Seat level not height...

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ray316

Über Member
The height of my seat seems ok, but can the level make a difference to your cycle performance..
Tilted to much forward , backwards or level. l have mine tilted slightly forward and l'm forever sliding forward, so doe's the position level of the seat make a difference to your bike performance..
Is there a correct position to set the seat at..
 

byegad

Legendary Member
Location
NE England
On my at one time 6 bikes, I had to compromise between numb 'bits' and sliding forward. Too level and I was numb after as little as 15 minutes riding, tilted too far forward and I was slipping forward. The right saddle, Specialised Body Geometry on all my uprights, and the exact angle to suit reach and handle bar height relative to the saddle, got rid of both issues.

Of course for real comfort, see my Avatar!^_^
 

NormanD

Lunatic Asylum Escapee
what you need is a spirit level and a hard backed book or a bit of MDF (anything hard and flat that will cover the whole saddle from front to back) and a tape measure ... if the saddle has a slight lip to the rear it still works.
Now place the bike so it's a upright as possible (against a wall or someone holding it) loosen the saddle bolts (just enough so you can move the saddle with little force and not as loose as to flop down) place the book or whatever on the saddle and the spirit level on that. now tilt the saddle until the bubble is perfectly level (that's your starting point).
Now tilt the saddle forwards until the edge of the bubble touches the line to the rear of it (if the saddle has a rear lip then 1/4 of the bubble over the line) and begin to tighten the bolts, while checking the bubble remains in the same position (on two bolt clamping systems, do the rear then front and so on a little at a time)
Once complete, measure the distance from the frames cross tube to the nose of the saddle and write it down. Now go for a test ride, if the saddle seems too far raised at the front, then it's a simple matter of placing the tape measure in the same position, loosening the bolts and dropping the measurement by about 10mm at a time.
Once you're completely happy with the position of the saddle, measure from the top tube to the saddle nose again and keep that measurement safe, it'll make it easier to set up next time.
I know it seems a long drawn out process, but measuring for a bike fitting is the same.
 

snailracer

Über Member
Mounting the saddle further back will also help you stop sliding forward, because your legs are pushing your body more backwards. It also (usually) reduces the weight on your hands.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
The UCI demand that the saddle is exactly horizontal!
That's just for time trials isn't it (article)?

I think that some of those rules are outrageous. I can't ride more than a few hundred yards with a 'level' saddle before going totally numb

The nose of the saddle a minimum of 5 cm behind the bottom bracket rule - how can it be fair to enforce the same absolute distance on a tiny climber and a 6' 5" rider?

I think they made some of those rules up so the officials could actually justify owning the tape measures and spirit levels that they got for Christmas! :thumbsup:
 

martint235

Dog on a bike
Location
Welling
I used to have "sporty" saddles slightly nose up but since starting with the Brooks on both bikes I've found that level is best for them. I think it's up to you.

However, last week the saddle on the commuter came loose so I just tightened it up at the roadside with a view to sorting it later. The next day the bike went in for a new headset fitting and I got a bit of a telling off from the owner of the LBS. His view is nose up or level depending on preference is ok but nose down will mean you're carrying more weight on your wrists. Not my view I hastily remind people......
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
I got a bit of a telling off from the owner of the LBS. His view is nose up or level depending on preference is ok but nose down will mean you're carrying more weight on your wrists. Not my view I hastily remind people......
Nose up will mean you're carrying more weight on your genitals. I know which I'd prefer! (Hint - I'm not a fan of having numb nuts!)
 
D

Deleted member 1258

Guest
I spent 2 hours trying to get my new saddle right yesterday. :cursing:

I put a new charge spoon on my fixed just before Xmas and it took ages to get it right, now its right its great, like Colin I'm no fan of numb nuts.
As others have said, the saddle is right when your comfortable, start at level and make small adjustments if you have to till you are comfortable.
 
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