When you see Rodriguez on the road and mountain stages, he is almost always on his brake hoods with straight arms, or out the saddle. This suggests to me, along with his rounded back, that he is virtually on the limit of his flexibility on this road bike (on the hoods). His time trial position has his torso in a horizontal postion. How is he possibly supposed to pedal efficiently when he is completely out of his range of flexibility? The picture below shows just how tight the hip angle is at the top of the stroke.
In my opinion, Rodriguez is not helped by riding cranks that are far too long for him. Although they are probably the standard 170mm length, in proportion to his leg length they are huge. If you look at riders such as Indurain, they're hip angle is far less simply due to the ratio between leg length and crank length. It is far easier to maintain power with a larger hip angle, as anyone who has climbed in a hill knows. Jules' complaints about not being able to pedal at the top of the pedal stroke and knee pain are likely to be shared by many smaller riders. Mike Burrows is a believer in small cranks, and claims that they provide an increase in time trial power. Karpet's (below) angle at the top of the pedal is far less than Rodriguez and more manageable.
So what do I suggest? Raise his aero bars, fit smaller cranks- maybe 160mm as a guess, and do lots of hamstring stretching. Unfortunately I can't see Rodriguez adopting my ideas. The pro peleton are quite clearly an image conscious bunch, especially concerning bike set up. He is most likely to blame his poor time trialling on the traditional idea of power to weight not applying on the flat. Of course this has some merit, but I don't believe it is the whole reason for his 4 minute plus loss on Peter Velits, who is clearly not heavy himself.
frame too long, lack of stability over the saddle takes to inestability over handlebar.
ReplyDeletei agree with cranks lenght probably is too much, but the main problem is the dorso-horizontal lenght, for sure. if not, up the handlebar.......no other way to fit it.
landys/leipheime solution was incredible good but UCI has change the rules about arms position again. the find a solution holding the upper part of the change levers, but it gots quite risk.
karpets? my good look where are the elkbows..... an dwhere is the suport for them!
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ReplyDeletemaybe 650c wheels?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Karpet's elbow's, he must be using more energy than is necessary to hold himself in place