Commuting - A Seat Post Recommendation Please

I currently ride a hybrid (Gary Fisher Nirvana) that has a compact geometry. It's my first bike in ten years so I wasn't properly focussed on my needs. I do love the bike but as I've ridden it I've found that sliding way back on the seat provides a more comfortable and powerful riding position. I've adjusted the seat and it can't be move backward any more. I could really use another inch or two. Does anyone know of a seatpost that goes back at an angle thereby affording a little more rearward adjustment? I'm a Clydsdale so strength rather than weight is my major (only) concern.

BTW - It wasn't the fault of my lbs as I bought the bike and figured that I could make adjustments on my own as long as the frame height was right. I didn't consider (or understand at the time) the compact v. traditional geometry issues.

The Thomson Setback (http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/?id=2002/reviews/thomson_seatpost) seatpost oughta be just what you need.

Thompson is probably the easiest to find. Make sure you get the correct diameter.
Seatpost layback is determined by your seat-tube angle and has nothing to do with compact or trad style of frame or even the height of the frame.

Seatpost layback is determined by your seat-tube angle and has nothing to do with compact or trad style of frame or even the height of the frame.

I think MAK's main interest is in increasing the distance between the bars and the saddle.

I hope you guys know the Thompson "setback" seatpost is the exact same geometry as the seatpost that came on the Nirvana. Thompson uses a zero offset clamp, the Nirvana uses a seatpost like 99% of other seatposts that has about 12mm offset. The Thompson setback is really designed to preserve stock geometry on a bike, not open the cockpit more.

Oops! Sorry, I didn't know that.

I have a standard Thomson and can't use it because my Brooks B17 needs to go farther back... so I switched to a Salsa Shaft post. I believe it has 23mm of setback.

Good news/ bad news

The good news is you have a problem that is really easy to fix.

The bad news is, that like a lot of people; you bought a bike that was a size too small.

As far as saddle position, drop the plumb bob from the knee cap with your foot on the pedal, you should find your knee over the pedal axle. If not, adjust accordingly. Its odd you would find more power when you shift BACK... fit science has show you produce more power when you are hunched over the front of the bike on the nose of the saddle, hence why you see a lot of riders using this position in solo efforts, climbing and sprints.

When climbing people slide back on their saddle so that they can get more of their glutes and quads into the action. Sliding back will help, but it probably drops his cadence.

I agree that the bike is probably too small.

If your knee is in front of the pedal axle then you can slide your saddle back.

The other variable that you have to play with is you crank length. If your knee is in front of the pedal axle then taking into account your leg lenth you can probably get away with longer cranks.

Good luck.

well .... sliding back is not the only way to climb.

On climbing intensive rides I tend to move the saddle forward a little bit ...

Yes, I'm hoping to lengthen the distance between the saddle and bars. Thank you all for your comments.

how about a longer stem?

You can screw around with seatposts and stem lengths, but the only solution that works well is to get a frame that is the correct size. I like 58cm frames. LBSs didn't want to sell me a 58 because they didn't have enough standover clearance (I have short legs and a long torso). But when I ride smaller sizes I feel really cramped, 58s fit me fine.

if your using an mtb for riding on the road a longer stem wont really do much to affect your handling (the geometry is pretty laid back). so i say go that route.

I would look into this product.

http://www.m2racer.com/products.php?entry=products&id=10

I would look into this product.

http://www.m2racer.com/products.php?entry=products&id=10
Hmm never saw one of those. I'll have to store that idea away.