I believe there was some research done in the seventies at Loughborough University with some racing cyclists of the time to find the optimum saddle height for power delivery. They found the best height to be 109% of inseam measurement (crotch to the ground in bare feet).
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.
The saddle on my best bike is 1 or 2mm under ideal and I can feel it after a ride, I'll get round to tweaking it at some point, I've got the saddle on my fixed right.
I started a thread a few weeks ago about struggling on hills, and having a pain in my left knee (I'm a newbie of a few weeks). I was basically told I was just unfit.
About a week ago I moved my saddle up half an inch, and it seemed to make a difference. Moved it up another quarter the next night and still comfortable and easier riding. Might move it up again. Don't know why I didn't think of it before!
One of our cafeteria men still rides his BMX. Seated, often. But I see that alot over here. Some people must have a lot more joint mobility than I could ever dream of.
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