Easy way to get the right saddle height. #cycling #roadcycling #shorts

[hoppy]

I drew on my mum's wall and she smacked me.

[brianbrowne]

I've tried it and the book measurement is about an inch higher when it's cold ?

[krissk]

Depends... bikes have different ...crank length will also matter..

[ddahstan]

No one size fits all, folks!
Simplest, sit on the bike with your riding shoes, then pedal (backward) with your HEELS. When your legs are straight at the 12 and 6 clock positions, you're in the ball park, good starting point!! This means, if you see bent legs at the knees, increase saddle height, and if legs are HYPER extended, decrease the height.

Then fine tuning to your max comfort level, riding normally with the balls of your feet, increasing or decreasing slightly (3-5mm) where you feel most comfortable!!!

[Long_Machine]

I don't ride with a saddle, keeps me honest.

[luigimitsu]

The pedal back test is the best. For anyone who doesn't know, as long as you can BARELY pedal backwards with your heel on the pedal, then it's perfect. You move your foot back again and you can pedal perfectly. Put your hand on the wall to pedal back while sitting on the bike.

[occidentalexplorer]

A lot of experts in the comments per usual. The method being used in the video is called The Hügi Method named after Wilfried Hügi. Which is slightly similar the Lemond method. This is a ball park measurement.

[maverick]

Hint: tape a sheet of paper to the wall 1st so you don't mark up your wall.

[dperreno]

There is no one way to calculate saddle height. But, this is good way to find a starting point. Be sure to adjust up or down to fine-tune for your particular setup.

[HereizzJohnny]

Thank you. You actually made it sound so fun. God bless

[vgnvideogameninja]

It's much simpler than that. Simply adjust it so that you have only a very slight bend in your knee when that foot is on the pedal and fully extended. That will be the correct height for the saddle.

[cyclemiguel]

There are plenty of factors to consider when doing saddle height and the list is long. It will all come down to repeated adjustments. Once set Record all measurements and from there every bike fitting is easier.

[norsangkelsang]

good luck...
Put the heals on the bottom of the pedal with the cycling shoes on... pedal backwards as you hold the wall. The leg should extended so that there is no reaching as you pedal. and should not be bent. The hip should be stable. This will get no in the ball park. it has been used for 50 years - at least.

[calvinvintage]

It's a starting point. My correct measurement is 73.5-74cm, by this method I get 72.2cm.

The crank arm length, shoe and pedal stack height and leg bone ratios above/below the knee all impact on this.

As many others have chipped in, I would add that if your buttocks rock side to side when seated (get someone to watch you ride) then the saddle is too high. Adjust down until the rocking stops.

Under/over certain heights the crank arm length deviates from 172.5mm as the arc will be too great/small for leg length.

[GMac]

If you don't want to draw on the wall, just use a bit of insulation tape. You can cut a piece of kep it in your hand and rather than draw on the wall just stick the tape on.

[iggysixx]

Dope. I've been wondering about this
Thanks so much :)
(also for the creative 'Do It Solo' solution)

[carvi]

just use the heel method, no calculator needed, and the result would be very close to optimal saddle height.

[ozziejim]

I’m a painter, so when you draw on the wall, I nearly fall off my chair.

[cam-inf-w]

I just always put it as low as possible bc your private parts as a man rotate down the higher your butt is. Like a dog at a 90 degree. The lower the seat the more your butt is making contact and the less your stuff parts are.

Unless ofcourse they just invent a pelvis and hip bones saddle and just let the pelvic floor area float since youre already horizontal why not rest more of your stomach and chest and take the pressure off your privates? When you have to go up a hard hill youre never sitting down anyway so you dont need an actual "seat".

Remove the problem completely and have more of a motorcycle gas tank rest or have an actual seated position.

Just mechanically my opinion?

Also long distance biking would benefit from having a longer frame and wheel base I general. You dont turn tight, you stay on the straight and narrow forever, but you could still turn the wheel completely. Like a longboard skateboard or a super car.

Low...and long. Is for distance and speed. Thats how physics works lol.
Short and boxy is for quickness and turning. Or climbing rough terrain.
...like a mountain bike

Road bikes are too similar to mountain bikes.

[harrycopeland]

This method was first introduced by Greg Lemond but does not consider crank length variations. It’s a “close enough” measure, but not exact. Without the benefit of “bike fit” technology, a more accurate measure is to multiply leg inseam by 109%, which gets you closer to the correct mark, but may still need fine tuning.