Why do the pro riders have their saddles so far forward?

[cyberknight]

It seems to be a trend that the peleton are slamming the saddle all the way forward on the rails, whats the benefit ?
I know they love to slam the stem .....

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Examples?

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...berto-urans-specialized-s-works-tarmac/304328
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...nens-specialized-s-works-roubaix-sl4-1/300737
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-taylor-phinneys-bmc-gf01/299517
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-luca-paolinis-canyon-ultimate-cf-slx/314334
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-adam-hansens-ridley-helium-sl/297697
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-marianne-vos-giant-envie-advanced/281448
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-mark-renshaws-specialized-s-works-venge/292628

Hey i might be wrong but it always seems they have the saddle further forward than i thought , compared to what i find comfy
http://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/2014-05-25-14-40-15-jpg.46118/

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

None of them are extremely forward,but the layback

 

[cyberknight]

None of them are extremely forward,but the layback

Fair enough , a couple of people reckon im too far back .

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Fair enough , a couple of people reckon im too far back .

99.9% of people wouldn't have a clue how you feel in that position though.

 

[ColinJ]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...berto-urans-specialized-s-works-tarmac/304328
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...nens-specialized-s-works-roubaix-sl4-1/300737
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-taylor-phinneys-bmc-gf01/299517
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-luca-paolinis-canyon-ultimate-cf-slx/314334
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-adam-hansens-ridley-helium-sl/297697
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-marianne-vos-giant-envie-advanced/281448
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/pro-bike-mark-renshaws-specialized-s-works-venge/292628

Hey i might be wrong but it always seems they have the saddle further forward than i thought , compared to what i find comfy
http://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/2014-05-25-14-40-15-jpg.46118/

You can hardly see the saddle in most of those pictures!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Hansen and Vos examples look to be forward, the other look fairly central. I have my saddle forward, and have done for several years - I reckon Hansen and Vos are copying me

 

[boydj]

The important thing is where the saddle puts your knees relative to the cranks, so saddle position won't be simply 'slammed' as you put it. In fact in the only real close-up in your examples, Taylor Phinney's saddle is bang in the middle of the adjustment area.

The fact that the pros tend to ride relatively small frames with lots of seat-post showing may well mean they need to have the saddles further forward to achieve the correct position.

 

[Drago]

Bringing them forward is good for applying power, worse for comfort, endurance etc. There's no right or wrong way, just the compromise that suits best for the task at hand.

 

[User6179]

The important thing is where the saddle puts your knees relative to the cranks, so saddle position won't be simply 'slammed' as you put it. In fact in the only real close-up in your examples, Taylor Phinney's saddle is bang in the middle of the adjustment area.

The fact that the pros tend to ride relatively small frames with lots of seat-post showing may well mean they need to have the saddles further forward to achieve the correct position.

I thought that also at first but small or large frame should not make a difference unless it changes the angle of the seat tube , maybe the riders with the seat forward have a shorter femur .

 

[cyberknight]

The important thing is where the saddle puts your knees relative to the cranks, so saddle position won't be simply 'slammed' as you put it. In fact in the only real close-up in your examples, Taylor Phinney's saddle is bang in the middle of the adjustment area.

The fact that the pros tend to ride relatively small frames with lots of seat-post showing may well mean they need to have the saddles further forward to achieve the correct position.

Maybe , i looked at adam hansens set up and he has 65 mm of set back from BB although it looks further forward, mine is set at around 35 - 40 mm ( cant remember without measuring atm as i use tip of saddle to stem centre as an easy way to remember ) but looks further back .He is half a foot taller though !

 

[Milzy]

People with small feet generally need their saddle more forward than those
with big feet. This changes the leg angles and the pedalling motion.
The rider's center of gravity is effected by the location of the saddle, as do lots
of other things about the rider's position and geometry of the bike. It's all interconnected. I've been using a 0 set back for a good few months now & the knee pain I used to suffer doesn't happen anymore.

 

[cyberknight]

People with small feet generally need their saddle more forward than those
with big feet. This changes the leg angles and the pedalling motion.
The rider's center of gravity is effected by the location of the saddle, as do lots
of other things about the rider's position and geometry of the bike. It's all interconnected. I've been using a 0 set back for a good few months now & the knee pain I used to suffer doesn't happen anymore.

Im the opposite, i have a trapped nerve in my neck so i like to have the saddle back for centre of gravity to unweight the hands as much as possible . Im 5 foot 7 " BTW

 

[User6179]

People with small feet generally need their saddle more forward than those
with big feet. This changes the leg angles and the pedalling motion.
The rider's center of gravity is effected by the location of the saddle, as do lots
of other things about the rider's position and geometry of the bike. It's all interconnected. I've been using a 0 set back for a good few months now & the knee pain I used to suffer doesn't happen anymore.

You have small feet Milzy ?, you know what they say about men with small feet !











Small shoes