Lowering your saddle - but keeping power

kingrollo
kingrollo Posts: 3,198
edited June 2011 in Road beginners
Due to a reocurring back problem I have to lower my saddle. This seems to have eased to back pain problem - but I don't feel as strong on the bike. I won't be raising the saddle again - but any other tips on how I can make mu new position more efficient ?

Comments

  • jimmcdonnell
    jimmcdonnell Posts: 328
    There's some current (?) thinking about cleat positioning which says that moving the cleats into the middle of your foot can improve power? Not sure I'd fancy that myself but it would fit in nicely with a lowered saddle height...

    Google search? can't remember where I read about it - might have been on here...
    Litespeed Tuscany, Hope/Open Pro, Ultegra, pulling an Extrawheel trailer, often as not.

    FCR 4 (I think?)
    Twitter: @jimjmcdonnell
  • surreyxc
    surreyxc Posts: 293
    I have just lowered my saddle a little, as I am trying to push my skills. I think it changes your riding, so you may not be as efficient, but you may be able to hop up and over stuff quicker.

    You have probably tried but raising up the handlebars with stem angle or risers should help put your back in a more relaxed position, with out needing to lower the saddle as much.

    I suffer from bad back, going FS really helped me. And whilst I do not practice what I preach, some core exericse and Alexander technique could prove really good. My back kicks in when I really crank the power or climb hard, but if I remember to engage my core this takes loads of force of the back.

    Ditch the Camel Bak and stick kit on the bike.

    Failing that just use lots of Drugs!
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I'd put the saddle back to where it was and raise the bars a touch instead....
    More problems but still living....
  • colsoop
    colsoop Posts: 217
    If you lower the saddle too much you will put too much pressure on your knees.

    Whats the back problem ?
  • oscar-j
    oscar-j Posts: 269
    as others have already said,raising the bars is probably a better idea.also,you can adjust the angle of the bars so the hoods are higher
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    I think a lot of riders are riding with their saddle too high these days! Getting saddle sores, back ache and knee cap pain are symptoms of over high saddles.

    Give it a while to adjust for the new position and see how it feels then. A lower saddle should help with handling too with a lower centre of gravity and the ability to move about on the bike more easily.
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    O/P Here

    I have a long standing back problem - I do daily core excercises and stretches. I think the high saddle is causing my hips to rock hence the pain - and don't think hiring the bires would help . its a sportive bike so I don't think i am to crouched over.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    You should distinguish between hip pain and back pain. In my experience, an over-high saddle will result in sore hips, rather than a sore back. However, if I'm not able to get my saddle sufficiently far forward (too big a frame or too much set-back in the seatpost) then I get some soreness in my lower back and shoulders on longer rides.

    My solution was to get a seatpost with zero setback (inline) to bring the saddle forward a bit, and it seems to have done the trick.
    - - - - - - - - - -
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  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    kingrollo wrote:
    O/P Here

    I have a long standing back problem - I do daily core excercises and stretches. I think the high saddle is causing my hips to rock hence the pain - and don't think hiring the bires would help . its a sportive bike so I don't think i am to crouched over.

    If your hips are rocking then that suggests your saddle was too high. In which case lowering it shouldn't result in any loss of power. I guess most folk made the assumption that your saddle height was right initially.

    'hiring the bires' = raising the bars??? :wink:
    More problems but still living....
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    surreyxc wrote:
    I have just lowered my saddle a little, as I am trying to push my skills. I think it changes your riding, so you may not be as efficient, but you may be able to hop up and over stuff quicker.

    You have probably tried but raising up the handlebars with stem angle or risers should help put your back in a more relaxed position, with out needing to lower the saddle as much.

    I suffer from bad back, going FS really helped me. And whilst I do not practice what I preach, some core exericse and Alexander technique could prove really good. My back kicks in when I really crank the power or climb hard, but if I remember to engage my core this takes loads of force of the back.

    Ditch the Camel Bak and stick kit on the bike.

    Failing that just use lots of Drugs!

    Err good advice and all for mtbing but this is the road forum?
  • SPOODZILLA
    SPOODZILLA Posts: 128
    To tag alone on the thread, I'm a month back on my road bike after 6 months out following a discectomy and an spinal infection (nice!). Can easily clock up 30 miles on the mountain bike (seat height = bars height) but the racer causes me serious discomfort after a few miles. My sit is around 7cm higher then the bars (and could do with going up more), I tried flipping the existing stem, then bought a shorter more angled stem to help but still really struggling. Not sure if I need a new bike, or a bit more patience in letting my body head fully!
    Road: 2006 Trek 1500
    Off: 2009 Carrera Fury

    I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    Clearly you need a new bike! Clearly it has to be lighter and more expensive too!! :wink:
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Matt Square
    Matt Square Posts: 54
    Been there done this.
    Due to a torn disc I had to drop my seat height, buy a shorter stem and flip it, move my cleats back to behind the ball of my foot.

    I am a fair bit slower than this time last year, but all of the above changes mean that after not even being to stand up straight in December and not getting back on my Road bike until February, I did a Century ride last Friday and 130miles on Sunday. I also did a 175 mile ride at Easter.

    It goes to show that it is possible to bounce back.

    HTH
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    DesWeller wrote:
    You should distinguish between hip pain and back pain. In my experience, an over-high saddle will result in sore hips, rather than a sore back. However, if I'm not able to get my saddle sufficiently far forward (too big a frame or too much set-back in the seatpost) then I get some soreness in my lower back and shoulders on longer rides.

    My solution was to get a seatpost with zero setback (inline) to bring the saddle forward a bit, and it seems to have done the trick.

    It's pretty common that this rocking on the hips causes lower back pain. I guess from the twisting and stretching. Saddle too low can conversely give knee pain.

    Re cleat position, I just had a fit at the bike whisperer. He moved my cleats way back on my shoes and my saddle forward. Felt horrific at first but now I'm getting used to it my power is improving. I didn't get much changed apart from the shoes and saddle but my new position feels great and after a couple of rides my cleat position feels really natural, ie I'm clipping in perfectly every time. I'd recommend going to see Scherrit for sure, was a really good experience and will be back to build and set up my new bike this year.

    http://www.thebikewhisperer.co.uk/

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