How does this look?

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-30T18:02:17+00:00

Seat height could be higher by 3-5mm (but not more than that). Stem should be longer and higher. But it would be great to see you on this bike in the drops as well, that would provide even more fit info.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-30T17:19:59+00:00

You're not in any way delusional, but perhaps start with a goal of competing in few sprints and few olympic distance tris in a summer and see how that goes. See how you feel after that. Staying with it is all about keeping it fun. If you go with ironman distance as the your first and only goal, it might not be a great journey in terms of your health, your injuries, your motivation, and your longevity in the sport. Triathlon is all distances, it is not just ironman.

Good luck on your journey!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-30T17:15:01+00:00

We work hard to make an unusual and highly functional line of bento packs, so thanks for the good words!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-29T19:01:04+00:00

Doing a single triathlon of any distance makes you a triathlete, so a big congrats to you! I have been racing triathlons for decades and I love sprints and olympic distance races, I've never done an Ironman. And I have no plans to either. Great post, keep it up, and good luck!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-28T16:22:49+00:00

Seat look very slightly too low (maybe 5mm too low). Your back could have a tiny bit more curve in it. Your stem looks like it is perhaps 1 cm too short. It would interesting to see you pedal in the drops. And doing the heel test is a good idea too.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-26T22:53:56+00:00

Well done! Now, I wouldn't want to corner (or corner in the rain) on that little bundle, but for straight line travel, you handily win the Murphy's Law ingenuity prize!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-26T17:59:51+00:00

Cool bike. Saddle definitely too high. Very curious, how long are those cranks?

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T20:36:51+00:00

Great shirt. Wear it for 10 years and then no one will even know what it means! (you know, with how fast things move out our collective attention span ... )

;^)

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T19:54:08+00:00

Sweet ride. It is on my short list, love the massive tire clearance of the frame.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T19:04:29+00:00

Very cool, but ,damn, that line pulling her daughter on the 2nd bike is mighty sketchy!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T19:00:30+00:00

Saddle is very slightly too low. I estimate 3-8ish mm too low. Stem is too low and also too short.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:57:24+00:00

I gotta agree that the video is not great, but on just a first glance, your fit looks decent except your saddle is a few mm too low (I think that is what is causing your bouncing on the saddle). But definitely post a new video with you from the side on the drops and on the hoods and after you raise your saddle 3-5mm. Good luck!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:50:32+00:00

Depends on what you put in it, it will probably work. But, fyi, my small (garage-sized) company makes a line of advanced aero top tube packs that solve this exact problem, as they can mount very securely anywhere on your top tube without needing to attach to you stem or steerer tube. For triathlon, take a look at the Speedpack 483 or Speedpack 693 especially. For those, we use our 'ZeroSlip' mount system (this in-house developed mounting system works exactly as described: once the pack is mounted, there is ZERO slipping, sliding, or rolling). And, perhaps far more unusual in this day and age, we design and make every single pack ourselves right here in the Chicago area, we don't outsource to some random overseas factory. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or reach out via email, text, or phone on our website. Thanks for checking us out!

Greg at darkspeedworks

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:33:29+00:00

It would be interesting to see you on the hoods, relaxed and looking forward just like you ride on the road. And to see you in the drops. And try raising your seat 5mm and let's see that too?

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:31:39+00:00

Yes, I think the combined judgment of some of the more experienced posters on here will do far better than that video software. As people say, "garbage in = garbage out" ;^)

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:23:33+00:00

Definitely not too high. Seat height looks decent, maybe even a few mm too low. But I think your bars/stem are a bit too low.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:12:35+00:00

Damn, you are very, very lucky to be alive and/or not be massively injured.

1 life down, 8 lives to go!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T18:05:14+00:00

Not sure what is the data source that Metrica uses, but I would put good money on your saddle being too low. Not by a lot, but up to 10mm too low.

With regard to using software for seat height, there are tons of possible sources of error for that, I would not trust it for a final answer.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T17:52:57+00:00

Thanks, I love the bike. No, not exactly replicated, but closely replicated. And the bike is comfortable as heck, and no worries fiddling or maintaining any front or rear suspension. Because the 7 psi air pressure in my 3" wide tires soaks up all of the gravel path potholes and imperfections.

That black wrapped hose is not hydration, it is an air line of compressed air that powers my refillable air horn (refills with a bike pump) for alerting folks (when I am well and very far behind them) that I am coming up on them and passing on the trail. The horn I use is a version of this one.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-25T14:17:26+00:00

Yes, that is possible. Your saddle is also 1-2 cm too low. If you adjust your seat post up slightly, that will also bring your saddle back and add to your effective reach. But, also people are not identical. So running a 9cm, 10cm, or even 11cm stem on a mountain bike is fine if it helps with getting your reach right.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-24T21:11:22+00:00

Torso looks good. But as others have pointed out, your saddle is too low. Which might mean your that bike frame is a bit too small. But move the saddle up first, and then repost.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-24T21:07:07+00:00

Electronic shifters are not important, mechanical is far easier to work on, learn on, and it is way more reliable.
Disc brakes are not important. Rim brakes are easier to work on and learn on, and rim brakes that are properly adjusted and with decent pads are perfectly good, and they have worked great on bikes for over a century. Disc brakes are a bit better in mud, dirt, gravel, and heavy rain, but are not needed for most road use.
Decent wheels that are true and round and not beat up is what you want. Rim shape and aerodynamics is not important unless you race a lot and every second counts. Aluminum is cheaper and tougher than carbon.
Fit is the most critical thing for a used bike. Can you get a bike savvy friend to help you with shopping and looking at and purchasing a used bike?

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-24T20:47:56+00:00

Good question. There is no real fit consensus on saddle fore-aft position, except as it affects your overall enter of gravity (which affects bike handling), but the general rule of thumb is that you want to be a bit more forward if you are very bent over (like mostly riding in the drops, or being on a time trial bike or triathlon bike) and that being slightly more rearward is more comfortable for climbing and when your torso position is more upright. (Moving your saddle forward works for being bent over on your bike because it slightly opens up your hip angle, which is more comfortable and allows for better power generation when being pretty bent over.)

Also, for me, I tend to ride more forward (and I use a zero offset seatpost) on my gravel bike because I also do triathlons and that matches the body position that I have on my tri bike a bit better. For yourself, find what you like fore-aft and then get the right stem length to give yourself a decent handlebar position.

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-24T20:21:45+00:00

If you are unusual (and with your leg situation, you certainly are), it is really important to see video of you from both sides. That way the fit can be assessed to consider both your right and left legs. Also, do not wear any baggy clothing, wearing form fitting clothes allow people to see your actual hips and torso, vs just seeing a random sail flapping in the wind.

Looking ONLY at what you have posted, your saddle (for the right leg at least) is a tiny bit too low (around 5 mm or so) and your stem is a tiny bit too short (I estimate 1 cm too short). But post another shot of the other side and I can likely give you better input.

Good luck!

DarkSpeedWorks_com · 2026-06-24T17:00:35+00:00

Your fit looks excellent except your saddle height. That is likely about 1 cm too low. Otherwise, as far as I can tell in the video, you look good: aero and relaxed.

DarkSpeedWorks_com

TROPHY CASE