Road Cycling - What's your seat position?

i've been adjusting my seat a little bit here and there. right now i've tilt the nose of the seat down a bit, but now i feel that the tip of the seat is really push up against my nuts. should the seat be moved forward more or what? i got the specialized milano seat.

I have always ridden a level seat until recently. One day I was adjusting the saddle and I have no idea how but by mistake I had the nose up a little. It ended up being the most comfortable position I have found. I am still playing around with position on the new bike and with the new saddle though.

I keep mine level. It seems to work for me.

i've been adjusting my seat a little bit here and there. right now i've tilt the nose of the seat down a bit, but now i feel that the tip of the seat is really push up against my nuts. should the seat be moved forward more or what? i got the specialized milano seat.


I'm a nose up guy also.

I have always ridden a level seat until recently. One day I was adjusting the saddle and I have no idea how but by mistake I had the nose up a little. It ended up being the most comfortable position I have found. I am still playing around with position on the new bike and with the new saddle though.

Exact same thing with me. Being riding leveled for years, but put the saddle up during installation and love it.

Another vote for nose ever so slightly up. Too much and my boys can't feel anything. Too little and the same thing happens. Weird, IMHO.

Wow, didn't know so many people did the nose up thing. It's hard to believe that it is comfortable, it certainly doesn't look like it would be.

A level plane from the back of the seat to the nose. This looks slightly nose up. I find a little too much in one direction or the other and I have discomfort.

Not only is slight noes up more comfortable in the seat area, but it also seems to take weight off the hands.

Joe

new selle italia saddle and down is the most comfortable position for me
http://upload.serverseed.com/pictars4/DSC02178.JPG

Mine is down slightly. During one of the last Lance chronicles, Lance was talking about the same thing and how he like his saddle downsloping.

I say whatever works for you, just experiment a little.

Depends on the saddle. I purchased a WTB Rocket V saddle that is somewhat bananna shaped. The nose needs to be way up or I slide forward.

My Avocet O2 is pretty much level.

-murray

I just got a mew saddle a Terry Zero. Much narrower and MUCH FLATTER than my old saddle.

I started flat and forward and it killed my knees. Moved it back for a KOPS (Knee Over Pedal Spindle) and tipped the nose up slightly. The tilt keeps me on the back. Much better but it feels really up when climbing the hills.

Yeah it's got a cutout but I think the flat works for me.

The standard is the nose is level according to a straight line perceived let's say on a wall. This would mean that on a basic seat the widest part of the saddle the back part will sit slightly higher than the nose part. What this mean is that the space between the back and the nose will have a slight slope for where a relief area will exist to allow for your jewels to be relaxed in. So a tip, sometimes a seatpost needs to be fine tuned so that this area of relief will be situated for each individual on a personal level. If you place a ruler on the saddle you will find this relief area generally. A seatpost that has a finer adjustment than the standard notch type will work more effectively. That's my opinion. Hope this help.

Wow, didn't know so many people did the nose up thing. It's hard to believe that it is comfortable, it certainly doesn't look like it would be.

That was my thought as well, but it works for my ass. Individual results vary greatly.

It's hard to tell from this but it's slightly nose up.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31990639/medium.jpg

humm.. i've tried the nose up before and it was uncomfortable for me. if i was riding upright, then it's cool. but whenever i'm riding on my aero bar, which puts me slightly forward, then it hurts my nuts. i guess there is only one way to find out is to ride this saturday and do the occassional micro adjustments. just hope my friend won't be annoyed.. lol.

but can't wait to go to coyote creek in Fremont this saturday... it should be fun. ;)

Nose up forces your bum back on the saddle where it belongs. Nose down lets you slide forward which is sometimes OK if you are riding aero bars as your arms keep you back.

I would bet that 90 percent of the pros ride level or nose up. I would also bet that 90 percent of the world-class women riders use men's saddles.

I have my nose slightly pointing down (used a level). But, I am using aero bars. If the nose was up, I'd be...

ouch.

I have my nose slightly pointing down (used a level). But, I am using aero bars. If the nose was up, I'd be...

ouch.

my sentiments exactly... but perhaps i should move my seat forwards more.. humm...

The problem with this question and anything related to shorts, gloves, helmets etc is that we are all different. What works with my body may not be right for yours. When I get a new ride I take a 4mm and 5mm Allen wrench with me for first 300-400mi. I am constantly making small (very small) adjustments to the saddle, both height and level. Once it's dialed I can ride all day without any disscomfort but it takes a little time to get it just right.

Here are things that will make a difference in seat height/level
Type of saddle
Degree/Length of stem
Degree to which your bars are adjusted (ie height of your brake hoods)
Height of your stem (mesured from top of head tube to top of bottom of stem)
Your bodies mesurements
Your shorts. I only wear Castelli shorts with the VT pad. I know that the pad is the same thickness in every pair of shorts that I own. Therefore my saddle height is always spot on.

Nose down.

I was wondering what kind of seat you guys use that prefer your seat nose up. Specifically, whether your seat has a groove down the middle. I use a Specialized BG2. It has a really deep/long groove and I wouldn't consider trying nose up with something without a groove.

I was wondering what kind of seat you guys use that prefer your seat nose up. Specifically, whether your seat has a groove down the middle. I use a Specialized BG2. It has a really deep/long groove and I wouldn't consider trying nose up with something without a groove.

i use the specialized milano seat. i use to have my seat pretty even with slight nose down, but now after i flipped the stem, i raised up my seat and pointed the nose down as well, this brought the whole aero part more comfortable.

the first pic is the before and the second one is after.

rui

I ride with a Selle Italia Flite seat, and I ride with it level.

Wow OK, i thought i was the only nose up freak!!

after a comment from the wrench at the bike shop when i had my MTB serviced i tried nose level and damned if i could get that to feel comfortable. i just felt all over the place I guess it mite go back to my old BMX days.

never thought of trying it ont he roadie, might give it a go next time i go out