Elbow Angle
Target≈150°–165° (a slight, relaxed bend — never locked)
included shoulder–elbow–wrist angle on a steady seated frame.
Why this matters
A slight elbow bend is the front suspension of the bike fit: it absorbs road buzz and keeps weight off the hands. It's a held reading — the arms barely move through the pedal stroke, so any steady frame works. Elbow angle is also a sensitive proxy for whether the reach is right.
What good looks like
Elbows softly bent (≈150°–165°), shoulders relaxed, hands resting rather than propping up the upper body.
Common faults
- Locked-out arms (> 165°) — over-reach; road shock goes straight to the hands and shoulders.
- Heavily bent (< 150°) — cockpit too short; crowds the torso and breathing.
Coaching cues
- Fix saddle fore-aft first, then adjust reach (stem length) — saddle position changes how the rider sits over the bars.
- "Soft elbows" — cue a relaxed bend rather than propping.
How to draw
- Pick a steady frame with the rider on the hoods/bars.
- Upper-arm line: acromion (shoulder) → lateral epicondyle (elbow).
- Forearm line: elbow → wrist.
Related measurements
- Trunk Angle — together they describe the cockpit fit.
General bike-fit guidance, not a clinical recommendation.
source · sports/cycling/learn/cycling_elbow_angle.md