Bicycle Advice Not for Eveyrone

Regarding “Bicyclists, Please Use Your Heads ...” (Sept. 24): While the advice on bicycle fit may have been suitable for a child, the article made no distinction between a child and the adult who wishes to become an accomplished rider.

The authors advised that, for proper fit, a rider should be able to put his or her feet on the ground while seated. In that position, the cyclist loses efficiency as the legs will never fully extend at the bottom of the pedal stroke. This is like telling a tennis, baseball player or golfer to only take a three-fourths swing at the ball--the ball would move but not effectively.

As ride director of the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club (https://www.sfvbc.org), I have seen many new riders who like that “seat-down” system--they felt safer. Unfortunately, they also end up unable to improve their riding.

JOEL GARFIELD

Tarzana