And it's why most recreational riders are suckers if they let themselves get scammed into buying the newest types of road bikes by bike companies or Rodale Publishing! David Feldman
> To all CR's:
>
> I want to thank Tom Dalton for his thorough and well reasoned coverage of
> the issue of modern vs retro saddle height (and handlebar height). I only
> want to add a few items to his list (IMHO):
>
> 1. My copy of Bernard Hinault's (& Claude Genzling's) book "Road Racing
> Technique and Training" comments on pg 101 (Climbing, seated back) :
>
> "The position for flat riding that we described earlier is also good for
> climbing, especially because the saddle is high. If road riders used to
> feel they had to raise their saddles for mountain passes, it was because
> they were often too low by ergonomic standards."
>
> 2. Besides all of the modern road and technology improvements which have
> increased bicycle speed and necessitated a powerful and aerodynamic
> position, I think that the increase in high dollar/high stakes racing
> sponsorship promotes a trend towards "perfect" body types. Those whose
> physiologies aren't skeletally perfect just don't cut it.
>
> 3. Modern arched cycling shoes allow for a higher seat position due to the
> alignment of the foot. Old style flat-soled shoes (I'm virtually certain)
> promoted a flatter angle of the foot and consequently a lower seat height.
>
> 4. A too-low handlebar position is verifiably hard on the body. I have
some
> mild bone spurs in the back of my neck due to 20 years of straining to
> raise my head up. I've solved this problem by using an extended steering
> tube (added a 13mm headset washer) and a higher stem.
>
> The Nitto "Pearl 12" stem is the same horizontal size as a 13 cm Cinelli,
> but is vertically 4mm higher than a Cinelli 1A, and 6mm higher than a
> Cinelli XA, relative to their maximum heights
>
> I'm also glad to have the option of installing a 3T "Morphe" handlebar if
I
> ever need to go higher (about 13mm higher than 1997 Cinelli Eubios).
>
> 5. I was indirectly reminded of the non-correlation of my bicycle design
> and posture to modern "professional" machines thru an article in European
> Car magazine: A comparison between the VW 1.8 turbo engine and a Formula 1
> engine showed that the two designs are so task-specific that there is
> virtually no similarity!
>
> regards,
>
> Andrew Gillis (warming up in Long Beach, CA)