How do you know if your bike seat is too high?

Knee pain is one of the most common indicators of an incorrect saddle height. Typically, a saddle that is too low will result in pain at the front of the knee, but one that is too high creates pain behind the knee - or in the hamstrings as a result of overextension.

How high should your bike seat be?

Measure from the floor to the top of the book spine. Multiply that number by 0.883, and subtract 4mm (1/8th inch). The result is your proper bike seat height, measured from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat, along the seat tube.

Should you be able to touch the ground when sitting on your bike?

The height of your saddle is important for the most comfortable position and safe riding style. When you sit on the saddle, both feet should reach the floor and the balls of your feet should be touching the ground.

How high or low should your bike seat be?

Generally speaking, at full extension (which is not 6 o'clock – more like 5 o'clock) 30 to 40 degrees of knee bend is the generally accepted range. If you're feeling tension at the front of the knee or a large amount of work only from your quads, the seat height is a bit low.

Why do people put their bike seats so high?

These seats are so high up, you might be wondering riders even get on in the first place. Well, there's actually a very good reason why some of these seats look so high, and the answer is efficiency and injury prevention. When you are pedaling, your leg should be almost fully extended at the bottom of the stoke.

How To Find The Right Saddle Height On Your Road Bike

Should the seat bike be higher than the handlebars?

As a general rule of thumb, you want the top of the handlebar about as high (or higher than) the saddle, unless you're a sporty rider looking to ride fast. Try touching your elbow to the nose of the saddle and reaching forward towards the handlebar with your hand.

How do I know if my saddle is too low?

Knee pain is one of the most common indicators of an incorrect saddle height. Typically, a saddle that is too low will result in pain at the front of the knee, but one that is too high creates pain behind the knee - or in the hamstrings as a result of overextension.

How do you determine saddle position?

Place your heel on the pedal and pedal backwards to reach the six o'clock position. Your knee should be completely straight. If your knee is still bent you need to increase the height, adjusting in small increments each time, and if your heel loses contact with the pedal then you need to lower the saddle.

Where should sit bones be on saddle?

The optimal saddle width guarantees that the sit bones lie completely flat on the saddle. This is the only way in which pressure is relieved on the sensitive area in men and on the pubic arch in women and ensures more efficiency.

Should my feet be flat on a bike?

The only time your feet should be flat on the ground is when you are straddling a bike while sizing it. Above are the instructions from the Specialized Bicycle Owner's Manual. Basically, your crotch should be 2 to 6 inches higher than the frame when straddling the bike.

Should your leg fully extend on a bike?

Proper position: With your foot at the bottom of the pedal stroke, you should see a slight bend in the leg, reaching about 80-90 percent of full leg extension. This is true for road, mountain and hybrid bikes.

Where should your feet be on a bike?

You should position your foot over your bicycle pedal so that the ball of your foot, also called the metatarsal, is directly over the pivot arm of the pedal. The pedal's pivot arm is the axis, which runs through the body of the pedal.

Why does my bike seat hurt?

Incorrect saddle height and handlebar height/reach can cause your weight to be poorly distributed or lead to excessive rocking in the saddle both of which can contribute to discomfort. Leg length discrepancies are another common cause of saddle soreness and should be picked up by a professional bike fit.

Why does my hip hurt when I ride my bike?

Because the motion of cycling doesn't allow the hip to fully open and extend, those muscles tighten. The more you cycle, the tighter they get. This feels uncomfortable and also triggers pain in the glutes. Then there is the piriformis muscle.

What happens if saddle is too far forward?

Tip it too far forward and you can slide forward on the saddle. Again, this will move your sit bones off the optimum area of the saddle, while potentially compromising your power output as well. It can also cause discomfort by placing additional pressure on your perineum, arms, wrists and hands.

What is the proper leg angle for cycling?

It should be at 25 to 35 degrees to avoid knee issues and to achieve a powerful pedal stroke. Be sure your hips are not rocking. If they are, lower the saddle.

Where should your knees be when riding a bike?

Position your foot parallel to the ground. In this position, your knee should be at approximately 30 degrees of knee bending. If the knee is excessively extended, lower the saddle. If the knee is flexed more than 30 degrees, the saddle is too low.

Is a higher saddle better?

WHY SADDLE HEIGHT IS IMPORTANT: High saddle heights increase pressure on the soft tissue of the perineum, which can lead to numbness and even vascular damage. (Do not listen to anyone who tells you to “ride through” numbness—stand up on the pedals, get the blood flowing, and go home.)

How high should seat be above handlebars?

For a performance road position, the top of the handlebar should be about 5-6 cm below the mid-point of the saddle. 4. For a recreational road bike position, the top of the handlebar should be level with the mid-point of the saddle, or maybe a couple of centimetres below. 5.

Why does the top of my foot hurt after cycling?

Sesamoiditis: Sometimes known as the “ball bearings of the foot,” the sesamoids are two small bones found beneath the first metatarsal bones; the sesamoids can inflame or rupture under the stress of cycling. Sesamoiditis can be relieved with proper shoe selection and orthoses.

How far should seat be from handlebars?

The general rule for adjusting handlebars is that they should be set above the height of the seat for a more upright and comfortable riding position, and below the height of the seat for a more forwarding-leaning, performance oriented position.

Why does my bike seat hurt my sit bones?

Too much padding is a bad thing: When you pedal, your sit bones are seeking a surface to press into, and if you have a lot of padding, you may actually be putting more pressure on sensitive tissues, not less. Different saddles: It's actually a great idea to mix up your saddles if you ride different bikes.