Saddle tilt

k_d

Hey guys

I mentioned before that i was looking for a saddle, the one i have was giving me some bother.

However i have tilted the saddle a smallbit down at the front and im having no problems saddle wise. I have not done any long spins on it yet tho.

Will this have any efect on my riding or posture?

Now when i say tilted..i mean its very very slight, as in mm not inches!

thanks

Lumen

As long as you're not slipping off it (and therefore pushing back to compensate) there should be no problem.

A downward tilt is supposed to help if you have lower back flexibility issues, by rotating the pelvis forward. I've not tried it myself, mostly because it looks weird.

sy

Sounds fine. A lot of people will suggest that it should be parallel to the ground but a slight tilt forward should be ok. Too far forward and you will be putting too much strain on your arms/shoulders.

LastGasp

I was telling Lumen on Sunday that I had fitted a Specialized Toupe Gel, and taken it off again 'cause I didn't like it. (No, you still can't have it). I put it back on again, and found tipping it down just a couple of mms seems to have helped. Or maybe my arse is just getting used to the "plank" feeling.

abcdggs

LastGasp wrote: »

(No, you still can't have it)

LOL

Beasty

LastGasp wrote: »

I was telling Lumen on Sunday that I had fitted a Specialized Toupe Gel,

Specialized do Toupee Gel?

chakattack

LastGasp wrote: »

I was telling Lumen on Sunday that I had fitted a Specialized Toupe Gel, and taken it off again 'cause I didn't like it. (No, you still can't have it). I put it back on again, and found tipping it down just a couple of mms seems to have helped. Or maybe my arse is just getting used to the "plank" feeling.

I have the same saddle. It wasn't very comfortable at first but after 2-3 weeks it was well broken in and is very comfortable. I've never had that aching perineum feeling that I used to get with other saddles since.

blorg

Saddle height is a big issue on aching perineum too, I was having some issues with one of my bikes and lowering the saddle by only around 5mm transformed the ride entirely, problem gone.

abcdggs

Have to agree with the specialized toupe, i found it exceptionally comfortable

cdaly_

Slight thread hijack.

I find I'm sliding forwards when down on the aerobars at high cadence. Saddle slope or something else? I have the bars fairly high.

blorg

cdaly_ wrote: »

Slight thread hijack.

I find I'm sliding forwards when down on the aerobars at high cadence. Saddle slope or something else? I have the bars fairly high.

Your position _could_ be off. However, sliding forward on aero bars is not necessarily abnormal either, it is quite common in a TT to sit on the nose of the saddle (you produce more power in that position.) Many TT saddles are padded heavily at the nose for this reason. Also, it is often considered difficult to have a saddle position that works for both standard drop bars and standard length aero bars as you would generally want to be more forward for the latter.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Also, it is often considered difficult to have a saddle position that works for both standard drop bars and standard length aero bars as you would generally want to be more forward for the latter.

Isn't this the legendary aerobarred hybrid?

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Isn't this the legendary aerobarred hybrid?

First it had flat bars, then aerobars were added, then he converted it to drops, with aerobars (and auxilliary brake levers levers on the aerobars IIRC.) Not something one tends to forget.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

First it had flat bars, then aerobars were added, then he converted it to drops, with aerobars (and auxilliary brake levers levers on the aerobars IIRC.) Not something one tends to forget.

Oh, right. I hold you entirely accountable for starting this trend.

cdaly: there a variety of reasons why you might be shifting forward in the saddle (for instance, because your aerobars are fitted too long). In my experience it is very difficult to achieve a good fit with both aerobars and drop bars on the same bike without a stem change. A good rule of thumb is that your upper body and saddle positions should not change when you move to the aerobars, but this means the aerobars are usually quite short, which pushes the pads towards your wrists, which is not comfortable for long distances.

Blorg manages to run aerobars on a drop bar bike because he is abnormal.

cdaly_

blorg wrote: »

(and auxilliary brake levers levers on the aerobars IIRC.) Not something one tends to forget.

Except when plummeting towards the curb on the opposite side of the road after a front tyre blow-out and just prior to taking to the air (sans bike).

As I lay on the ground the thought occurred to me: "Couldn't I have pulled a brake?..."

cdaly_

Lumen wrote: »

cdaly: there a variety of reasons why you might be shifting forward in the saddle (for instance, because your aerobars are fitted too long). In my experience it is very difficult to achieve a good fit with both aerobars and drop bars on the same bike without a stem change. A good rule of thumb is that your upper body and saddle positions should not change when you move to the aerobars, but this means the aerobars are usually quite short, which pushes the pads towards your wrists, which is not comfortable for long distances.

I'm running Profile Century aerobars which are fairly short but have adjustable pads so they land under my elbows. Pads are centered pretty much over the tops.

I reckon I'm in pretty much the same position (apart from height) on the hoods and on the aerobars while my elbows are further back in the drops. (I tend not to ride the tops at all).

lyders

When I first got my bike I messed around with my saddle quite a bit, took me a long time to get used to it, but I found tilting it a little upwards is more comfortable for me (I doubt this would be more comfortable for a man!) And when I started spin classes I noticed this again, all the spin bike saddles are perfectly flat, but I find I just slip down a lot.

blorg

cdaly_ wrote: »

I reckon I'm in pretty much the same position (apart from height) on the hoods and on the aerobars while my elbows are further back in the drops. (I tend not to ride the tops at all).

I have those same aerobars. I think you have them peculiarly angled up or something though IIRC. Aerobar position should be more akin to being in the drops. On two of my bikes, in case it is any help, the position is similar on both:

cdaly_

Yep I sure do. I have the extensions from the bar clamps horizontal. I also have my bars much higher than yours. Close to level with the saddle.

My shoulders are definately lower on the aerobars than on hoods but my shoulder angle feels about the same. OTOH, in the drops my shoulder angle feels tighter. I'd say I'm closer to the two right angles on the aerobars than in drops. I reckon I should be reaching further forward in drops to get the right angles.


(me goes and does to his bike what somebody on the internet told him. I wonder how the spin will be tomorrow...)

blorg

You want to work it in bits obviously and I am just recounting what works for me, I am reasonably flexible and have more of a drop than many. With drop bars it is a bit of a conundrum as generally with aerobars you want the base bar down as low as possible... lower than you might want with drops. A compromise is to use shallow drops (as I do) so you can lower the tops while the drop is still usable. On my new fast audax bike project I have the base bars far lower to get the aero bars where I want them:

cdaly_

So I lowered the stem last night, now at 0 degrees down from about 10 degrees. Tried tilting the aerobars down too but couldn't ride them this morning. Angled them back towards horizontal after about 10 min.

I'll see how the lower position goes...