Fifty Plus (50+) - Wife Wants Saddle Too High

My wife likes her saddle high, and recently asked me to raise it for her, which I did.

Today I measured her inseam and calculated the recommended height. The saddle is a full two inches above the height recommended by the Lemond formula (88.3% times inseam to bottom bracket) or 1.09% formula (pedal spindle at lowest point to saddle).

I think I'll try to convince her to try it lower.

Either that, or wait until the pain behind her knee convinces her. If it is indeed too high, she'll likely feel it there.

Try the heel-on-pedal method; more reliable for me that those formulas. If she has a problem there, you have the ammo to convince her.

Take the blocks off her pedals.

I just let my wife ride, IMO it's better if it is her idea to lower it, which she likely will. Good luck :)

She might like to pedal toes down which would lengthen her leg. If that is her natural style then it might be ok, but two inches is quite a lot.

I gave up giving my wife, or most other people for that matter, advice... unless they ask for it. I figure I'll stay married longer this way. As BikeWNC points out, she may like to pedal with toes down.

I would let her make her own mind up if we are talking about my wife of course. In 51 years I've never changed her mind about anything and I am not about to start now. Your results may be different. Good luck.

Well at least she isn't riding with the saddle too low.

I try not to give advice to folks either but... so I have a few girlfriends who refused to learn anything about the bike. Just this weekend my friend meets me for a ride and says "something is wrong, the peddles won't turn". I look, the chain is off. No problem right? Well my friend tried to correct the problem herself and instead of pulling forward the rear derailleur wheel forward cereating slack for the chain, she pulled the front derailleur away from the frame and disconnected the derailleur wire. WTF? Getting the chain on was easy... reconnecting the wire and adjusting the derailleur was hard and her bike... has never ever been cleaned. The chain was crusty with dirt. Ugh! But I was good, just worked quietly and didn't say a word.

Just lower it to the proper height , feign loss of memory, and don't tell her. :innocent::innocent:

I say just let her have it where she wants. The guy at the lbs told me to raise my seat almost 2 inches. He didn't measure my inseam to determine seat height. He put my bike on the trainer and watched me pedal to see what my style was. He said I should have the seat at the height where I can use every bit of umph from the leg before I hit the down position. If your wife runs out of leg to push with before she hits the bottom then her seat is too high.

Measuring the inseam only gives an approximate because everyone's pedaling style is different. Some people use more of a flat foot pedaling style using the thigh muscles more, but women are more likely to use a toe pushing one using the lower leg muscles more. At least, that's what the dude said. I am 2 inches shorter than my husband, but my seat is significantly higher than his is (my legs are a bit longer, I admit). I also prefer to use the muscles on the front of my lower legs more than my thigh muscles, thus I have more of a toe pushing style. My knees never bother me, my thighs are weak.

Did you measure her inseam correctly? It's from the floor up hard against the pubic bone (blush). For example, mine is 3" longer than the pants inseam I wear when correctly measured.

Pamestique, My husband is always washing my chain. :lol: I just figure the dirt and gunk is there showing that I ride it. He loves getting his new bike dirty and then all sparkly again. He loves buying various chain lubes and wash stuff. He loves it so much that I allow him to do the same to mine. :innocent:

Just do what you are told.

Many fitters will have you pedal a bit, then stop the action with your leg extended, and measure the angle of your knee. That's the most precise way to do it. Some also do this with a computer and video. Some do both. Of course, one can still argue about what that angle should be.

I'm on her side and good for her in paying attention to determine what she likes. Many raise their saddles until their hips rock, then they lower it until they don't. Mine is much higher than the formula which is nothing but a starting point.

If you study the road racers on Versus, you see seat heights all over the place. You can tell by how high the knees get.

By the way, one can apply more force on the pedal just before and as it passes over the top (12 o-clock) of the pedal stroke with a higher saddle.

Al

Divorce her.

Option II.

Grab her by both upper arms, shake her violently, tell her to 'snap out of it' and slap her in the face with the back of your hand a couple times.

I saw that technique in an few old movies and it always seemed to work really well.

TAl, Ride behind her and if her hips are rocking excessively, let her know.

Brad

TAl, Ride behind her and if her hips are rocking excessively, post a video here!

fify...

I gave up giving my wife, or most other people for that matter, advice... unless they ask for it. I figure I'll stay married longer this way. As BikeWNC points out, she may like to pedal with toes down.


