Cadence and sadle height

Woodchip

I've been thinking for a couple of rides that my saddle was slightly to low, so before I went out I raised it about 3/4". Been out for a quick spin of about 8 miles and come back, uploaded the data from my Garmin and my av. cadence has increased from 75 to 84. Is it normal that such a small change in saddle height should make such a large change in cadence?

Oh, and with that my average heart rate has dropped as well (only by about 7 though). I'm presuming that's more linked with the cadence though.

redddraggon

Increasing saddle height IME would decrease cadence.

dennisn

redddraggon wrote:

Increasing saddle height IME would decrease cadence.

But if the saddle height was way low..............????
I feel that my best(easiest) cadence, 90-100 give or take, comes when my legs are extended in the "conventional wisdom" of being almost fully extended when my heel
is on the pedal in the fully down position. Almost being the key word. This seems to put a
nice bend in my leg, on the down stroke, and allows me to use the full power(don't laugh)
of the leg at it's strongest(almost fully extended). Anyway that's how it feels best for me.
Also, if your saddle is too high, you can't spin well because your knees will be constantly locking and unlocking, slowing you down.

Garz

dennisn wrote:

But if the saddle height was way low..............????

He said he increased the height by 3/4", that to me isnt 'way low'. We just have to assume he had the saddle positioned around the almost straight leg at the furthest position to begin with.

Woodchip

My only guess was that it was somewhere near the "sweetspot" and by me lifting it that snifter I've hit that spot and am getting the most out of it. I'm just not sure that 3/4" can make 10rpm difference.

mattward1979

From someone that knows very little, I was amazed at how a small change in saddle height could affect my daily ride..

from aching knees, a sore anus and a depressingly average uphill performance, I went to a more organised aching thigh with hills being my bitch... and this was on a inch or so change..

Im very willing to admit that this was a change in attitude rather than a scientific breakthrough though... my ride changed dramatically the first time I spent a morning cleaning the moving parts and realising how it all fit together to create motion

BikeDynamics

Woodchip wrote:

My only guess was that it was somewhere near the "sweetspot" and by me lifting it that snifter I've hit that spot and am getting the most out of it. I'm just not sure that 3/4" can make 10rpm difference.

In some people the sweetspot between being too high and too low can be very narrow. Moving your saddle up 3/4" is quite a long way. By doing so you will be reducing the range of movement in both your hips and knees and getting more power out of your quads, both of which should make you spin faster and more efficiently. If you had gone too high, lack of hamstring and ankle flexibility will start slowing you down as well as rocking you about.

Mike at http://bikedynamics.co.uk

Woodchip

Thanks Mike. I knew someone would have the scientific reason for it.