Road Bike Bar Position
The most comfortable position for the majority of road and gravel bike cyclists is where the angle between the torso and the upper arm is around 90 degrees see illustration right.
Road bike bar position. Proper body position on a road bike how to ride with proper body position on a road bike. Road bike riding positions hand positions. Rotate the bars up and back until you find a position where the bar is most comfortable and usable. Giving no regard to the position of the shifters and brake levers as these will be adjusted later.
All the positions should be comfortable when the bars are set up correctly. This post explains different road bar geometries. Whereas on my road bike i have a little bit of a flatter position. Saddle layback which is how far behind the bottom.
You should have a slight bend in the elbows to maximize comfort and control. Sit on the bike and grasp the bar at the grip area. Road bike frames are typically sized either by their top tube length or as a t shirt sizing. Other details to consider which will help determine the correct frame size for your bike are saddle height knee position reach hand position and foot position.
This post addresses setting up drup bars road bicycle handlebars. Road handlebars traditionally had a very deep drop meaning when you moved from the hoods to the drops there was a significant position change. Riding with a balanced and relaxed body position may seem like a basic skill for a road cyclist but it is something that even experienced riders struggle with and can cause frustration for beginner roadies. One of the main advantages of drop bars they allow various hand arm and body positions.
Ideally you have the bike set up in an indoor trainer. This post explains what kinds of road bicycle drop bar hand positions exist. But generally if you re sitting up a little more and you re reaching down into your drops you choose the 80mm bar. On the road bike changing hand positions frequently will allow you to be in the position most suitable for the terrain beneath your front wheel as well as to keep your hands from becoming sore and going numb there are four main places to put your hands on a road bike.
There are many variants when setting up a cycle but many people get it wrong from the outset by choosing a road bike that is the incorrect size for them.