Mountain Biking - Seat height

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Rick LV
04-12-02, 02:46 AM
What is the correct height for a seat? I was told that I want it so when I sit and my pedal is all the way down that my leg should be almost fully extended. Is this correct? I know it's a matter of comfort, but there has got to be a proper setup.

a2psyklnut
04-12-02, 07:01 AM
That's pretty much it, but it' also depends on where you're riding.

On my road bike I set my height like that. Another quick way of doing it is to place your heel on the pedal and with the cranks in the 6 o'clock position, you knee just barely locks out. Then, when you ride with the balls of your feet on the pedals you're NOT locking your knees out!

On my mountain bike in rough terrain, I drop my saddle about an 1/2 inch. In really rough stuff, I'll drop it even lower!

L8R
John E
04-12-02, 08:16 AM
I have successfully used the same "heel on pedal" metric for many years. However, this is only a first-order adjustment, subject to fine-tuning based on how much ankling you do.

a2psyklnut
04-12-02, 03:23 PM
Agreed!

L8R
martin
04-12-02, 05:00 PM
Try here:

http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/default.asp

On the right hand side you will see a "WS Sizing System". Click on that and select the type of bike you want to be sized for. It is based on measurements you take of your body and will give you your recommended seat height. When you get that you will measure from the center of the crank spindle to the seat area where your sit bones will reside on the bike.

That is a starting point. After you do that you will need to fine tune the fore and aft positioning of the saddle. You do that by mounting the bike, putting your feet on the pedals with the balls of your feet over the pedal spindle, putting the cranks in the horizontal position, and then dropping a weighted line from below the bony protrusion of the knee to the foot. The weighted line should fall directly over the center of the pedal spindle. If it is too far forward you will get knee pain and have to move the seat back(that will also happen with the seat post too low). If it is too far to the rear you will get numbness in your feet(that also happens if the seat is too high).

These are starting points. If you go to that website and do the measurements they will get you in the ball park very close.
mxwolf
04-12-02, 07:39 PM
That is basically correct your leg should be almost fully extended ...