Bicycle Mechanics - where is the "functional" saddle nose?

I have discovered that most bike fitting systems use a "functional" saddle nose as a reference point for bike fitting.

Does this refer to the actual nose of the saddle meaning that you have the ability to move forward towards the actual nose.
OR
Does this mean some wierd spot like 10cm from where your bum contacts the seat?

I think there's a UCI reg that requires minimum of 5 cm to the rear of a vertical plane passing through the bottom bracket spindle. It's to keep road racers from having an ultra superman position by moving their saddles way forward.

I've never heard of this as an actual bike fitting measurement unless it's just to ensure compliance with the UCI reg.

The only time I ever use this measurement is when I'm trying to set up two different bikes to fit the same. Since I use Brooks saddles exclusively, it works only marginally since every Brooks saddle is different - I'm positioned differently on different saddles.

The problem is, of course, that saddles all have different lengths and where the nose is doesn't really matter.

a "functional" saddle nose as a reference point for bike fitting.

I think it's a nice of saying, "measure from the base of his dick."


:twitchy: