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Excel-Lance Sports

Expertise

ELS - Creator of Excellence

Virtual prepositioning technology
How it works!

Choosing the right frame is a complex task. To help our customers overcome this challenge, we've developed software that uses anthropometry (the science of measuring the human body), trigonometry, and analytical geometry to determine the best bike and components for each cyclist based on their height.

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This technological innovation allows us to precisely determine the optimal dimensions of frames and components, as well as efficiently configure our bike cockpits during the assembly process, without requiring an appointment or in-person meeting.

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By combining the cockpit assembly and configuration steps, our technology not only reduces our production costs, and therefore our selling prices but also significantly decreases our carbon footprint. Indeed, it eliminates the need for appointments for upstream measurements and downstream positioning, while also reducing our inventory requirements.

 

Discover how our technology works through four distinct steps.

Step 1

 Anthropometry

Anthropometric research has established the proportions of the human body as a whole, making it possible to precisely calculate limb length from height.

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For example, inseam length is calculated by multiplying height by 0.48.

 

This science makes it possible to represent the skeletal structure of a cyclist in a specific posture on a bicycle in a cartesian plane.

Step 2

Analytical Geometry

and Trigonometry

These two branches of mathematics make it possible to model the shape of any bicycle in a virtual Cartesian plane based on the geometric dimensions published by frame manufacturers on their websites.

Step 3 Prepositioning

During this phase, the cyclist is virtually positioned on their bicycle. The algorithm then analyzes various criteria to recommend the correct frame size, the ideal dimensions of components to install, and the necessary adjustments for the cockpit setup.

 

At this stage, the software generates a simplified Cartesian diagram to allow the technician to visualize the results of their analysis.​

Step 4

Validation

In the final stage, the Excel-Lance Sports technician verifies all the criteria analyzed by the algorithm and makes the necessary adjustments to optimize the settings.

 

The technician also has the option to refine their analysis and evaluate additional criteria by modifying the cyclist's position on the bike.

Optimisation bike fitting.jpg

Cockpit settings

Setting up a cockpit involves adjusting the following elements:

 

  1. Lateral angle of the levers

  2. Vertical angle of the levers

  3. Height of the brake hoods

  4. Handlebar angle

  5. Handlebar width

  6. Stem length

  7. Stem extension

  8. Saddle height

  9. Saddle setback

  10. Saddle tilt

  11. Crank arm length

 

Since these elements are interconnected, changing a single parameter can affect several others. Therefore, it is essential to configure a cockpit according to a rigorous protocol with a comprehensive view of the riding position.

 

Let's look at the main steps of this protocol.

Shifters installation

Before we begin, it's essential to understand shifter design. The seat of a shifter is designed so that the hand rests naturally on it to ensure rider comfort and prevent numbness. Since the arm angle in the "hands on the hoods" position is approximately 45°, the seat generally has the same angle (relative to the hoods) to maximize hand positioning. Therefore, it's crucial that the shifters are correctly positioned on the handlebars by aligning the hoods parallel to the ground.

 

This rule (hood parallel to the ground) determines the correct height for the hoods and the angle at which to tilt the levers on the handlebars. For example, a Shimano 105 Di2 shifter has a hood approximately 28 mm high and a vertical lever angle of approximately 7°.

Lateral angle of the shifters

According to UCI regulations, the lateral angle of the brake levers must not exceed 10° relative to the handlebar configuration. In practice, the lateral angle of the levers is generally set at 10° for a road bike and 18° for a gravel bike.

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This rule plays a crucial role in the cyclist's performance, thanks to the optimization of aerodynamics by reducing the frontal surface area, and also contributes to their safety by facilitating an efficient transition between the drops and the hoods.

Shifters 2.jpg

Calibration jig

and cockpit symmetry

To position the shifters on the handlebars, it is strongly recommended to use a multi-functional calibration jig.
 
This jig must be able to take into account the height of the brake hoods, the lateral and vertical angles of the shifters, the angle of the handlebars, but above all, it must guarantee perfectly symmetrical positioning of the shifters.
 
It is common to see a cyclist with many years of experience riding with a naturally crooked riding position. This phenomenon is often explained by riding a few thousand kilometers on a bike with a poorly calibrated cockpit.
 
A slight misalignment of the shifters will have little effect on the cyclist's posture in the short term. However, over several years, this can lead to damage, sometimes irreversible. This is why it is essential to ride a bike with a cockpit configured by a certified professional.

Para cockpit 2.jpg

saddle setback

Saddle setback is measured by the distance between the front of the knee and the pedal axle when the crank arm is horizontal. Traditionally, this setback is adjusted using a weighted rope placed in front of the knee and stretched to the pedal axle.

 

However, it is crucial to understand that saddle setback affects hand position. Therefore, both the desired hand position on the hoods and the knee position must be considered to maintain the cyclist's ideal posture.

 

For example, if the saddle is moved back without considering hand position, the cyclist's posture will be altered because the angle formed by their arms and back will increase. Thus, saddle setback should be adjusted by simultaneously positioning the knees and hands.

