It is important to get the correct saddle height, otherwise you will be more prone to injury. Also your cycling will be less efficient.
When making adjustments to the saddle position it is best to make small adjustments at a time.
When you have found the correct saddle height and you are happy with it, make sure you keep this same saddle height for all bikes. This is especially important if you do a lot of cycling and have different bikes for racing and training.
Rough Guide To Saddle Height.
There should always be a small bend in the knee. When your pedal is at its lowest position, there should be a small bend.(roughly 25 degrees) If your leg is perfectly stretched the saddle is too high.
Most people begin cycling with the saddle height too low. This is often a legacy of childhood cycling and also a feeling that a lower saddle height makes it easier to get on and off the bike.
Formula for saddle Height
Another method of calculating saddle height
- the distance from the heart of the bottom bracket to the upper part of the saddle) = 0.885 x inner leg length.
- This method was developed by Claude Genzling during the Tour de France of 1978. He measured saddle heights and the length of cyclists inner legs to arrive at this average formula.
- I have used this formula myself. It seems to work fine for me. It means whenever I set up a bike, I know the saddle height is going to be roughly 83.5cm
- Saddles at Evans Cycles
- Common mistakes in cycling
- Theory of Saddle Height
7 comments ↓
[...] Correct saddle height and bike frame [...]
[...] If the saddle height is too high or too low, you will lose efficiency and possibly cause injury. Correct saddle height 2. [...]
When I was about fourteen I had my saddle too high and it hyperextended my left knee. Afterwards, not knowing what I had done, I went running and tripped when I put my left leg out to catch myself the joint buckled and dislocated itself. It was the most excruciating thing I had ever experienced and took almost two years to recover from. To make the long story short, dont make your saddle height too high!!
[...] Correct saddle height [...]
[...] Height Make sure saddle height is correct and you keep that height on all bikes you [...]
[...] Saddle Height [...]
the 0.885 formula does not work because it doesn’t take crank length into account. I ride 165 for track and 175 for road.
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