General Cycling Discussion - Incremental saddle raising

I started riding a road bike about 1 and half ago (rode mtb for 4 years before), the last 8months its been a fixed gear. I have noticed that i have had to raise my saddle about 5 times, totaling a little less than an inch. At the initial stage of each saddle raising, it felt perfect. Not too high, not too low, no pain.

So why does it eventually feel uncomfortable and like i have to raise it. I am in my mid 20's so i am not growing anymore, is it possible my legs are lengntening. I know this sounds bizzare but, its seems so odd that i would be doing this. Perhaps i am "adjusting" to my road bike, any ideas?

is it possible your saddle is sliding down over time? put a piece of electrical tape right around the saddle tube at the point it enters the frame the next time you adjust it. that will give you a point of reference.

I'm not sure what the answer is to this question. I also found myself raising the saddle incrementally over time. I have a feeling that what I have actually done is raise it to where it should actually have been from the start.

I'm speculating, but I think it has something to do with confidence as well as comfort. Before I became comfortable and confident on the bike, I think the height of my seat now would have been somewhat frightening.

I am anxious to hear what others have to say.

is it possible your saddle is sliding down over time? put a piece of electrical tape right around the saddle tube at the point it enters the frame the next time you adjust it. that will give you a point of reference.

No its not siliding down. I started wondering about this after the second time, so i notched it and i know that it has not slid down.

I'm not sure what the answer is to this question. I also found myself raising the saddle incrementally over time. I have a feeling that what I have actually done is raise it to where it should actually have been from the start.


Thats what i was thinking too. Its strange though becuase it felt comfortable every time!

I'm just gonna throw this one out there but I think it could be just your body adjusting to the riding position. As you get more flexible and comfortable in the 'road' position, you're able to stretch out more. I, too, have found myself raising my saddle bit by bit over the year.

It could be your hamstrings getting more flexible, allowing your leg to straighten more then before.

it could be your spin has smoothed out to the point where you no longer bounce with the saddle higher, so you can raise the saddle more.

it could be that your calfs are getting tighter eventually, and your toes are starting to point down, making you want to raise the seat. this would be a bad thing, BTW

I went on a trip to deep creek lake in western maryland in August. I brought my bike, but I had to lower my seat a pinch to get it in the car. I forgot to raise it when I went riding the next day. I never ended up raising it...my spin felt so fluid, yet, the front of my knee didn't bother me like it was supposed to be with the seat "too low". I lowered the seat some more after getting proper road shoes. I lowered it even more when I got speedplays. The seat is probably a good inch lower then it was when I first had the bike fitted for me at the shop.

It could be your hamstrings getting more flexible, allowing your leg to straighten more then before.

it could be your spin has smoothed out to the point where you no longer bounce with the saddle higher, so you can raise the saddle more.

it could be that your calfs are getting tighter eventually, and your toes are starting to point down, making you want to raise the seat. this would be a bad thing, BTW

I went on a trip to deep creek lake in western maryland in August. I brought my bike, but I had to lower my seat a pinch to get it in the car. I forgot to raise it when I went riding the next day. I never ended up raising it...my spin felt so fluid, yet, the front of my knee didn't bother me like it was supposed to be with the seat "too low". I lowered the seat some more after getting proper road shoes. I lowered it even more when I got speedplays. The seat is probably a good inch lower then it was when I first had the bike fitted for me at the shop.

I just sat on my bike (i did this every time i adjusted too), my leg positioning looks perfect, this is in a stand still position however. I am good about keeping my heel down while riding, my girlfriend is into spinning and she helped me with my form. So i dont think its a matter of toe pointing down.

The first two sound like the most likely to me.

Thanks Phatman!!!