Saddle position: Poll

mba007
mba007 Posts: 95
edited September 2007 in Workshop
A few days ago I received my brand new Charge Spoon Ti saddle and have been mucking about with the seating angle trying to find the optimal position... and am still trying!

Question is, do you perch on the back (to take pressure off the nethers), sit in the middle (aka cupping: everything gets a bit of the action), or indecently assault yourself by moving to the front.

Comments

  • Zero Sum
    Zero Sum Posts: 55
    I sit poked at the front, I just find I naturally drift there whatever I do..

    What is that Guiness marmite like, I saw it for sale and then forgot to buy it, any good, can you tastethe difference?
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    you want your weight on your sit bones

    if you slide forward then you either need a different saddle, to change the angle, or perhaps look at your overall body position.

    Sitting on the nose is very good for long term damage.........
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • simbil1
    simbil1 Posts: 620
    I sit on the middle and occasionally slide forward for TTs / blasts and backwards to change muscle usage on climbs. As said, you would usually want to be on the sit bones for extended periods.
    http://picasaweb.google.com/thefirstsimbil/Bikes
  • Zero Sum
    Zero Sum Posts: 55
    Hey, cheers for the advice, but everyone is different, and I am very propely postioned, it has been checked and rechecked and analysed...I know that you had best intentions with the advice, but really we only know what is pesonally best for us, I have been riding for years like this and do not have any problems...
  • mba007
    mba007 Posts: 95
    Guinness marmite is like normal marmite except a lot smoother in taste. I prefer it to the original, so I bought 6 pots of the stuff when it came out! I've got until August 08 to consume it which shouldn't be a problem :)

    Back on topic, I tilted back my saddle the tiniest of margins this evening (to get a more cupped feel rather than perching) and it feels much better. Amazing how such little movement effect the feel!
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    You are sensible to make your own judgements but a lot of the advice says you want the saddle horizontal. In my opinion this is just plain wrong.

    You want the saddle angle so that the natural position that you gravitate to is where your sit bones are well supported. That's the only rule I follow. For me, on a number of bikes, this is never horizontal and always nose-up, so I naturally slide back onto the comfy, wider rear section.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • mekonta
    mekonta Posts: 58
    i used to have the saddle rammed right back on the rails and also way back on the saddle. And I could go uphill very well.

    Now I've moved the saddle forward and sit in the middle. Can go very well on the flat in this position but have lost the best of my climbing speed.
  • richardjallen
    richardjallen Posts: 691
    mba007 wrote:
    Guinness marmite is like normal marmite except a lot smoother in taste. I prefer it to the original, so I bought 6 pots of the stuff when it came out! I've got until August 08 to consume it which shouldn't be a problem :)

    Is that guinness marmite for real? Surely you are kidding?
  • mba007
    mba007 Posts: 95
    No kidding. It was a special St Patrick's Day celebratory marmite ... which ... sounds likes a terrible gimmick... but it is really nice :) If you look on eBay you'll find that they now go for twice the retail price (including postage)... ridiculous!
  • on the road
    on the road Posts: 5,631
    I tend to sit on the back of the saddle when on the hoods, and sit at the front when on the drops. My saddle angle is pointing slightly downwards, that works for me.
  • manick0de
    manick0de Posts: 202
    I sit on the back with the saddle pointing nose down quite a bit. I've tried different angles and different saddles but my perinium gets sore, no matter what I try so I have to have ALL the weight on my sit bones. My hands can get a bit sore at times due to the extra weight!
  • Shadowduck
    Shadowduck Posts: 845
    I've been playing around with my saddle position quite a lot this week (after fitting a new, wider perch). I've ended up with it quite far forward and more or less level, which seems to spread the load quite nicely and I end up roughly in the middle.

    Of course I've now got Tweaker's Paranoia so I'll probably be making microradian adjustments to the angle for months yet.
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • Sub3_99
    Sub3_99 Posts: 1,591
    On the back climbing
    In the middle cruising on the flat or gentle rolling terrain
    On the front when building up for a sprint

    Don't ask me why, I just do it.

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