Very confused about riding position(s) - mtb vs road

[eightyeight]

If anyone has found anything more important than comfort in a bike's fit then I have yet to hear of it. Nothing, but nothing, aces it.

No point having the most biomechanically efficient riding position known to humankind if it is so tortuously uncomfortable that your balls feel like they are exploding with each pedal stroke.

Oh you haven't been to slamthatstem.com then?

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Sadly, no. Even thinking about clicking on the site makes my hips ache.

 

[tintin40]

From what I have seen out on a ride is most people have their seats to low. I don't have a different position for road or off road. Just a slight bend in the knee when the crank is pointing towards the ground. I do hate how most moderns have long top tubes/reach or I have short arms with long legs?

 

[dorset boy]

Anyone remember the "if you can't see the front hub it's right" method? Around the 80s if memory serves me right

You may laugh but that's true for all five of my Racing bikes !

 

[dorset boy]

May be of interest,from a 1979 road frame builders book.

 

[Woz]

^ if I'm laughing, I'm laughing with you. It's just how it was. So much was in the eye of the framebuilder, tables or no tables, sometimes a proper jig with adjustable what nots, sometimes any bike at hand to start with. Then of course all the wisdom from club members and seeing what was happening on the continent. Talk about pseudo science, black art and rider input making a right melting pot.

In 78, I guess pretty much everything was 72 degree parallel and horizontal top-tube for the table to be fool proof or were there other adjustment tables (like for wheelbase or bottom bracket height compensation for example)?