what a difference 2 inches make !
- Thread starter s7ephanie
- Start date
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Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Yep. Forget all the nonsense about needing to be able to reach the ground when sitting in the saddle. I find you can get so much more power to the pedals when you have the seat at the correct height. Too low and you can feel the muscles just above the knee getting tired and fatigued so much quicker.so much easier on the legs ! just by raising the saddle a bit
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
Saddle height is one of the most important things to get right - you can end up saving a great deal of energy. I'd wager that you can raise it a little bit more and make it even more efficient, though you'll have to get used to stepping down when you stop.so much easier on the legs ! just by raising the saddle a bit
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I don't know if its an age thing but I can istantly feel now when a saddle is just a few mm too low, as a kid my saddle were probably several inches too low 
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
2 inches is a massive change............. certainly not what I would call "a bit".
AnythingButVanilla
Über Member
- Location
- London
I'm guilty of having my saddle too high and keep getting told off by the man in the shop but it's much better than too low. I hate feeling all scrunched up on my road bike and find that it stops me breathing properly.
Spoked Wheels
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bournemouth
+1.
Today I felt I need to raise the saddle, maybe 5mm.
I find it harder to ride with a saddle that is too low than too high. I guess most people find the same thing but I see sometimes people riding with saddles so low that I can only assume they are borrowing the bike for a ride or so.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
so much easier on the legs ! just by raising the saddle a bit
Indeed yes - very important.
I saw a lady last week on a very nice upscale Trek with her legs more or less at 45 degrees at full stretch.
Whay anyone persists with this feet touching the ground nonsense is a mystery.
Anyway, well done, you'll go much faster and further now.
How did you decide on 2" if I may ask?
OP
OP
s7ephanie
middle of nowhere in France
started with about 1inch for a couple of days then yesterday another inch and maybe just half tomorrow although i think its about right now !!
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Ooh err
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
The reason I ask is that as you seem to be having some success maybe you should go the whole hog and do it 'scientifically' which can be as simple as Knee Over Pedal Spindle and the good old extending your leg to the pedal with your heel just touching methods of correct saddle position or one of the various saddle height formulas.
I was sceptical about all this at first but it does make a surprising amount of difference.
I raised my saddle just a smidge a few months back and it makes a big difference I think, my knees don't hurt so much. I daren't go any higher or I would probably end up falling off when I stop 
As it is I have to lean sideways so my toes can reach the floor without dismounting. I've got into the habit of brake, lean, left foot off pedal as I come to a stop.
As it is I have to lean sideways so my toes can reach the floor without dismounting. I've got into the habit of brake, lean, left foot off pedal as I come to a stop.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
I raised my saddle just a smidge a few months back and it makes a big difference I think, my knees don't hurt so much. I daren't go any higher or I would probably end up falling off when I stop
Why don't you just go forward and get off the saddle?
I do when I need to get off and walk or stop longer
I meant when pausing briefly at traffic lights, side roads etc, means I can set off again faster.