Sitting on the top tube.

[duncan16v]

Why?

It makes you look like you're giving your bum a good seeing to.

[Duck!]

1: It tucks the body into a smaller more aerodyniamic profile, reducing drag, allowing the rider to go faster.

2: It lowers the centre of gravity on the bike, improving stability and allowing the rider to go faster.

[familyguy]

Whilst moving or stopped? I do it a lot while stopped, but I can't get that low when I'm moving

Jim

[bychosis]

3. it leaves room on the saddle for someone else?

[rpmspinman]

Whilst moving or stopped? I do it a lot while stopped, but I can't get that low when I'm moving

Jim

+1. While stopped its like a seat while you're waiting. But yes Ive never tried to get that aero on the down hill.

[g-boaf]

Why?

It makes you look like you're giving your bum a good seeing to.

Try it at 65km/h going downhill. Someone I was riding with did it and took off like a scalded cat. I've done it myself a few times, it doesn't seem worth it for the gain in speed, and it doesn't feel more stable either. It's also not allowed in club level racing here if I remember right.

http://centralcoastcyclingclub.com.au/f ... pic=4211.0

[Sharkey]

I'm waiting to see a pro rider use a dropper seat post to achieve a similar aero position but still be able to pedal somewhat.

[duncan16v]

Whilst moving or stopped? I do it a lot while stopped, but I can't get that low when I'm moving

Jim

To clarify: while stopped. At the lights. On the morning commute.

I mean, if you've just climbed Mont Ventoux, I geddit. If you've just descended Brunswick Street, then maybe you should either a) HTFU, or b) be more diligent apres tolilettes as it were.

[silentC]

When stopped for a period of time, try sitting on the top tube facing backwards with your forearms resting on the seat. It's very comfortable.

[silentC]

Some more ideas for you here. These will really impress your fellow commuters.

[nezumi]

Whilst moving or stopped? I do it a lot while stopped, but I can't get that low when I'm moving

Jim

To clarify: while stopped. At the lights. On the morning commute.

I mean, if you've just climbed Mont Ventoux, I geddit. If you've just descended Brunswick Street, then maybe you should either a) HTFU, or b) be more diligent apres tolilettes as it were.

Better than keeping my butt on the seat and awkwardly rocking from side to side on tip-toes.

[LG]

When stopped for a period of time, try sitting on the top tube facing backwards with your forearms resting on the seat. It's very comfortable.

Did you attempt to mount a horse by putting the wrong foot in the stirrup?

[AUbicycles]

2: It lowers the centre of gravity on the bike, improving stability and allowing the rider to go faster.

Stability yes - but not necessarily control which is the biggest disadvantage.

[Kronos]

Why?

It makes you look like you're giving your bum a good seeing to.

I'm going to get slaughtered but I don't care... Because its the trend of the day, because the European Continental riders, and Pro Tour riders are doing it. Nothing more really. If we want to look at the latest "wonder" trend of sitting on the seat post while going down hill was it not the fact that a more "traditional" aero position of Marco Pantani was actually quicker than sitting on the seat post the way Froomie does? I refer as below:

3. it leaves room on the saddle for someone else?

Someone with competent bike handling skills? Sorry to be a retro grouch, but honestly I don't see any point or benefit in this trend. If you take away where Pantani is sitting, it's an almost perfect example of classic form. This is certainly my preference to the way things are now done.

The benefit to the above position of Froome is that it is said that he can still pedal. But at what point does it become the case that peddling is energy counterproductive? We reach a point we can go 2 to 3km/hr faster, but at what expense to our energy stores do we achieve that? And is Froomies peddling actually helping his descending speed in any significant way, shape or form?

My personal preference is still to use a classic fit with a bike frame measured to the millimeter and to use the drops if I really want to be aero.

[mikgit]

Why?

It makes you look like you're giving your bum a good seeing to.

I'm going to get slaughtered but I don't care... Because its the trend of the day, because the European Continental riders, and Pro Tour riders are doing it. Nothing more really. If we want to look at the latest "wonder" trend of sitting on the seat post while going down hill was it not the fact that a more "traditional" aero position of Marco Pantani was actually quicker than sitting on the seat post the way...etc etc

You've missed the part where he said "While stopped"...

To clarify: while stopped. At the lights. On the morning commute.

[Kronos]

While stopped... if I'm unclipped while stopped, I'll sit on the top tube because my fitment allows me to. It's reasonably comfortable while waiting at the lights (for a short period of time). This is a thing that traditional fitment allows you to do, I can have a seat position where I can't touch the ground and I can slide onto the bar and sit there as you would lean on any other post while waiting for the lights to change.

Also if its good enough for Eddy Merckx it's good enough for the rest of us

[fat and old]

While I admit that there's nothing cooler than Merckx in that pic, if the bloke in front of me waiting at the lights does that I'm gonna be miffed

And the knicks...bring back that length. The modern length sucks for us short blokes.

[baabaa]

While stopped... if I'm unclipped while stopped, I'll sit on the seat post because my fitment allows me to. It's reasonably comfortable while waiting at the lights (for a short period of time). This is a thing that traditional fitment allows you to do, I can have a seat position where I can't touch the ground and I can slide onto the bar and sit there as you would lean on any other post while waiting for the lights to change.

How long is reasonably comfortable when sitting on a seat post before you need to head off to hospital?

[nezumi]

I don't know about you guys/the people you are seeing, but for me "sitting on the seat tube" doesn't mean having a cheek each side, it means resting the upper thigh of one leg on the tube, so the other is flat on the ground.

[silentC]

It's certainly more comfortable on a modern CF frame than on the old round section tube steel frames. Mine has a nice flat spot up near the head tube.

[Kronos]

While stopped... if I'm unclipped while stopped, I'll sit on the seat post because my fitment allows me to. It's reasonably comfortable while waiting at the lights (for a short period of time). This is a thing that traditional fitment allows you to do, I can have a seat position where I can't touch the ground and I can slide onto the bar and sit there as you would lean on any other post while waiting for the lights to change.

How long is reasonably comfortable when sitting on a seat post before you need to head off to hospital?

I've never had a problem with it to that extent to find out

[hamishm]

To clarify: while stopped. At the lights. On the morning commute.

I'm with you Duncan. It looks ridiculous. Also you've probably been sitting on the saddle 95% of the time until then and probably don't need a little sit down while stopped at the lights...

[Kronos]

To clarify: while stopped. At the lights. On the morning commute.

I'm with you Duncan. It looks ridiculous. Also you've probably been sitting on the saddle 95% of the time until then and probably don't need a little sit down while stopped at the lights...

Can you explain why I would bother to unclip completely and stand by my bike or whatever it is you're doing? It may look ridiculous to you but if I don't have to unclip both feet and I can set off more quickly at the lights who is being ridiculous

[hamishm]

Can you explain why I would bother to unclip completely and stand by my bike or whatever it is you're doing? It may look ridiculous to you but if I don't have to unclip both feet and I can set off more quickly at the lights who is being ridiculous

Who said anything about unclipping? I stand, one foot clipped in, the other leg straight.

Now you are being ridiculous because this is quite obvious.

[Kronos]

Can you explain why I would bother to unclip completely and stand by my bike or whatever it is you're doing? It may look ridiculous to you but if I don't have to unclip both feet and I can set off more quickly at the lights who is being ridiculous

Who said anything about unclipping? I stand, one foot clipped in, the other leg straight.

Now you are being ridiculous because this is quite obvious.

It's not obvious until you state what you're doing. I'm not a mind reader.