My first problem.....

[Cannondale Lady]

Seat height. Hubby wants my seat higher to protect my knees. I want it lower so I can reach the ground whilst seated as a confidence thing. What do you guys recommend?

 

[arch684]

Hubby is right

 

[mrbikerboy73]

A saddle too low will make pedalling hard work and won't do your knees any favours either. Just hop off if you need to put a foot down.

 

[Doobiesis]

With all due respect, it's not hubby riding your bike it's you.

Do it your way until you get your confidence and then go higher as and when you feel comfortable doing so.

If you don't have confidence it'll stop you going out on your bike.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Get a new husband.

(Although as other posters have noted, a too-low saddle will hurt your knees. You need good leg extension when pedalling)

 

[vickster]

He is right but you need to feel comfortable and confident. I had a bike fit, fitter put saddle so high I really struggled when stopping on way home from fitting! I lowered a little and found a happy medium (important as I have dodgy knees). Try to find a height that is reasonable and perhaps practice getting foot down while leaning the bike (how I do it), or sliding off the saddle (personally I can't do this, especially when clipped in). I can reach the ground tippy toed when leaning the bike a little. I also have very tight calves which compounds the stretching to the ground issue

As above, make minor incremental increases until you feel comfortable and the saddle is closer the optimal height (approx with knee slightly bent when heel on pedal)

 

[13 rider]

With all due respect, it's not hubby riding your bike it's you.

Do it your way until you get your confidence and then go higher as and when you feel comfortable doing so.

If you don't have confidence it'll stop you going out on your bike.

+1 for this start with what's gives you confidence then work to correct height as hubby suggest .I presume your only going for shortish rides to start low saddle not a major issue to start with but hubby is basically correct

 

[mjr]

Practise getting on and off a high saddle safely (ideally with someone to catch you or on a softish surface), and stopping with the bike leant enough so that you can reach the floor with one foot happily. Your knees will thank you for having the saddle high enough and your backside will thank you for not stretching straight down to reach the floor.

 

[derrick]

Do as your told.
Hubby is right.but you need to feel comfortable.

 

[lee1980sim]

Meet halfway, marriage is about compromises

 

[vickster]

Meet halfway, marriage is about comprises

I think you'll find she needs to give about 10%, he 90% (or more if that's what the woman wants)

 

[lee1980sim]

Not how my marriage works, guess I'm just lucky

 

[Cannondale Lady]

Well we compromised and it was lower than he said but higher than I said. 1st ten miles under my belt. Sore bum but tomorrow sore everything! No knee problems.

 

[Yazzoo]

Are you riding clipless? If you are and its a confidence thing I would say go back to flats and put the seat up - better for your knees and should help you feel more confident about getting your foot down when stopping comfortably and quickly if you're not attached to the bike! I assume your bike fits you and you can comfortably stand over the cross bar without impaling yourself?!

If you're already riding with flats I would suggest you do small journeys with the seat how you want it and build up confidence (and with it creep your saddle up a few mm at a time). A few short easy rides to get you confident you can stop safely shouldn't pose any threat to your knees, but longterm you'll feel a lot more comfortable and protect your knees if you can eek it up - doesn't have to jump up all at once.

 

[MartinQ]

man up ...