Seat Height - Holmes Method

[Road_Runner]

Hi,

I want to adjust my seat to the correct height. I've been having a look around and the Holmes Method sounds quite interesting.

I have two questions about it.
First, When you measure the angle of the knee at the dead-bottom centre, what angle should your foot be relative to the ground? The few articles i've read doesn't actually mean this and will significantly impact the measurement taken.

Secondly, Any advice on which part of the leg is best to measure the angle? I see that the measurement could be taken at the front, centre, or rear of the leg. I assume that measuring the angle at the front or the rear of the leg could be affected by bulging muscle or fat but the measurement on the centre of the leg could be affected by not being able to line up the measuring tool correctly.

Thanks

 

[BUR70N]

Hi,

I am no expert on this, but from what I have understood and watched, your foot should be parallel to the ground and you should take the measurement's from the joints - So knee to hip socket.

 

[Markymark]

It all sounds too complicated to me! I've done the heel method (leg straight with heel on the pedal) - it works a treat and takes roughly 0.87s to measure

 

[djb1971]

I've tried all of these magic methods, as above, heel on the pedal. This gives me the correct height within a few mm, depending on which bike/shoes/ pedals. Then fore/aft and tilt, sorted. No sore bits or rubbing because hips rock etc.

 

[BUR70N]

Another way is to stand straight and measure to your hip and then set the saddle to that level.. But then if you are rocking on the saddle then its too high!

 

[Road_Runner]

On my other bikes, i've just set the height to something that feels right. I've cycled thousands of miles on them and everything has worked out. Now that i've bought a speed machine, i'm more interested in being able to deliver the power. I've read that the Holmes method is a good compromise between power, efficiency, and the reduced chance of injury. More importantly i've read that seat height adjustment done by this method dominates over other methods such as the 109% and straight leg/heel methods. Whether someone who isn't a pro is able to tell the difference between such adjustments is anyone's guess but i'm only interested in the Holmes method; hence why i'm only asking about it.

If i knew where the femoral head sat within the hip, i could probably calculate the seat height without the need for stepping on the bike. It's only simple trigonometry as the rider with the bike forms two triangles.


Cheers BUR70N, you answered both questions within your first response.

 

[Mark White]

Hi,
I want to adjust my seat to the correct height. I've been having a look around and the Holmes Method sounds quite interesting.

An alternative to the formulaic approach to setting seat height, which made sense to me:

http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/02/seat-height-how-hard-can-it-be/

 

[AndyWilliams]

I have slight Scoliosis so I have to adjust the height so my back doesn't hurt during and after a ride. I think, to me anyway, you should set your seat height to what you feel comfortable with and so your movement is fluid not like walking up steps, if that makes sense. .

 

[cyberknight]

I find that .89 to BB calculator gives me the same measurement as heel on pedal thats feels right to me .