Position on saddle

[Andywinds]

Whenever I climb or accelerate I seem to position myself on the very front of the saddle, it seems to help when climbing and I can put more power down to go faster. Is my setup wrong i.e. saddle too far back or maybe cleats in the wrong position.

 

[vickster]

Is it uncomfortable? If not it's probably not wrong. It might not be doing your knees too much good if grinding rather than spinning

 

[mjr]

Dunno. Assuming it's not Brooks-ish, are the bumps of your bum on the raised parts of the saddle? If not, you may be putting pressure on bits that shouldn't be squashed.

 

[Andywinds]

I am spinning as much as I can with 34/28, it doesn't feel uncomfortable.

Is it uncomfortable? If not it's probably not wrong. It might not be doing your knees too much good if grinding rather than spinning

 

[Andywinds]

No I was literally perched right on the end of the saddle when climbing. Maybe I should put the saddle forward a little?

Dunno. Assuming it's not Brooks-ish, are the bumps of your bum on the raised parts of the saddle? If not, you may be putting pressure on bits that shouldn't be squashed.

 

[screenman]

Hence the saying, on the rivette.

 

[Rapples]

I do believe the received wisdom is for seated climbing to sit further back on the saddle. For all out speed aka Time trialling the further forward the better. I wouldn't mess with the saddle angle unless you feel you are slipping onto the front of the saddle. A spirit level is your friend and very very small changes can make a huge difference.

All my bikes have inline seat posts though so if you have a lot of layback you could try and push saddle forward as a temporary 'fix' to see if it helps.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Bike set up is a personal thing if you're overall comfy then go with it.

But just to mention if you do put your saddle forward, you need to consider your overall riding, would your backside be hanging off the back of the saddle 80% of the time then? likely placing pressure where you don't need pressure placing, you can squash nerves and constrict blood vessels down there and penile numbness is not a phenomenon to be encouraged. Or would you be more sat up hybrid style with a shortened reach?

Consider how much riding you do relaxed, at full tilt etc and get the best set up that covers proportionately what you do.

Saddles on their own are hugely adjustsble beasts and part of a triangle of contact points with pedals/cranks and bars/spacers/reach

Maybe consider your whole set up rather than fix on just one point.

 

[mjr]

No I was literally perched right on the end of the saddle when climbing. Maybe I should put the saddle forward a little?

Maybe but I agree with @shouldbeinbed's comments. It may also be a case of consciously trying to stop yourself sticking the saddle nose up your bum too much!

 

[Andywinds]

Don't knock it until you've tried it. I was always taught when MTB'ing to sit right at the front of the saddle when steep climbing. When I did a 2 hour event a couple of years ago this is what other riders did, as this helps the front from lifting.

Maybe but I agree with @shouldbeinbed's comments. It may also be a case of consciously trying to stop yourself sticking the saddle nose up your bum too much!

 

[martint235]

I am spinning as much as I can with 34/28, it doesn't feel uncomfortable.

You should expect to move around on your saddle during a ride. The saddle will normally be most comfortable if the wider bits towards the rear are under your seat bones for the majority of the ride but similar to you, if I'm putting a fair bit into it on a climb I will tend to move forward.

I believe sitting on the nose of the saddle is where "on the rivet" comes from in cycling terminology.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

the boy Cavedish giving it the beans.

 

[Andywinds]

This looks to me where I was sat during the climb and some seated sprinting. Thanks

View attachment 107542

the boy Cavedish giving it the beans.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

By moving forward on the saddle you're effectively lowering its height, so perhaps your saddle is too high to begin with.
FWIW I always seem to generate more power when hill climbing sitting further back on the saddle. Opposite is true for TTing.

 

[Andywinds]

Ok thanks I will look at this.

By moving forward on the saddle you're effectively lowering its height, so perhaps your saddle is too high to begin with.
FWIW I always seem to generate more power when hill climbing sitting further back on the saddle. Opposite is true for TTing.