Hi,
here’s a photo of my current position.
I’m 27 and really like the saddle-to-bar drop and the compact feel of the bike. It works for me, though I wouldn't be able to ride the bike without the spacers. I’m still figuring out my ideal position, of course, but I can still put out plenty of watts in the current setup. I don't think the frame is for everyone, but if you’re looking for a nice, aero position, it can work well.
I asked Chris to include the maximum spacer height. It’s 10.5 cm, to be exact. I think I’ll get a different cockpit with narrower arm cups so my forearms have more support.
Hi Tobi!
Looking at the pictures, you definitely have a compact position. Glad the frame works for you that way!
From your bike pics, it looks like the armrests (or extensions?) are positioned facing the back side of the the bridge. Mine were already 2 cm further forward (half of the rectangular armrest bases were unsupported), and at one point I managed to move them even further forward, with the two bolts securing them in the frontmost position — and that's when the basebar slipped.
As you can see, I prefer a more extended position. And again, different bodies and fit preferences are perfectly normal...
Looking at your pictures again, there's not much room to move further forward, as the tips of your armrests are almost in line with the front edge of the front wheel (which is a hard limit for Ironman events, at least). Mine are the same, very close to the limit...
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Speaking as an avid reader rather than an expert, there's a general consensus that you usually ride a smaller frame on a TT bike. I got plenty of recommendations for Medium frames when I first got into triathlon.
Recent bike-fitting trends have been moving towards more extended positions, often combined with shorter crank arms, a rotated pelvis, and all the aero bla bla bla you'll see discussed online.
You can see this trend reflected in the sheer number of aftermarket extenders available — TriRig has some crazy ones. That said, I definitely don't think it's a good idea to push the extensions that far forward without considering the overall fit.
Anyway, frame designs haven't really caught up with these fitting trends, and there's a clear need for more forward adjustment and reach on modern TT bikes.
All in all, it's a complicated business trying to commit to a frame based solely on recommendations from Chinese bike forums. My advice to anyone considering a purchase is to figure out their fit requirements first.
If this is going to be your first TT bike, be aware that you might get it wrong.
Starting with a used frame and figuring out your preferred position on the bike is usually a much smarter move than jumping the gun and buying a frame that may or may not fit you. This is especially important for riders at either end of the height spectrum — shorter and taller guys and gals.
For the Velobuild TT-023, Trek's sizing recommendations are a good starting point, as the two frames are very similar in dimensions.
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I really hope Chris moves to an integrated stem and basebar design, like the ICAN TT017 or the Avenger TM07. I understand the advantages of the current stem + basebar setup, but given the number of issues VB has had with its carbon stem, I'd love to see them switch to a one-piece carbon design.
That's about the only negative thing I can say about this frame. Other than that, it really shines!
