Saddle height conundrum

Rouge Penguin

Hey all,

So many questions on the subject but not all relevant to my question, which is hopefully simple.

Using all available means of calculating the correct height, it's always on the same area give or take. Thing is, it just feels far to low, and need to raise it up a few inches to get a decent feel.

The question is, am I over compensating with the quads and not engaging the hams? If that is the right height I'll give it a good few miles before tinkering again, perhaps I need to untrain my mind and accept it is correct

Anyone?

graeme_s-2

Are you locking your knees when the pedal is at the bottom of the rotation? Are your hips rocking from side to side as you pedal?

Those are the two main signs that your saddle is too high. If neither of those things are happening then raise it a bit further.

Sheldon Brown suggests continuing to raise the saddle a bit at a time until it's too high and then backing it off a bit.

mfin

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676438#p19676438]Graeme_S[/url] wrote:

Are you locking your knees when the pedal is at the bottom of the rotation? Are your hips rocking from side to side as you pedal?

Those are the two main signs that your saddle is too high. If neither of those things are happening then raise it a bit further.

Sheldon Brown suggests continuing to raise the saddle a bit at a time until it's too high and then backing it off a bit.

+1 That all sounds like a sensible start point for someone who doesn't know much about it who is trying to get saddle height sorted on their own.

OP bear in mind that hip rock can even be very slight and something you aren't aware of other than it can start making your lower back ache.

markhewitt1978

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676426#p19676426]Rouge Penguin[/url] wrote:

Hey all,

So many questions on the subject but not all relevant to my question, which is hopefully simple.

Using all available means of calculating the correct height, it's always on the same area give or take. Thing is, it just feels far to low, and need to raise it up a few inches to get a decent feel.

The question is, am I over compensating with the quads and not engaging the hams? If that is the right height I'll give it a good few miles before tinkering again, perhaps I need to untrain my mind and accept it is correct

Anyone?

Same here! I've found I was pointing my toes down when pedalling to compensate for a high saddle, and of course I was still doing that when the saddle went down, making it feel too low. Take a look at your pedalling action - scraping dirt off the bottom of your shoe is often quoted.

kajjal

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676451#p19676451]markhewitt1978[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676426#p19676426]Rouge Penguin[/url] wrote:

Hey all,

So many questions on the subject but not all relevant to my question, which is hopefully simple.

Using all available means of calculating the correct height, it's always on the same area give or take. Thing is, it just feels far to low, and need to raise it up a few inches to get a decent feel.

The question is, am I over compensating with the quads and not engaging the hams? If that is the right height I'll give it a good few miles before tinkering again, perhaps I need to untrain my mind and accept it is correct

Anyone?

Same here! I've found I was pointing my toes down when pedalling to compensate for a high saddle, and of course I was still doing that when the saddle went down, making it feel too low. Take a look at your pedalling action - scraping dirt off the bottom of your shoe is often quoted.

That is a common problem which people only usually notice when someone else spots it or they get joint pains.

gaffer_slow

may not be correct, but i have the saddle high enough to feel my glutes activate. initially it can feel uncomfortable. but i think it works (based on nothing rly)

First.Aspect

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676426#p19676426]Rouge Penguin[/url] wrote:

Hey all,

So many questions on the subject but not all relevant to my question, which is hopefully simple.

Using all available means of calculating the correct height, it's always on the same area give or take. Thing is, it just feels far to low, and need to raise it up a few inches to get a decent feel.

The question is, am I over compensating with the quads and not engaging the hams? If that is the right height I'll give it a good few miles before tinkering again, perhaps I need to untrain my mind and accept it is correct

Anyone?

Hamstrings are feeble and they don't contribute singificantly to the pedal stroke unless you are pulling hard out of the saddle. If you compromise your quads in exchange for your hamstrings, you'll just bbe slower.

You don't have a conundrum. As others have said, watch for over extension of the knee, which can lead to injury, and lower back pain. Other than that, go with what feels right. You can always lower it if you style changes over time.

Sirius631

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19676426#p19676426]Rouge Penguin[/url] wrote:

Hey all,

So many questions on the subject but not all relevant to my question, which is hopefully simple.

Using all available means of calculating the correct height, it's always on the same area give or take. Thing is, it just feels far to low, and need to raise it up a few inches to get a decent feel.

The question is, am I over compensating with the quads and not engaging the hams? If that is the right height I'll give it a good few miles before tinkering again, perhaps I need to untrain my mind and accept it is correct

Anyone?

Don't move the saddle inches at a time; that is too course.

For me, the way to get the saddle height correct at the first go is to pedal backwards in bare feet with your heal on the pedal spindle. When you just lose contact with the pedal, without having to tip over at the hips, then that's the right height. Once you've set the fore-aft position of your saddle, you may want to re-visit this.

noodleman

Make sure you dont go too high. I put a new saddle on, not realising it was around 25mm higher from the rails to the top. Went on a 125 mile ride and had to spend 3 months recovering from the resulting achilles injury.