking 12cm stem on the rain bike, and a 13cm monster on the other. Slammed. If you need to go smaller, go 650c wheels; its actually not a bad option if she's that small.
A -35deg stem? Where are you measuring from? The fork? Jesus, that's some drop on a stem. I thought an Ergostem was the only option once you got past 17 degrees.
Good point. Never stop exploring different products.
Which reminds me of the North Face slogan, "Never Stop Exploring." When I worked in the store where I met Marko, a co-worker would always place a giant D over the "r". Made me laugh every time.
@GreenGiant
For me, that was his peak. Beating Kelly in a sprint to begin with, but don't forget he also beat EPO Ground Zero Konyshev as well.
And in Rule 9 conditions. After chasing down Fignon at Mach V.
That was his perfect race.
@frank
Of which he almost dropped out multiple times throughout the race b/c he felt like shit for the majority of it. Wonder what a few might have done this year if they had stayed the course?
Agreed though, his most perfect race.
Wow, that picture...
There's a whole lot of emotion running through it.
@imakecircles
Dura-Ace SPD - R. Metal cleats and enough spring tension that you'd never get enough force by twisting your ankle to accidentally pull a pedal.
The trackies use the straps for a couple of reasons - if they snap the toe off a plastic cleat, or it's just worn and they pull the toe side out, the strap keeps the shoe near enough to the pedal that they can re-engage quite easily. The other failure is accidentally rotating out, and the strap does the same thing.
@Rom that's the saddle I had. It was awesome. I couldn't tell you the name of my new saddle but one week one and we are getting along just fine.
@All, why does a wind trainer make your bike position feel so much different (apart from the obvious)?
I ge the feeling a bunch of blokes discussing women's saddles is like a pack of virgins exchanging their best pick up lines. All the best intentions but not much of a fucken clue, really.
@girl Is your bike level on the trainer?
@minion
That's funny. But try being a girl and having to explain/describe to your male coach or male lbs owner how you are uncomfortable on your saddle. A whole lot of awesomeness that is not.
Yes, it's level.
@PeakInTwoYears
Someone suggested a longer stem and that has made all the difference in the world (IMHO). I can ride that bike for hours and hours with no lower back pain.
@cyclebrarian
I went to longer stem for a while and had issues at the base of my neck, which went away when I went back to the shorter stem. At some point I'll just pony up for a good fitting when I'm in Portland.