My knees hit my chest

jangle

I have set my saddle up on my new bike using the guide on this site but my knees and legs then keep hitting me in the chest. I can't raise the stem up any higher so am a bit confused as to why this happens. Is there anything that I am missing?

pdstsp

You're not Dolly Parton are you?

Simon Notley

Sounds like you've ended up with the saddle too low. Any chance of a picture of you on the bike?

Try setting the saddle height so you can just reach the pedal with your heel when it is at it's furthest point (without leaning sideways off the saddle!)

jangle

pdstsp wrote:

You're not Dolly Parton are you?

I wouldn't need a bike as I wouldn't need to leave the house :P

The saddle as far as I know it set up correctly. Can't find the article but it was on here and discussed 3 differents methods and I chose the one that bends your knee about 23 degrees when at the 6 o'clock position. I dont have a photo on me but will try and post one up when I get home tonight.

EDIT: Yup. meant 6 o'clock..

John.T

I think you mean 6 o'clock.
The heel on pedal at 6 o'clock with a slight knee bend is a good starter.

ris

did you mean this seat height guide[/url?]

maybe try one of the other methods, the variations between them can be substatial - the lemond one was way too low for me, the 109% far too high so i put it somewhere in between.

if the set up you have isn't working then change it - the guides are rules of thumb that don't know what your body is like!

on the road

Do you wear cleats, because the heal methods only work if you don't wear cleats IME. Place the ball of your foot on the pedal, if you wear cleats then put them on and clip in, then place your foot at the six O'clock position, you're knee should just be very slightly bent, then you'll find that you're kness don't hit you're chest.

jangle

ris - I do mean that article and I went for an approximation of the holmes method. Maybe I am going wrong with 'approximation'

on the road - I do wear cleats and that is what I did and still hit my chest on the drops.

Could it be that I am not arching my back enough?

nickwill

It makes me wonder if your bike is the right size. :?:

Feltup

Is your heal lifting a lot on the up stroke and over the top?

on the road

What size is your bike and how tall are you?

John.T

Pics please. It would make helping you so much easier.