I would let her make her own mind up if we are talking about my wife of course. In 51 years I've never changed her mind about anything and I am not about to start now. Your results may be different. Good luck.

Smart guys.

I use 107%of inseam(not pants length), top of seat, to top surface of pedal, at its lowest point, in line with seat tube. (within 1%of your#
if it slips 1/2inch lower my knees hurt...
Bud

This situation clearly calls for a traditional, strong, knowledgeable 50+ male to set her straight!:innocent:

Try the heel-on-pedal method; more reliable for me that those formulas. If she has a problem there, you have the ammo to convince her.

Problem I've found (as an ex-shop mechanic) with the traditional "heel-to-pedal" method is it was okay back-in-the day when cycling shoes had flatter soles and pedals were quill-style. In an age of curved-sole cycling shoes and clip-less pedals, it doesn't necessarily work and can produce saddle heights that are on the low side (but still ride-able). Like all methods, it is a starting point. The LeMond (88.3%) method doesn't take into account crank length/shoe length (but it worked for him so good enough) and the ol' 1.09 method can produce too-high saddle heights (voice of personal experience).

Thanks. She's interested in trying it a little lower, if it ever stops raining here.

If I had my saddle that high, I'd have Achilles tendon problems. The only pain she gets is some tailbone pain, which I've never understood.

Do you think that having it so high could mean a loss in efficiency?

Do you think that having it so high could mean a loss in efficiency?

Some efficiency articles.

Al

http://bethleasure.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/pedaling-efficiency/ (mhtml:{2771F4E4-C996-4024-A1EF-73378B7FB246**mid://00000177/!x-usc:http://bethleasure.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/pedaling-efficiency/)

http://www.bikesplit.com/bsa4.htm (mhtml:{2771F4E4-C996-4024-A1EF-73378B7FB246**mid://00000177/!x-usc:http://www.bikesplit.com/bsa4.htm)

http://www.ismj.com/pages/311417173/ISMJ/journals/articles/Vol.10-No.1-2009/optimal-cadence-selection-during-cycling.asp

I think I'll try to convince her to try it lower.

I wouldn't. Give the lady what she wants.
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Just be sure to have the right size allen wrench with you when you go riding together. FWIW, it's not uncommon for me to make saddle adjustments 2 or 3 times the first time that I ride a new bike and I know exactly what height I want to start at.

Hi Al: Here is a video from Universal Sports coverage of the 2010 Track World Championships showing Sarah Hammer winning the gold medal in pursuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MThCNyMMlyU&feature=player_embedded

She rocks her hips more than anyone else. If you watch her hip action compared to her competitor, it looks like she is dramatically overextending her legs and one would think her saddle is too high. And her cadence is very high. The point is the there is not a one size fits all and certainly Sarah's hip action has not held her back.

If your wife likes the higher saddle and it does not cause problems including chafing, it may be fine for her. I do not think one loses any power and in fact the reverse may be true.

In the video she is definitely rocking her hips. But it looks like to me she is not going past 20-degrees with her leg extension. That is not atypical though less than the 30 degrees that most ascribe too.

Al

Grab her by both upper arms, shake her violently, tell her to 'snap out of it' and slap her in the face with the back of your hand a couple times.

I saw that technique in an few old movies and it always seemed to work really well.

..if you're Humphrey Bogart!

Different saddles let you extend your leg down to different amounts. A formula is just a starting point at best. The shape of the saddle, the set back of the seat in relation to the pedals, and how one's body functions, and is built all change it. Even the height of the bars will change how much weight weight one puts on the saddle. This can affect comfort too. If she is not rocking her hips, viewed from the back, don't worry about it. No matter what you do, one still has to spend time in the saddle to know how well it works.

Possibly better not to discuss

Where the car keys are
Why keeping dairy top shelf, meats and deli second, veg third is just how things should be
The importance of storing canned goods label outwards in alphabetical order from the left
Flinging biscuits after 4 days, or better still, not getting any
The necessity of taking one cd at a time, leaving its case protruding on the shelf (naturally, alphabetical from left), returning it after play
Saddle height

Grab her by both upper arms, shake her violently, tell her to 'snap out of it' and slap her in the face with the back of your hand a couple times.

Like this, right?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOG2MHPQFqY

God, that's frickin funny..............uh...................I mean so so so wrong on so so so so many levels.

Put it where she wants.
Then lower it when she wants.
Then raise it when she changes her mind.
Then lower it when she decides to.
Then...

