Chopping my seat post

[Schmilliemoo]

I need to shorten my seat post because, despite being a small framed bike (cannondale quick CX 2), I can't get my feet on the ground even with my seat at its lowest.
I've made absolutely sure it goes no lower and it doesn't seem to even tho it's a good 6" above the frame.
I plan to hacksaw an inch off it but want to make sure there's nothing I need to know about before I do. I feel a bit nervous about butchering my new bike :/ any advice or similar would be gratefully received.

 

[Andrew_P]

Why do you want to touch the floor when on your saddle? Your pedalling position will be way off?

 

[Schmilliemoo]

At the moment I can't touch the floor if I'm on the saddle. I need to be able to get my foot on the floor when I stop..?

 

[uclown2002]

You're not meant to touch the floor while on saddle otherwise height is too low.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

At the moment I can't touch the floor if I'm on the saddle. I need to be able to get my foot on the floor when I stop..?

Assuming the saddle is set at the right height for you to pedal it's quite likely you either won't be able to touch the ground or will only be able to on tiptoe. If your saddle is set too low it will do your knees a mischief.

The trick is to transfer your weight onto the pedals and just step down to the ground when you stop. Easier to do than to describe.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

I can see myself going for a burton. Also I'm not feeling confident to get on it the way it is at the moment. I appreciate your advice tho thanks a lot. Maybe I've made a mistake buying this bike

 

[Cuchilo]

Don't say that youll get the hang of it , its just like errrrrrrrr riding a bike

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Don't say that youll get the hang of it , its just like errrrrrrrr riding a bike

More like falling off a log for me. I need to find a solution just while I get my confidence initially

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

To avoid taking a hacksaw to anything there are alternative seatposts available (examples). They come in various lengths and tube diameters so you'd need to know the measurements of your current one.

It sounds a bit like the bike might be a bit big for you if you're having to lower the post as far as it'll go.

 

[Cuchilo]

Personally I would cut a bit off until I was ok with the bike and then raise the saddle a bit at a time . At the end of the day if you cut too much off a new seat post wont break the bank . Unless its a carbon one

 

[Fab Foodie]

I can see myself going for a burton. Also I'm not feeling confident to get on it the way it is at the moment. I appreciate your advice tho thanks a lot. Maybe I've made a mistake buying this bike

Don't fret!
You don't have to eat the elephant all in one bite.
The advice above is good, but maybe you need to work your way up to it!
Firstly, if the seatpost is aluminium or steel you can happily take a hacksaw to it, just make-sure you make a clean cut and then clean-up the rough edge with a file.
Then get started riding the thing. As your confidence improves you can then raise the seatpost as required.
There's no way I can sit on my saddle and touch the ground with my toes without the bike being heavily leant over. But you know what ... you get used to it and it becomes completely natural to get off the saddle when you stop.

In terms of bike set-up, this is probably the most sensible article I've ever read....
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

 

[Dusty Bin]

At the moment I can't touch the floor if I'm on the saddle. I need to be able to get my foot on the floor when I stop..?

When you are stopped - get off the saddle and stand over the top tube! What you are doing is fundamentally incorrect.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Don't fret!
You don't have to eat the elephant all in one bite.
The advice above is good, but maybe you need to work your way up to it!
Firstly, if the seatpost is aluminium or steel you can happily take a hacksaw to it, just make-sure you make a clean cut and then clean-up the rough edge with a file.
Then get started riding the thing. As your confidence improves you can then raise the seatpost as required.
There's no way I can sit on my saddle and touch the ground with my toes without the bike being heavily leant over. But you know what ... you get used to it and it becomes completely natural to get off the saddle when you stop.

In terms of bike set-up, this is probably the most sensible article I've ever read....
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Cheers this is what I'm thinking. The company who sold
Me the bike originally have me a medium and said it was right for my height and inside leg however I had no clearance at all over the cross bar. The smaller bike is fine but the seat goes no lower than the medium size.
I was going to take the approach of the above have my seat lower than it probably should be while I get used to the handling gear and brakes and then raise it up.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

When you are stopped - get off the saddle and stand over the top tube! What you are doing is fundamentally incorrect.

I'm not doing anything at the moment cause I can't imagine getting on it lol.

 

[TissoT]

Do you need stabilizers ....