MTB Stem,
RAD & RAAD

Stem length on a mountain bike serves two purposes: it optimizes the rider's aerodynamics and improves the bike's handling by optimizing the RAD (Rider Area Distance) and RAAD (Rider Area Angle in Degrees).

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RAD on a mountain bike is the distance between the grips and the bottom bracket axle. To maximize jump power, the RAD should be close to the height of the rider's palms on the ground, with legs slightly bent.

 

RAAD on a mountain bike is the angle between the "virtual" RAD line and the bottom bracket axle parallel to the ground. While the correct RAD optimizes jump power, the correct RAAD improves aerodynamics. Considering these two parameters is therefore essential for effective bike setup.

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In addition to considering the RAD and RAAD to determine the correct stem length, Excel-Lance Sport's pre-positioning software also takes into account the type of mountain bike. For example, the RAAD of a cross-country (XC) bike typically varies between 55° and 56°, while that of an enduro bike is between 57° and 60°, depending on the frame style—"slack" or "steep".

​Noisy Brakes: What to Do?

Nothing is more unpleasant for a cyclist than hearing that screeching, high-pitched, metallic noise when the brakes are applied. The wacky or incomplete solutions sometimes found online motivated me to write this article.

 

The fact is that the various systems of a bicycle are increasingly interdependent. The failure of a single component can affect several others. To solve a noisy disc brake problem permanently, it is essential to understand and master the settings of each of the following points:

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  1. Wear and contamination of brake pads and rotors.

  2. Brake disc runout (lateral play).

  3. Hydraulic system (bleeding and preload).

  4. Lateral and vertical alignment of the brake calipers.

  5. Wheel assembly (mounting).

 

Since the first three points are relatively simple to resolve and widely covered by numerous videos and tutorials, I will focus here solely on the last two, slightly more technical aspects: the lateral and vertical alignment of the brake calipers and wheel assembly.

​Lateral Alignment of Brake Calipers

Laterally aligning a caliper is a fairly simple operation; it simply requires correctly positioning the caliper so that it is centered relative to the rotor. To achieve this, the recommended method is to use a set of feeler gauges and ensure a maximum clearance of 0.1 mm (0.004") on each side of the rotor.

 

Note that to achieve this level of precision, the rotors must have been previously truing with a tolerance approaching 0 mm.

​Brake Caliper vertical alignment

A brake caliper vertical alignment problem is easily detectable: if the clearance between the pads and the disc changes when you tighten the caliper onto its bracket, this indicates that the frame or fork mounting surface is not perfectly flat.

 

To correct this problem, a more technical intervention is required: resurfacing the brake caliper mounting surfaces. Resurfacing ensures that the caliper is mounted perfectly perpendicular to the disc. For this procedure, a resurfacing tool such as the Park Tool DT-5.2 is required, using the 2197 diamond cutting bit if you are working on a carbon frame.

 

At Excel-Lance Sports, we routinely resurface the brake caliper mounting surfaces on the frames and forks of all the bicycles we assemble.

Wheel Assembly Quality

To guarantee optimal propulsion and braking performance, wheel assembly must meet four fundamental criteria:

 

  1. Spoke tension

  2. Lateral runout (lateral wobble)

  3. Radial runout (radial play)

  4. Hub centering

 

Disc brakes, while more efficient than older rim brakes, require optimal wheel assembly quality. The braking force exerted on the discs is transmitted to the wheels via the brake spokes (shown in blue in the image), which places greater mechanical stress on the entire wheel.

 

Given the critical importance and necessity of achieving impeccable wheel assembly quality, we assemble all the wheels we fit to our bicycles ourselves.

 

Furthermore, even when assembling custom bicycles from other brands, we do not accept the installation of pre-assembled wheels, regardless of the brand or its alleged reputation.

 

Wheels assembled by Excel-Lance Sports are delivered with a certificate of conformity that attests to results exceeding the required standards for all four criteria.

Bicycle Assembly Procedure

The cycling industry is undergoing rapid change. China and Taiwan are now the production hub for carbon frames for the vast majority of global brands, including European and American giants who outsource their manufacturing there. The ability to source directly from these Asian producers is fostering the emergence and growth of local manufacturers and assemblers.

 

Excel-Lance Sports is an integral part of this new wave. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that our "in-house" assembled bicycles meet the highest possible quality standards, in order to support this fundamental trend. We also understand that completing a bicycle building project is a captivating, but also demanding, undertaking, especially for the passionate cyclist who is not a mechanical expert.

 

Assembling a bicycle is an extremely rigorous process: it comprises 50 steps. Each of these steps must be carried out in the correct order and in strict compliance with established norms and standards. This level of precision is crucial to guaranteeing performance and preserving the bicycle's value. Indeed, a poorly assembled bicycle will be worth less than the sum of its parts.

 

In the interest of mutual support and transparency, we are offering you free access to the basic assembly guides used in the manufacture of our bicycles.

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