Marc

Put it where she wants.
Then lower it when she wants.
Then raise it when she changes her mind.
Then lower it when she decides to.
Then...

Marc

Exactly !!

Better yet, let her change it herself. Show her how if she doesn't know.

Put it where she wants.
Then lower it when she wants.
Then raise it when she changes her mind.
Then lower it when she decides to.
Then...

Marc

After you've been married for as long as Mrs. Grouch and me it gets a little boreing saying "I love you." a gazillion times a day. Stuff like this is how I show her.

She has some interesting ways of showing love for me too.

I thought this was bikeforums.net, but I guess it's MarriageCounseling.net. ;)


Better yet, let her change it herself. Show her how if she doesn't know.

No, no, there are benefits to being her bike mechanic.

We're back from her first ride on the new bike. Here are photos with the saddle where she likes it. It looks OK to me:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/RainyRideFitShot.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/RainyRideStart.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/RainyRideTurn.jpg

She's very happy with the new bike.

It looks good to me. Problem solved ? :)

Problem I've found (as an ex-shop mechanic) with the traditional "heel-to-pedal" method is it was okay back-in-the day when cycling shoes had flatter soles and pedals were quill-style. In an age of curved-sole cycling shoes and clip-less pedals, it doesn't necessarily work and can produce saddle heights that are on the low side (but still ride-able). Like all methods, it is a starting point. The LeMond (88.3%) method doesn't take into account crank length/shoe length (but it worked for him so good enough) and the ol' 1.09 method can produce too-high saddle heights (voice of personal experience).

I'm sure it's not perfect; heck, if it was, there wouldn't be a need for the LeMond method OR the 1.09!

Funniest thing is, one trick I can do to set people up on a bike (and these are ALL rank amateurs, except for my sister) is to have them stand next to the saddle, and adjust it to match their hip 'pointer' (the bone in front of the joint). NOBODY has failed to be impressed by how good the pedaling action feels! Set my sister's bike like that last week, and she's ecstatic, can't WAIT for warmer temps to get out and ride!

Possibly better not to discuss

Where the car keys are
Why keeping dairy top shelf, meats and deli second, veg third is just how things should be
The importance of storing canned goods label outwards in alphabetical order from the left
Flinging biscuits after 4 days, or better still, not getting any
The necessity of taking one cd at a time, leaving its case protruding on the shelf (naturally, alphabetical from left), returning it after play
Saddle height

Naw, you don't have OCD issues at ALL........

I can see segregating leftovers from the fresher stuff in the fridge, but wow......

Old biscuits still have a use -- they make a nice loud PTOK! noise when you bounce them off the window of the car that just buzzed you.

I can't help myself with this, so please forgive me. This thread reminded me of one of my old favorite videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsYQ6qNiLK0

Looks too high to me. Pic one, knee bend looks perfect but heel is raised. Pic 3, foot is flat but that knee is awfully straight. It's making my hamstring tendons hurt just looking at it.

But everyone's different. I'm stoked that she's stoked.

She has nice long legs. That is about how I have my seat, too. Women don't have the thigh strength that men have. I rely on my lower legs more, so want the seat higher. With a higher seat there is less burn out on the thighs. I think the saddle looks right. It looks like a very pretty place to ride, too!

She has nice long legs. That is about how I have my seat, too. Women don't have the thigh strength that men have. I rely on my lower legs more, so want the seat higher. With a higher seat there is less burn out on the thighs. I think the saddle looks right. It looks like a very pretty place to ride, too!

They can always get their core strength going better and engage their glutes after a position change...........

Platform shoes ?

it looks like she is doing ballet on that thing---- I think it is way to high---- but she likes it how she likes it. does she complain about knee pain or foot pain? if not it is good.

No, no knee or foot pain.

I lowered it a half inch last night (yes, I told her), and I'm going to see if it makes a difference today.

One more shot, from today's 40 mile ride (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76249721). She was very comfortable, likes that height, and "doesn't want to talk about her saddle height anymore." So my work is done here.

195666

My mom wore high-heeled shoes for so many years that her Achilles tendon and calf muscles stiffened up. She could not wear flat shoes without pain. She did not ride a bike, but I bet if she had, she would have pedaled with a toe-down motion and would have needed the saddle higher.

I also have the saddle higher than the usual advice. High heels? Hahahaha. My issue is one stiff knee due to trauma/arthritis. I still need to warm up before that knee bends enough to get across the top of the cranks comfortably. The saddle is as high as it can go without causing side to side rocking.