Need to move saddle forward, no more rail

GordonFreeman

I need to move my saddle forward a bit more as when I am cycling, I am not quite sitting on the back of it.
However, there's no more rail to move it forward (it's a fairly old retro saddle) - any ideas on what I can do?
I know the new saddles have more rail to do this as I tried a Madison Flux recently but it was the most uncomfortable thing ever.

estampida

so in-line seatpost??

or shorter stem.......

GordonFreeman

estampida wrote:

so in-line seatpost??

or shorter stem.......

er, it's just a straight seat post and seat mounted on by bracket.

snoopsmydogg

can you get a shorter stem for the handlebars?

styxd

Get a layback seatpost and turn it the other way round.

Or

Buy a bike that fits you properly.

k-dog

You don't want to use a shorter stem - your position on the saddle should be relative to the BB and nothing else - and then your bars are relative to that.

Moving one to fix the other isn't ever the answer.

You need a different seatpost - as already said either an inline one or one with less set back. This could move the seat further forward by quite a bit and probably get the clamp back nearer the middle of the rails which is more normal.

More than that and your bike probably isn't anywhere near fitting.

GordonFreeman

I just had a thought that it might not be the saddle but the handle bars too low.
They are dropped handlebars, when I ride on the drop perhaps I am sliding forward because when I ride upright, I sit on the seat better.
Further more, the handlebars are way below the seat, should they be raised? Also, what do you align on the handlebars with the seat, is it the top of handlebars or the dropped area?

MichaelW

Sounds like you need to re-assess your whole bike fit. This is probably the best guide for non-racing types.

You may need a very forward saddle position if your ratio of upper leg/lower leg is unusual (ie long lower leg)
OR if you are using particularly long cranks for your leg length
OR if your bike has unusually slack seat-tube angle.
OR you just run out of saddle rail.
I use my saddle forward on an inline post and it suits me.

The drop-bar position with respect to saddle is up to you. Generally the tops are 0-3" below the saddle but some riders like it above the saddle. Aggressive and larger riders may set the bars 6" below the saddle.
Some bars have very deep drops that are hard to reach. Your stem may be too long.

I suggest you work from the pedals to the saddle to the bars in that order.

snoopsmydogg

I used this the other day and made a big difference to comfort.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO

can possibly ignore the first few measurements as you already have the bike but bb to saddle, saddle to bars and saddle setback helped me greatly.

GordonFreeman

Would you say this was too far between handlebars and seat?
If so, how can I extend the handlebars?

k-dog

First thing I would be doing is changing the seat - that looks terrible.

If you don't the nose needs to go up a bit too - its sloping forwards which could be causing your problem.

GordonFreeman

Already tried that and this seat is much more comfy than anything else I could find for around £15 £20 and I don;t want to spend much on a new saddle. It's a fairly retro seat...

yeachan153

Charge spoon

k-dog

GordonFreeman wrote:

Already tried that and this seat is much more comfy than anything else I could find for around £15 £20 and I don;t want to spend much on a new saddle. It's a fairly retro seat...

Yes, but it's a terrible old seat - looks like plastic with way too much padding to be comfortable. You need the right shape of seat for your sit bones.

eBay could be your friend - you can get tons of different saddles for not very much there. Great way to try them and you can usually sell them for the same if it doesn't suit - I've made a profit a few times too!

Your saddle is arguably the most important part of your bike and yours is never going to be comfortable.

The next part to change would be the brake levers. You could get a slightly more modern type for not much which would give you more comfortable hands too. Again that would be cheap on eBay.

k-dog

You do have quite a drop to the handle bars too - the only way to change that would be a new stem - and I would probably do new bars with a more modern shape too. Again there are tons on eBay for cheap.

GordonFreeman

k-dog wrote:

GordonFreeman wrote:

Already tried that and this seat is much more comfy than anything else I could find for around £15 £20 and I don;t want to spend much on a new saddle. It's a fairly retro seat...

Yes, but it's a terrible old seat - looks like plastic with way too much padding to be comfortable. You need the right shape of seat for your sit bones.

eBay could be your friend - you can get tons of different saddles for not very much there. Great way to try them and you can usually sell them for the same if it doesn't suit - I've made a profit a few times too!

Your saddle is arguably the most important part of your bike and yours is never going to be comfortable.

The next part to change would be the brake levers. You could get a slightly more modern type for not much which would give you more comfortable hands too. Again that would be cheap on eBay.

I disagree, it's much more padded and comfy than the modern seats - certainly much more than a Charge Spoon...which is the same as a Madison Flux and one of the most uncomfortable seats around (I tried it recently).
Handlebar and brakes are very comfy too just the height that is the issue.

k-dog

If it's comfy why do you need to move it.

GordonFreeman

k-dog wrote:

If it's comfy why do you need to move it.

Because the fore aft is wrong, I can tell it;s comfy when I sait on it in the correct position but I move because either the handlebars are too low or the fore aft is incorrect.

Shouldn't I change the quill and not the stem?

snoopsmydogg

The quill and stem are the same. Is there any more space to raise the stem to give you a more upright riding position?

GordonFreeman

Just checked, but it's on max.
The quill seems to be a made in Japan original, anyway to get an extension or does it have to be a new one?
What sort of length should it be?

slowsider

You could look at using a quill stem adapter, which would allow you to try a variety of stem lengths.

Your saddle looks a long way forward anyway, the seatpost bracket appears to have been reversed.

styxd

Dont listen to all these lot telling you to get new bars and stems and seats, you dont need them.

What you really need is a new bike.

ajb72

styxd wrote:

Dont listen to all these lot telling you to get new bars and stems and seats, you dont need them.

What you really need is a new bike.

He's right though, everything on your bike seems to be set to the max and yet you need more adjustment. The frame does look on the small side.

Hoopdriver

ajb72 wrote:

styxd wrote:

Dont listen to all these lot telling you to get new bars and stems and seats, you dont need them.

What you really need is a new bike.

He's right though, everything on your bike seems to be set to the max and yet you need more adjustment. The frame does look on the small side.

I would agree. Best just to start over.