Bicycle Mechanics - Saddle rail clamp position

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vsopking
05-12-10, 01:04 PM
On my Toupe 2010 there is a marking that may help with the for/aft positioning of the saddle. I found (finally...) a perfect fit. What does strike me that the saddle clamp does not completely fit in-between these markings. I moved my sadle about a cm backwards and past the marking on the rail. I am now thinking; should't I better change to a longer bar-stem and reposition my sadle right to the middle again?

bikinfool
05-12-10, 01:15 PM
I'd rather get my saddle position dialed, and not trying to make up for it with stem/bars. I don't like my saddle rails at one extreme or the other on the post clamp, though; perhaps a post with more setback might be in order? All I use the markings for is a reference for reinstallation should I take my saddle off for some reason.
vsopking
05-12-10, 01:54 PM
Well, I started originally with a 12 cm stem/bar. But had the feeling I was too stretched out on the bike. After a few weeks I thought the shorter stem would solve that. Well, it did - but it did not solve all matters like saddle pain... It took a considerable time to solve that problem - I had to move my saddle a bit more backwards and pointed the tip a slight bit upwards and that does pose the question asked earlier. Had I positioned the saddle at the same angle/distance from the stem/bar from the start... it might have fit rightaway... And, would it damage the saddle anyway to clamp it beyond the markings?

AEO
05-12-10, 01:58 PM
no, don't move the saddle to change your reach to the bars.
only move the saddle to make yourself comfortable on the bike, then play with different stem lengths to change your reach to the bars.

specialized does say their saddles can be clamped at any point along the entire length of the rails.

If it worries you so much, then you should get another seatpost that has more setback.
most recent seat posts have around 15~20mm
most slightly older seat posts have 25mm
thomson has 0mm or 16mm
Kalloy Uno has 30mm
Velo Orange Grand Cru has 32mm
cny-bikeman
05-12-10, 04:05 PM
The markings are reference points, not limits. Put the saddle fore-aft as it works best for you. Below are two links for some info on positioning. DO NOT ever spend a lot of money on positioning bars until you position saddle, including height, tilt and fore-aft.
http://www2.bsn.de/cycling/articles/kops.html
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
vsopking
05-13-10, 03:18 AM
This pretty sums it up what I was after! Thanx all.