CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Saddle Advice... thanks!

(10 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by lorlane
  • Latest reply from Snowy
  • This topic is resolved

  1. lorlane
    Member

    So, I was merrily cycling homeward last night and a fellow cyclist, on passing me, mentioned that my saddle height could be slowing me down and suggested I raise it an inch.

    I am quite small, and my tiptoes only just reached the ground when on saddle so was a bit wary of raising it. But I am pretty slow and was getting fed up that I seemed to work hard without getting a good speed!!

    So I was amazed that I did indeed raise my speed by 5km/h with that extra inch. So thank-you, stranger. It doesn't normally seem the "done thing" to talk to other cyclists but in this case I'm glad you did!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Good for you for acting on the advice too!

    Yep saddle height is important - usually for comfort - and better for your knees.

    An inch is quite a lot, but many people find that even a few millimetres (usually, but not always, up) can make a noticeable difference

    And then there's changing the angle a bit...

    Generally a horizontal saddle suits people, though others like them sloping towards their handlebars.

    Oh and handlebar height and shape and

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. fimm
    Member

    You are not supposed to be able to sit on your saddle and put your feet on the ground - you have to get off your saddle when you stop. Your leg should be just about straight when you are sitting on the saddle and your heel is on the pedal. (Don't pedal with your heel, but that's the way to check it.)

    Work your saddle up a bit at a time, so that you get used to it, especially the starting off bit where you have to get back into the saddle (people like me who have been doing it for ever probably forget how tricky it feels...)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @fimm is, I have to say, right about that saddle.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. Kenny
    Member

    +1 for fimm. I did not know this until a couple of years ago. I still had my saddle at the height I was told by my father, when I was a child, that it should be at, which is to be able to put both sets of toes on the ground when on your seat. Two years ago I learnt that this was only for when you are a child, so I raised my seat significantly and my knees benefitted greatly!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. gembo
    Member

    On the other hand, I see a fair few folk with saddles too high as it is quite the rage. Depends how keen you are to use your thigh muscles I guess?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. lorlane
    Member

    @kenny - yes, this is what I was going by too. I'm just delighted I'm no longer being "grannied" by everyone on the way to work!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Kenny
    Member

    I'm just delighted I'm no longer being "grannied" by everyone on the way to work!

    That's a new expression on me. Being grannied, to me, means to lose a game/set of badminton/squash/tennis/whatever without winning a point (but then, I'm a racquet sport person). In cycling, the granny ring is the smallest of 3 chainrings on a triple. I'm struggling to figure out what being grannied means in the above context, although I'm guessing it means "arriving last / slowest"?

    That all aside, I do recommend you try out fimm's tip re: straight leg and heel to determine correct saddle height. That is, AFAIAC, the right way™ to do it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. lorlane
    Member

    Probably not using it in the correct context then but to me, being ahead in a game, race, whatever - just shy of winning - and have opponent go from last place to beating you in a few moves means you've been grannied. So, not just losing (which is bad enough) but thinking you're winning for the best part of the game, only to have it snatched away :(

    I will be adopting the right way™ from now on though!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. Snowy
    Member

    On a sportive last year, a nice chap in his 70s pulled alongside me and informed me that my saddle looked about 1/2 of an inch too high. I knew it was at the upper end but it felt efficient so I had stuck with it.

    I subsequently lowered it by a 1/2 inch and what do you know, the sore achilles tendon that had been irritating me for months went away within days.

    Got to admire that level of experience!

    Posted 10 years ago #

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