Seat Height: Boardsie's thoughts

bcmf

I always thought I was very comfy on my bike. I have a slightly odd position but due to dodgy old knees I am very particular about my cleat position and only use Northwave shoes as I can match the markings on the sole for the cleat.
It took me almost 3 months of tweeking saddle height and position so I can ride decent distances without getting any knee trouble.
On Sunday an old ex pro told me that my saddle height was too high by what he reckoned was about 10cm :eek:
Needless to say I am very reluctant to alter my position.

Now I am setting up position on a new bike and and using the exact same brand/model pedals and cleats with same lenght cranks and am caught between going with the same degree of knee bend as what I am use to you or dropping by a few cms.
Given that this will be the race bike and plan to start at The Traders Cup time to get it positon dialled in will be limited.

Thoughts.....

Eamonnator

A few different methods here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/how-to-get-your-seat-height-right-14608/

Lusk_Doyle

Ten cms!!! You must be like Barbie's Ken doll down there!

bcmf

Seat Height, Doyler, Seat Height

Raam

Was it Kimmage?

bcmf

your not wrong!

Raam

bcmf wrote: »

your not wrong!

10cm is a huge change. Either he is off his rocker or you have been off yours.

bcmf

My rocker is well secured in place so that only leaves one conclusion - Lusk Doyle is a waster!

Lusk_Doyle

bcmf wrote: »

My rocker is well secured in place so that only leaves one conclusion - Lusk Doyle is a waster!

A waster who is gonna destroy you this Saturday up Snowtown!

Lusk_Doyle

Raam wrote: »

Was it Kimmage?

He probably meant it was 10cms too high for him. Bcmf was too busy fawning over him to realise what he said!

bcmf

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

A waster who is gonna destroy you this Saturday up Snowtown!

I told you there is a boycott of Snowtown. The Halpinator is away so there is no hunger for it. Now when he returns then you will have your arse handed to you (by him not me)

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

He probably meant it was 10cms too high for him. Bcmf was too busy fawning over him to realise what he said!

Oh I was listening to him alright. He was telling me Lusk is full of wasters!

Lusk_Doyle

bcmf wrote: »

I told you there is a boycott of Snowtown. The Halpinator is away so there is no hunger for it. Now when he returns then you will have your arse handed to you (by him not me)


Oh I was listening to him alright. He was telling me Lusk is full of wasters!

Halpin's hands shall be nowhere near my bottom.

detones

Would a professional bikefit sort this for ya? Might be worth the few bob to get properly dialled in.

bcmf

detones wrote: »

Would a professional bikefit sort this for ya? Might be worth the few bob to get properly dialled in.

yeah.maybe.
But I didnt think I had a problem.
THink I will cycle on my own in future.

Borderfox

Sure it wasn't 10mm?

Beasty

Or....

.... sure it wasn't too wide rather than too high?

I reckon if I raised my saddle by 10cm I probably wouldn't be able to reach the pedals

furiousox

There's a retul bike fitting centre in Ballboughal.
A bikefit is 180 but you get E50 off with your CI licence.
There's also a 25% reduction for groups of 5 or more.
There's two of us in Drogheda thinking of getting it done so 3 more bodies would get us a group disccount.

The tax man

I'd be inclined to say " if it ain't broke...." If your current setup isn't causing you any issues, I'd stick to it even if it's not the norm.
Or set your race bike up with what works for you and fiddle with the setup on another bike.

bcmf

yeah probably was 10 mm. Its been a long tiring few days!
I should go to bed!

martyc5674

If your saddle was too high by 10cm you wouldn't be able to reach the pedals at the bottom if their stroke.
10mm I reckon is what the man said!
Marty.

furiousox

What's your saddle height out of curiousity?
Mine is 745mm from centre of crank to top of saddle.

bcmf

furiousox wrote: »

What's your saddle height out of curiousity?
Mine is 745mm from centre of crank to top of saddle.

785mm from centre BB to top of saddle.

Beasty

bcmf wrote: »

785mm from centre BB to top of saddle.

Mine's shorter than that (after a proper bike fit)!

furiousox

bcmf wrote: »

785mm from centre BB to top of saddle.

Seems high, we're similar height aren't we?

Raam

bcmf wrote: »

yeah probably was 10 mm. Its been a long tiring few days!
I should go to bed!

