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The Correct Saddle Height?
January 23, 2012
10:26 am
Sam
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Forum Posts: 82
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June 1, 2009
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January 23, 2012
10:28 am
Rick
Guest

Giovanni does not mention what kind of bike he has so this is a little difficult to answer. Usually bouncing is due to spinning too fast (usually >120 rpm for most recreational riders), or “stabbing” at the pedals. Without seeing how you ride, this is difficult to answer. Also, I see more people bouncing with saddle heights that are too high.

January 23, 2012
10:29 am
Jimmy
Guest

Your seat position could be to high.Try lowering your seat just a little.Try having your seat top even just about with the height of your handle bars. I hope this help’s.

January 23, 2012
10:30 am
Sam
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June 1, 2009
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As it was suggested on the diagram, sit on your saddle, and be sure that your knee is slightly bent at an angle while you have your leg fully extended.

That is, the crank arm is perpendicular to the ground. Ff not you might have to raise or lower your saddle. also, your right leg, have the crank arm parallel to the ground, look at your knee. Is your knee align with your pedal? if you are too far ahead or too far back adjust your seat.Hopefully this 2 steps will help you with your saddle, this works for a road bike. Mountain bike may vary depending on what you ride. Sam

January 23, 2012
10:31 am
Julian Winn
Guest

Hi.A basic method for getting the rioght saddle height is:1. Put your cycling shoes on2. Measure you inside len measurement from the floor to the crotch3. Multiple the measurement by 0.834. The result is tne height your saddle should be from the middle of the bottom bracket to the top of the seatI have been using this method when setting up bikes for a while and it works well – and relieved problems I was having with knee and back pain; I’ve not suffered since.

January 23, 2012
10:32 am
Stephen
Guest

My saddle is not flat. When I put a level across the top of my saddle, it touches the nose and rear of the saddle but there is a very noticeable dip in the middle of the saddle. Should I measure saddle height to the lowest part of the dip or to the underside of the level? Alternatively, should I tip the saddle forward so that the nose and centre are at the same height but the rear is raised? Or, should I get a new saddle?

February 24, 2012
8:38 pm
Txirrindulari
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Forum Posts: 19
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February 24, 2012
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@ Stephen. That dip in the middle of the saddle is very desirable. That should not be the dicisive point to buy another saddle. The saddle doesn't have to be horizontal either, that is why they are adjustable. Some people need the nose down, some up. If you tip the saddle forward, you may end up sliding forward and end up with your seat bones out of the support seatin gon the nose and putting also more weight on your wrists that will have to try to push you back. I do my gross adjustment like Julian suggests, then I put the bike in the trainer and ride for several hours over a couple of weeks. Without the distractions of the road, my body tells me what I need to adjust. At the bottom of the stroke, your leg should be "almost" fully extended but not quite. At about 10 degree angle (180-10) of bend, the knee starts what is called locking mechanism which include a medial rotation of the calves (this wears out the knee). That is why we don't need to use the muscles when we are standing. The knees are locked. If you extend more than the 10 degree mark, you start the locking of the knee and then you need to use another muscle, to unlock. This mucle, the popliteus, is weak and fatiges quickly, also slows you down as the big muscles can't operate untill the knees unlock, and looking knees also makes cycling less efficient. If you saddle is too high you will have pain in the back of the knee, the popliteus muscle, if it is too low, pain in the front of the knee (relying on the ACL to press down). Also if it is too high, your pelvis will have to tilt to each side as you reach down. This is really bad. Your pelvis should set square on your seat bones without rocking sideways.
And finally, the height of the handlebar should be set after the saddle is fit and is not a meassure of where to put the saddle. When the saddle is fit right, Then you adjust the handlebar, for aero dynamic purposes it will be lower than the saddle. The body should form a tripode with some weight resting on the seatbones, and part on the handlebars and most of it on the pedals, where it can be used. A saddle is not a chair for you to put your weight on. As you pedal, you will lightly touch the saddle with your seatbones.

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