seat height

[mark1974]

Last few months i have had my seat at what i thought was correct and comfortable for me.
Anyways tonight i went for a night ride and thought i would increase the height for fun see how it would feel.
Amazingly it was a lot better and i seemed to cycle quicker
so whats happened ........

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Excellent! The right seat height is usually higher than most people expect and it does make riding easier.

For the benefit of others reading this & wondering about it, the ideal is for your knee to be just bent at the bottom of the stroke when riding normally.

 

[Rob3rt]

Time to do some reading and set the bike up properly perhaps. Ask away when you get stuck!

 

[MattHB]

Your leg should be dead straight with your shoe'd heel on the pedal. That'll create the right bend in the knee when the ball of your foot is on the pedal

 

[mark1974]

i set it up as correctly for my height etc so i thought
however the increased height feels better for me

 

[mark1974]

so matt are you saying leg dead straight when in pedal? so if sat on seat feet wont touch floor?

 

[MattHB]

so matt are you saying leg dead straight when in pedal? so if sat on seat feet wont touch floor?

No, leg straight when heal is on the pedal. The extra angle/length of your foot should allow you a toe on the floor if you have that right.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

so if sat on seat feet wont touch floor?

This is the issue that puts off beginners when the seat is set high. The trick when you plan to stop is to put your weight on the pedals and step down on to the floor.

It's easier to do than describe and once you've got used to it you'll do it without even thinking about it.

 

[mark1974]

cheers matt as i am pretty close to your description after the increase little tweek maybe
appreciate advice

 

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[mark1974]

i watched these set up vids however i am looking at that vid image now i was set up like that
now increased a bit its better for me

 

[Renard]

I think the main thing is if its comfortable then go with it. The one thing to watch for is your pelvis should be stable and not rocking to make the longer pedal strokes.

 

[Boon 51]

Plus get someone to give you a hand and that will make any changes you do a lot easier..

 

[Biker Joe]

Saddle height adjustment is an ongoing thing. It varies according to your current fitness and general health. Body physiology changes constantly and it is useful to make small adjustments to compensate for this.
You should mark the seat post where it enters the frame so that you can see how much adjustment has been done and as a reference point.
An adjustment should be small, sometimes as little as 1mm. Surprisingly, a 1mm change can make a big difference.
Then ride a few miles to see what effect the adjustment has made.
Adjustments sometimes need to be made in as little as two weeks apart depending on your bodies physiological changes and how much you ride.
As stated in the above posts, comfort is the main indicator.
To a lesser extent, small changes to the stem height can be beneficial.
A general rule states that adjustments should be small and ride a while before making any further adjustments.
Listen to your body to see if it is right .As already stated, comfort is the best indicator.
I wish you well.

 

[tyred]

I believe it takes time and a little trial and error to get it exactly right. The heel on the pedal method provides a useful starting point but from my own observation of other cyclists, some pedal toe down and others pedal with their feet basically level with the ground. This would have an effect on ideal saddle height, as will the fore and aft position. Don't play with the fore and aft position to change the reach to the bars, change the stem if necessary.

The knee over pedal spindle method of setting the fore/aft position of the saddle works perfectly for me, although many others say it has no basis in fact, but again it is a useful starting point. Alternatively, try the traditional advice of having the nose of the saddle 2 - 3" behind the bottom bracket spindle.

I have also seen it suggested that the straight leg with heel on pedal advice originated in the 1920s, when cycle shoes didn't have raised heels, just a flat leather sole, so doing it that way with a shoe with raised heels can leave it ~1/2" too high.

Unless you have a bike with very relaxed frame geometry and low bottom bracket height, you will not be able to put your feet on the ground when stopped. If you can, it is definitely too low.