Ah, so it's you who is off his rocker

aFlabbyPanda

Tbh if its comfy whats the problem? My lbs has commented on my saddle being 100% forward on the rails and although I had no problems I started to wonder if moving it back would be better. After 2 weeks of messing with the position I just ended up frustrated and sore. Its back to where it was now and I'm happy.

Wishbone Ash

The_Sub wrote: »

......My lbs has commented on my saddle being 100% forward on the rails ....

100% forward? WTF?

aFlabbyPanda

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

100% forward? WTF?

whats the problem? it suits me. I'm sure if I got on your bike I wouldn't like it based on fit??

Wishbone Ash

The_Sub wrote: »

whats the problem? it suits me. I'm sure if I got on your bike I wouldn't like it based on fit??

100% forward of what? Percentage is relative.

aFlabbyPanda

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

100% forward of what? Percentage is relative.

as I said

The_Sub wrote: »

100% forward on the rails

The saddle is all the way forward.

Lusk_Doyle

bcmf wrote: »

785mm from centre BB to top of saddle.

Mine is 835ish so your's would be about right at that height.

Brian?

The_Sub wrote: »

whats the problem? it suits me. I'm sure if I got on your bike I wouldn't like it based on fit??

If your bike fit is off and you're comfortable, you've adapted to a bad fit. This adaptation doesn't make the fit right. There's a high likelihood you'd not putting out as much power as you can. It could also lead to muscle imbalance and injury over time.

Bcmf, get a bike fit done man. You know it makes sense.

aFlabbyPanda

not really, if I had a seat post with zero setback then it wouldn't be all the way forward on the rails yet my position would still be the same. simply saying the bars, saddle, seat post is in the wrong position visually (without seeing the rider actually on the bike) is pointless.

I'd had a bike fit done

Brian?

The_Sub wrote: »

not really, if I had a seat post with zero setback then it wouldn't be all the way forward on the rails yet my position would still be the same. simply saying the bars, saddle, seat post is in the wrong position visually (without seeing the rider actually on the bike) is pointless.

I'd had a bike fit done

I didn't say it was wrong. You asked what the problem would be if it was wrong and you were comfortable. Ye get me?

aFlabbyPanda

Not really no, I was replying to another poster and was asking why he thought it was a problem. I'm happy!, but anyway, all besides the point. splitting hairs.

gambeta_fc

Got a fit done recently. Out of interest was looking online to see if there were any saddle positions for cyclists around my height (i.e. how much of a freak are my proportions).

Found this table online, I know pro positions may not be the best comparison but found the variation interesting:
http:// imgur.com/55ikcQ7

[Not enough posts to attach the image directly]

Unknown Soldier

Cathal,

In the site below can do a whole Shimano bike fit quite cheap and will print off all the details or match a "brand" to your fit.

Quite handy tbh. I got moved forward 20mm and it's great I had my saddle height more or less right though. Just need to add the "forward" 20mm to a stem.

http://www.clondalkincycle.com/?page_id=30

cajonlardo

I saw this on cycling weekly

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/bike-fit/saddle-height-why-you-need-to-get-it-right-25379

and thought I would check it out and compare the measurement to what height I have my saddle. Pretty close and so I asked several mates to check and found they were either very close or bang on. If you use online calculators or formulas you come out pretty much bang on. Beauty of this method is its simplicity and it will put you very close. It would be interesting to see how many of you come close between this method and what you are currently happy with?

Idleater

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

100% forward? WTF?

I know this is slightly off topic but I remembered this picture of Alan Hanson s bike recently
http://images.cyclingtips.com.au/content/uploads/2015/01/2N4A8777.jpg

Lumen

Idleater wrote: »

I know this is slightly off topic but I remembered this picture of Alan Hanson s bike recently
http://images.cyclingtips.com.au/content/uploads/2015/01/2N4A8777.jpg

Adam Hansen?

Idleater

Lumen wrote: »

Adam Hansen?

Aye, mistyped.

bcmf

Doesn't Hansen use something like 38cm with bars as well.

lennymc

bcmf wrote: »

Doesn't Hansen use something like 38cm with bars as well.

38 cm what with bars?

Lusk_Doyle

lennymc wrote: »

38 cm what with bars?

Width. It's not his fault he ain't learned.