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Questions and answers about sports

Saddle Position

5 min read

Asked by: David Pruett

Place your heel on the pedal and pedal backwards to reach the six o’clock position. Your knee should be completely straight. If your knee is still bent you need to increase the height, adjusting in small increments each time, and if your heel loses contact with the pedal then you need to lower the saddle.

How do you determine saddle position?

Quote from video: Forward they sit further forward on the seat. So the effective seat setback or the effective. Pelvis position relative to the crank center line.

How do I know if my saddle is too far forward?

Signs That Your Fore Aft Saddle Position is Set Too Far Forward. If your saddle is set too far forward then you may be using your upper body too much causing tension in the shoulders and arms as well as having sore hands. You will be able to have a quicker cadence but you will tend to sit back on the saddle up climbs.

How far forward or back should my saddle be?

2. Determining Saddle Setback. Move the saddle forward or backward so your knee is over the pedal spindle when the crank is in the 3 o’clock position. Again, this is a good starting point, and then you can adjust your cleats fore and aft as needed.

Is my saddle too far back?

If your saddle is too far back on its rails, or tilting down even slightly, the chances are your centre of gravity is too far forward and your hands are bearing too much load. With your saddle level and correctly positioned, it will take the strain off your hands.

What happens if saddle is too high?

A saddle that is too high will cause the hips to rock back and forth. Not only does this detract from pedalling efficiency, but it can also be extremely uncomfortable. Discomfort can show up in your lower back or as knee pain (especially in the back of the knee).

Should your leg fully extend on a bike?

Your leg should fully extend when cycling, but your foot should never lose contact with the pedal. After the test run, go back to adjusting the bike seat if necessary.

What happens if bike saddle is too far forward?

Tip it too far forward and you can slide forward on the saddle. Again, this will move your sit bones off the optimum area of the saddle, while potentially compromising your power output as well. It can also cause discomfort by placing additional pressure on your perineum, arms, wrists and hands.

Should I move my saddle forward?

Moving the saddle back could free up a cramped cockpit, better engage your glutes and can take weight off your hands and arms. Moving the saddle forwards will open up the hip angles and by reducing any stretch to the bars, possibly relax the arms whilst putting more weight onto them.

What is the correct knee angle for cycling?

25 to 35 degrees

Measure the angle of your knee. It should be at 25 to 35 degrees to avoid knee issues and to achieve a powerful pedal stroke. Be sure your hips are not rocking. If they are, lower the saddle.

Why is saddle setback important?

Saddle setback or commonly know as saddle fore-aft, refers to the position of the saddle in relation to the bottom bracket. Both setback and offset are important factors when it comes to your position on the bike and can affect both comfort, balance, and power.

How far back should you sit on bike saddle?

Saddle Position: Rules for pros



‘The UCI has its “five behind” rule [the seat nose must be a minimum of 5cm further back than the centre of the bottom bracket], and if you want to be more powerful you want to run right up to that line where possible. And not just forward, but higher too, to open up the hip angle.

What happens if saddle is too low?

A saddle too low usually means the hip angle between the torso and the thigh at the top of the stroke is restricted, which further diminishes the ability to generate force. And when force is generated, some of it is transferred into the knee instead of down to the foot, and this is a common cause of anterior knee pain.

What is the correct saddle height?

Measure from the floor to the top of the book spine. Multiply that number by 0.883, and subtract 4mm (1/8th inch). The result is your proper bike seat height, measured from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat, along the seat tube.

Should the saddle be higher than the handlebars?

Quote from video: Похожие запросы

How do you determine fore/aft saddle position?

Your saddle fore/aft position is set by placing your knee directly above the pedal spindle with the crank at the 3 o’clock position. This will position your hip and knee joint over the drivetrain of the bicycle and allows you to push straight down on the pedal during the power phase of the pedal stroke.

How far should saddle be from bottom bracket?

Here follows some indicative data: the tip of the saddle must fall at least 4cm behind the bottom bracket, the cranks. This is not only a biomechanical datum, but is also part of the UCI racing regulations.

How far should saddle be from handlebars?

For a performance road position, the top of the handlebar should be about 5-6 cm below the mid-point of the saddle. 4. For a recreational road bike position, the top of the handlebar should be level with the mid-point of the saddle, or maybe a couple of centimetres below.

Should my saddle be higher than the handlebars?

As a general rule of thumb, you want the top of the handlebar about as high (or higher than) the saddle, unless you’re a sporty rider looking to ride fast. Try touching your elbow to the nose of the saddle and reaching forward towards the handlebar with your hand.

What is the best seat position on a bike?

Generally speaking, at full extension (which is not 6 o’clock – more like 5 o’clock) 30 to 40 degrees of knee bend is the generally accepted range. If you’re feeling tension at the front of the knee or a large amount of work only from your quads, the seat height is a bit low.