Fit question

[xp986]

I'm a 6'2" long-femured, size 13 shoe, former basketball player who has been challenged getting my bike to feel right. The mechanics of pedaling just feel wrong. My bike is a 61 CM Fuji Team, and it has plenty of size as I can raise the seatpost to uncomfortably high levels without exposing too much seatpost. I've been using cheap SPD pedals with good shoes and recently noticed that my cleats could be moved back quite a bit from where they were positioned. Would cleat position alone help me out, or would a bigger frame or different seat tube angle make the mechanics better for me?
I did test ride a 63 CM Cannondale, and it felt pretty natural. Perhaps the mechanics are different on a larger frame? However, I'd rather rule everything else out before buying a new bike.

[HAPPY SHEM]

I used to think that, but some riders of my acquaintance who are not crazy have had good results with their foot slightly forward of that. I remain agnostic . Ball of foot on pedal is a great place to start.

-snip good advice-

very good advice

[Sak]

Cleats should be adjusted to get the ball of your foot over the pedal axis.
Anything else is wrong. Seat tube size is not the best indicator of fit.
Also, be wary of comparing "frame sizes" between different brands because they can be specified differently.

1) Long femur indicates you need a slack seat angle (or have the saddle well back) to get the knee over pedal spindle.

2) Top tube length + stem length needs to be chosen to get a comfortable fit for YOUR style of riding.

3) Ditto for handlebar height relative to saddle.

It's not clear what you don't like about your fit. Are you too cramped? Too bent over? Too upright?

If you feel like you're pedaling with your toes, rather than the ball of your foot, then your cleats need adjusting.

Suggest you visit a LBS that knows how to do a fitting. Buying another bike without knowing what's wrong with your current fit would be silly.

[xp986]

I feel cramped when riding. I'll move my cleats back to the limit, and see how that feels. If that doesn't work, perhaps another pedal system would be the next variable to try, though I'm concerned that some reportedly don't offer as much adjustment as SPD's.

[Yamcha Hibiki]

"Donald Specker" wrote

Adjusting the cleats is worth a try. It impossible to make specific suggestions without seeing you on the bike. That's the advantage of visiting a bike shop. They will put your bike in a trainer and observe you pedaling.

There are many other fit adjustments such as saddle (height, fore/aft, tilt), stem (length and rise), handlebar (height, reach, tilt), crank length, and brake lever position.

A good fitter will quickly spot problems. You may need to slide the saddle back and/or swap the stem for a longer one. If you're new to to road bikes, it may take a while to get acclimated, but you shouldn't settle for a poor fit.

Did you buy this bike from a bike shop, and did they set you up on it initially?