Bike set up

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

johnmillie

Well-Known Member
Hi

I'm trying to get fit and decided to cycle, iv been Reading loads of posts on here that's it's important to set up the bike heights proper could someone tell me how to do this
 

battered

Guru
Best way to set approx seat height is to get an assistant or a handy wall to hold the bike up with you on the seat. You should be able to place both heels on the pedals with straight legs. This means that your legs will be just slightly bent when your feet are on normally. When you stop this may mean you have to tip the bike slightly to get your foot down.

Handlebar height is harder on modern bikes, and it's a matter of taste as to how stretched you are.

Most people have the seat too low as they lack confidence and want to be able to put their feet down flat as you do on a motorbike. The difference is that a bicycle doesn't weigh 150kg so it's not very difficult to hold up.
 

g00se

Veteran
Location
Norwich
battered said:
When you stop this may mean you have to tip the bike slightly to get your foot down.

As a lot of bikes now have high bottom brackets, you can't put a foot down without sliding off the front of the saddle and standing over the top tube - and when you set off, you have to 'stand up' on the pedal you push off with to lift yourself back onto the seat.

From the bible:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/starting.html
 
Top Bottom