bikeNOW - 02 / Aug / 2022
DIY: THREE ADJUSTMENTS TO FIT YOUR SADDLE
It's a fact that the saddle is one of the most critical components on your bike. It can help us achieve long hours on the bike, or it can make us put a foot on the ground after a few minutes into the ride. Let's see how you can set it properly!
It's a fact that the saddle is one of the most critical components on your bike. It can help us achieve long hours on the bike, or it can make us put a foot on the ground after a few minutes into the ride. For example, one of the most common misadjustments is saddle height. A saddle too low will compress the pedal stroke dynamic and generate pain around the front of your knee. A saddle too high will do the inverse, stretching the pedal stroke and provoking pain around the back of the knee. Let's see how to fix this!
Adjust your saddle in three simple steps
What you will need:
- Set of Allen Keys
- Measure tape
- Plumb bob
SADDLE HEIGHT
There are different methods to adjust your saddle height, all of them with similar results. However, our Bike Fitting expert, recommends one of the most simple and effective ways to do it: Lean against a wall or garage door with your outside pedal positioned at 5 o'clock and sitting evenly and centred on the saddle. When your saddle is at the proper height, you should be able to extend your leg fully with your heel merely touching the pedal. Adjust the saddle height until you get the right extension.
SADDLE TILT OR ANGLE
Now that your saddle height is set correctly, now the angle. The angle of your saddle will determine how comfortable you are ride, avoiding numbness in your genitals or cramping in the upper body.
However, saddle level is a bit more dependent from your cockpit bike geometry and cockpit configurations, so to get it expertly set up, a bike fitter has to look further into it. If you want to play it safe, you can level your saddle in a neutral position and start from here.
For example, if you feel your hand or shoulders are going numb, it could mean that you are shifting more weight onto the handlebars. Tilt-up your saddle by one or two degrees and try again!
SADDLE FORE AND AFT
Fore-aft positioning relates to the distance from your seat to the handlebars. This is an adjustment that affects different muscles groups and the pressure put on your knees.
To find the right Fore and Aft position, lean against a wall and put your pedals in a neutral position (3 and 9 o'clock). As you hold the plumb bob in front of your forward kneecap, the string should pass across the pedal spindle. If the string pass behind the spindle, you will need to move your saddle forward and vice versa.
All these three adjustments should give you a basic saddle fit. However, if you are still feeling pain while riding or you are not comfortable on your bike, remember that you can always book an appointment with our Bike Fitter. Click here to book now!
