Simon Yates' TT position

[Keith A]

Not sure if this was discussed in the threads about the TT stage, but when watching this last night I couldn't help but notice that Yates didn't look comfortable on his TT bike. He was constantly sliding forward on his saddle and then having to push back. Contrast that to Tom Dumoulin who was rock steady and no shifting around.

I'm not sure if this cost SY any time, but this would certainly be a distraction and you might think that he could have done even better if this wasn't an issue.

Thoughts?

[bicycletricycle]

I was doing some thinking about that as well, but also more generally about the differences between TT performances among non TT specialists. I am assuming that the biggest difference is just the training one puts in.

The commentators made a comment about another rider (can't remember who, famous time trialist) that had changed their position to increase aero but it actually had a negative effect over all because of comfort.

Perhaps Yates has done some work in the wind tunnel and just isn't used to his new position? Maybe he was just putting in a bigger effort than normal and isn't used to it? I have no idea how much time these GC contenders put in on the TT bike, especially the climber types.



Not sure if this was discussed in the threads about the TT stage, but when watching this last night I couldn't help but notice that Yates didn't look comfortable on his TT bike. He was constantly sliding forward on his saddle and then having to push back. Contrast that to Tom Dumoulin who was rock steady and no shifting around.

I'm not sure if this cost SY any time, but this would certainly be a distraction and you might think that he could have done even better if this wasn't an issue.

Thoughts?

[weaponsgrade]

Yes, it didn’t look as good as TD, but he did enough of a solid ride. It’ll be interesting to see what TD and now Froome do.

[Keith A]

...
The commentators made a comment about another rider (can't remember who, famous time trialist) that had changed their position to increase aero but it actually had a negative effect over all because of comfort.
...That was Tony Martin they were talking about...which is why I wondered if Yates might have been faster if he was more comfortable.

[StephenCL]

Yeah, it drove me nuts to watch him slide back on his saddle about every 5-6 crank revolutions.. he never looked comfortable, just kind of powered through it.

hopefully, he can spend some time in the off season addressing this, clearly wasted energy and time.

I think he has huge potential as a long term GC rider...

Stephen

[ColnagoFan]

Yeah, it drove me nuts to watch him slide back on his saddle about every 5-6 crank revolutions.. he never looked comfortable, just kind of powered through it.

hopefully, he can spend some time in the off season addressing this, clearly wasted energy and time.

I think he has huge potential as a long term GC rider...

Stephen

If I recall, Contador used to do the same thing...maybe why some of those guys have grip tape on their saddles, so they don't slide...

[Bostic]

His regular bike setup makes me think of Grumpy Cat NO! memes.

http://cdn.velonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DSCF4085-800x450.gif

[spinarelli]

Yes, Contador did it all the time. Really annoying to watch since he used to get so much TV time. A lot of riders in the Tour did it. More common then you would think. Every time you slide forward and back you reduce/increase your saddle height. Maybe it is a way to relax their muscles and prevent fatigue. I don't know the answer.

[bicycletricycle]

I remember that fizik claimed the length of the arione was inspired by this kind of common sliding on the saddle in the peleton. Maybe it isn't that bad? on the other hand, what the hell do I know?

Yes, Contador did it all the time. Really annoying to watch since he used to get so much TV time. A lot of riders in the Tour did it. More common then you would think. Every time you slide forward and back you reduce/increase your saddle height. Maybe it is a way to relax their muscles and prevent fatigue. I don't know the answer.

[m4rk540]

Old Tri trick.

[rePhil]

There are stories and photo's of Tony Martin after he used sandpaper or similar on his saddle for a TT. By the looks of his bum, the sandpaper won.

[FlashUNC]

It looks like it'll be a good enough position to win the Giro.

[velofinds]

Doesn't sliding spread the load (fatigue) around more by engaging different muscle groups and so on? i.e., resulting in a net benefit verus a fixed strictly aero position?

[sandyrs]

His regular bike setup makes me think of Grumpy Cat NO! memes.

http://cdn.velonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DSCF4085-800x450.gif

why, it looks totally fine except that the levers are a bit lower on the bars than some people ride.

[BdaGhisallo]

Dumoulin was doing the same shifting back and forth on the saddle as Yates. He wasn't doing it as often but it is a common thing.

[eBAUMANN]

yea...he was way too far forward on the nose of the saddle. he would shift his ass back and then like 3 pedal strokes later, right back to the nose. very reminiscent of watching contador, i agree, drove me crazy to watch, just move the saddle forward SOMEHOW and be done with it.

[David Tollefson]

Sliding forward is usually a result of (1) trying to use the arms to help propel the pedal stroke, and (2) trying to open up the hip angle after the front end gets closed up trying to get the bars low. The geometry regulations and a general lack of ride time in the position are the root causes, but what happens by sliding forward is that it effectively reduces the saddle height, so then the rider slides back to get the knee angle back to comfortable.

[wallymann]

for a wee-little grimpeur's bike, it looks plenty proper and slammed.

http://cdn.velonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DSCF4085-800x450.gif

[spinarelli]

Isn't there some UCI rule that says the saddle has to be so many cm behind the BB? maybe they slide forward because of the position of that saddle due to that rule.

yea...he was way too far forward on the nose of the saddle. he would shift his ass back and then like 3 pedal strokes later, right back to the nose. very reminiscent of watching contador, i agree, drove me crazy to watch, just move the saddle forward SOMEHOW and be done with it.

[ultraman6970]

There is a rule, but in the case of yates vs TD, you have to consider their size, one is tiny and the other guy is quite tall, and that makes a big difference at the time to pick a bike size and the position, specially with TT bikes.

Way too many variables to know why yates was slipping down the saddle. Remember when contador busted his wrist, they moved the stem up like 1 or 2 cm, the slipping down the saddle disappeared and IMO he was riding equally fast. Even contador said they were sacrificing aero so his wrist or clavicle was able to heal faster and avoid pressure in the injury. IMO contador was better not that low.

Since yates had to go fast there is a good chance that they picked the fastest fit, not the more comfortable one.