How To Set your Bicycle Saddle Height

bike fit tuesday actually on a tuesday

The following companies (that you'll see in my content) support me either financially or with free stuff, so huge thanks to these guys for helping the channel thrive:
Attacus Cycling,
Wilier Triestina,
MET Helmets,
Shimano,
SkinGrowsBack,
Hutchinson Tyres
Pedalsure

#cycling #bikes #bicycle #bikefit

[petecampbell]

Had a bike fit with James and he lowered my saddle by 15mm. He told me I’d probably stop on the way home to put it back up as it would feel weird. Felt all kinds of weird for a few days but once I’d adjusted my feet to the correct position (no longer heel up to compensate) managed to scoop up some elusive Strava KOMs with ease. Honestly changed my performance in a way I still find hard to believe. Game changer.

[mattg]

I can tell that he really knows what he is talking about, but having just finished the video, I still have no idea how high to put my seat.

[EricRidesDirt]

It is really refreshing to hear someone talk about something that they clearly know a great deal about, and are passionate about.

[tom]

When you have to lower a saddle at 8 but direct an adult movie at 9

[PEPlourde]

I did lower my saddle by 20mm at the start of this season. It also brought my saddle about 10mm forward. It made all the difference in the world. No more numbness in my feet, less disconfort of the soft tissues, I didn't had much rocking in my hips but now it is non existent, feel like my pedal strokes are more efficient, don't feel any pain in my upper back and my shoulders thanks me!

There is a lot of bike fitters on Youtube but after listening to James, is thinking and ways to approach problems are just about logic and it works!

[luisen]

THANK YOU!! I had just bought a bike that according to my research was my correct size. After a week I noticed I was having knee pain so I analyzed my posture and found a bad knee - pedal relationship. I moved my setback all the way back and fixed that but now I was having neck issues because of the long reach...
After watching this video and the one on setback, I returned the setback to center and reduced 30mm on my seat height...
FIXED!!! My knee aligns perfectly with my pedal axis and my reach is more confortable. THANK YOU!!!

[JSwizzy]

Bike fit Tuesdays with Freddie Mercury™

Great vid

[nickmannerings]

I agree with James - spot on. For years my Saddle was too high but I didn't realise. This meant I ended up toe pointing (particularly with the right foot). I had foot issues with this foot and odd other issues (sores and aches, shoulders, hands etc)

A couple of years ago (after a lot of up and down by mm) I lowered my saddle by 40mm. I choose this height as I could pedal at about 110rpm with my heels on the pedals and no bouncing.This was too low - but not by huge amounts. I moved my cleats back and concentrated on feeling the soles of both feet against the shoes throughout the pedal stroke. I tried to feel as if my foot stayed more or less horizontal throughout the pedal stoke. When tired I tended to revert to the old right foot toe pointy style but over time this reduced.

I gradually improved - no more issues. After a year or so I raised the saddle height by 10mm. I get more power, no issues, regularly ride for 4 - 5 hours (about 250 miles a week on average). I always like to feel the soles of my feet in contact with the inside of my shoes. when tired this feeling can go as the foot becomes (what seems to me) unstable.

The lower saddle also means I'm comfortable in the drops for hours. I'd certainly recommend the high cadence heel pedalling to find a start height for the saddle.

I'm don't know if this stacks up with James' view of saddle height.
Nick

[RudiDwiHartanto]

Cade finally got 90+k subscribers he deserves every lil bit of it. And this series is your best series. I love JAMES!

[bartekteee]

Yes this guy is right! My saddle was set at 79, 3 cm from BB on Retul, but i have been loosing control when my leg was down. Now it is 78 cm is perfect! In my case the best option to measure saddle height was heel on pedal method.

[motombocolombo]

I found my current saddle height by filming myself from behind while on the rollers. I stopped lowering the saddle height when my pelvis wasn't rocking anymore. Kind of worked for me.

[cxbkpmf]

I first heard of cleat position importance by watching Francis' videos and listening to James. I was convinced to at least try it, and so I did. I slammed my cleats far rearward on my Shimano RX8 gravel shoes... and I'll never go back to a forward cleat position. I feel like I'm doing leg presses in a squat machine... meaning, I feel like my power delivery is smoothed and optimized. And of course no sore feet or knees.

[lenslifeimages]

Probably this could be the best video tutorial ever made about how to find correct saddle height. The guy put huge efforts and tried his best to make it as simple as possible. Hope you understand. Good luck every one getting your saddle height correct after watching this video 😂😂😂😂😂

[andyd]

Love the enthusiasm that James brings to the table!! Also.. Freddie Mercury called, he wants his moustache back.. ;)

[kdp]

Thanks so much! I was experiencing seat pain after long rides however the pain subsided after I dropped my saddle height. I'm a 60 year old who returned to cycling after a 25 year hiatus (and having both hips replaced). This channel has corrected a lot of the bad information lingering from the 1980s and 1990s. Aloha from Honolulu!

[cocorocks]

When all the bike fit videos are viewed as a whole they're seriously educational. Obviously seeing the man himself would be the best option but these at least give me an idea of how everything links together... wish I lived nearer to London!!!

[teflessays]

This is absolutely bang on. Excellent. Outside of left knee pain? Lower your saddle til it goes. Hip starts going numb due to leg (usually right leg) coming up too high? Raise saddle (or get sensible crank length) until pain goes.

[JohnnyVegasStudio]

This video helped me out SO much. 30+ miles and I was getting saddle sores. I dropped the height just 20mil, rode 67 miles last weekend and NO sores!

[HTB]

James looks like a creepy 70s gym class teacher with the new mo 😂😂😂

[gordonmckenzie]

Oh my god it’s Richard from Friends! (Maybe a bit obscure, but I’m not telling him he looks like Magnum...)