Position on the Saddle - Hamstring vs Quads

Secteur

Can anyone remind me re: sitting forwards / further back on the saddle & which muscle group is preferentially activated in each position.

Did a ride yesterday and dont remember being further forwards / back than usual, but this morning my hamstrings are aching which is unusual.

neilo23

Forwards = thighs, sitting back = calves.

rick_chasey

neilo23 wrote:

Forwards = thighs, sitting back = calves.

Are you sure about that?

neilo23

Shifting back on the saddle is what is often recommended for climbing as you are able to exert more leverage on the down strong and use your calf muscles better to pull up.

However, I may be wrong so I'll shut up and let an expert have his say :-)

Zoomer37

Could try just sitting on your bike and pedalling to see whats used more?

Peddle Up!

Rule 20?


Off for a ride now.

neilo23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6QvK1NX ... re=related

Look at this from 1:35. This is what I've always thought (and it certainly feels like this is the case when I ride), but, as usual, other sources state something different. :-S

Secteur

thanks chaps - that last link is particularly good

Evil Laugh

Try warming up (cycling at a moderate pace/high cadence) for at least 15 mins before going for it, let your muscles get into it. Stretch when you get home when your muscles are warm, it's a winner.

Evil Laugh

But yeah, forward for thighs.

LeicesterLad

I was always under the impression that sitting further back brings the Glutes and Hamstrings into play, less of a which works best, more of a switiching between front and back position freqently helps relieve the different muscle groups and you tire less. Climbing should be a combination of standing, sitting further back, and sitting foward in bouts of around 30 seconds to help stop lactic build up in any one area for prolongued periods of times.

Simple answer, i thought sitting further back was less about the calves, more about glutes and hamstrings, im probably wrong.

neilo23

LeicesterLad wrote:

I was always under the impression that sitting further back brings the Glutes and Hamstrings into play, less of a which works best, more of a switiching between front and back position freqently helps relieve the different muscle groups and you tire less. Climbing should be a combination of standing, sitting further back, and sitting foward in bouts of around 30 seconds to help stop lactic build up in any one area for prolongued periods of times.

Simple answer, i thought sitting further back was less about the calves, more about glutes and hamstrings, im probably wrong.

When you sit forward you use the top of your thighs more, sit back and you use the back of the thighs more. You also use your glutes more in a "rear" position. Calves was the wrong choice of words.