Not had a good day :-( please talk me into keeping my new bike

[ASC1951]

I cant touch my foot on the ground without leaning the bike over so far I lose balance... I've been managing so far by jumping off the saddle as I stop so I am astride the crossbar but I misjudged it earlier

Not a safe manoeuvre - grave risk to balance and nadgers!

The important bit is the saddle height. I find 'slightly bent' difficult to judge, so for me the simplest method is to have the leg straight at the bottom of the stroke with your heel - in shoes - on the pedal. That gets it close enough and you can tweak it afterwards as your fitness and experience change.

Whether the correct saddle height allows you to touch the ground easily is neither here nor there - that depends on bottom bracket height, which is a feature of frame size and design. On most frames which are the right size for you you will usually just be able to to reach the ground on both sides with the tips of your toes, although often not enough to balance like that.

I just come to a halt with both brakes very lightly on and in a single manoeuvre lift my weight from the saddle using my arms and my right leg near the bottom of the stroke, lean the bike over slightly and put my left foot flat on the ground. It very soon becomes completely automatic. Clipless pedals make this much easier, but I think those are a bit further along the learning curve for you.

The bit I don't like the sound of is roads so busy you need five minutes for a gap. Best avoided if you can, even when you are an experienced rider.

 

[Arch]

I usually have to dismount by hopping forward off the saddle, when you're on the short side I think it's just a function of bottom bracket height, and on 700C wheels, there's only so low a BB can go. My saddle is right for pedalling, just not for stopping with a toe down - I can do it, but my leg is very stretched and not so stable. I manage fine (but then, I don't have nadgers...B)).

Joey, we all have off days. It's a case of knowing what your bike will comfortably do, and sometimes there's only one way to find out.

Did you get rid of the MTB? If not, then it's just a case of using the right tool for the job...

 

[Nick G]

I usually have to dismount by hopping forward off the saddle, when you're on the short side I think it's just a function of bottom bracket height, and on 700C wheels, there's only so low a BB can go.

Good point. I was told recently that BB's are much higher off the ground than they used to be in order to add pedal clearance so that there were fewer accidents involving pedals hitting the ground while cornering. manufacturers, especially in the USA, were worried about getting sued.

 

[trio25]

I cant touch my foot on the ground without leaning the bike over so far I lose balance... I've been managing so far by jumping off the saddle as I stop so I am astride the crossbar but I misjudged it earlier (have a few times actually)

They measured me up in the shop so my leg was straight when the pedal is at the lowest position

I have the same issue with my bikes, something to do with me being an odd size, when I was measured for my mountain bike they were a little confused. What I did is start with my saddle lower so I could touch the ground, now I don't notice it as I'm so used to getting off!

 

[palinurus]

I like it when my bikes start looking a little battered and I can stop worrying about 'em and enjoy it.

 

[gavintc]

Saddle height adjustment should be carried out incrementally not in 2 inch jumps - FFS that is 5cm !!!. 1/2 cm tops at a time please.

 

[mr Mag00]

get on with it you JESSY!