Hybrid Bicycles - Moving the saddle back

Hi all,
My saddle has an adjustment to move it a little back and forth. Right now I have it all the way back and I have noticed that when I push myself towards the far back end I have more leverage to pedal better. For this reason I would like to be able to move my saddle even further back, but it has now reached its limit. I was trying to find another seat post, one that would be bent backwards to allow for further back saddle position, but I was not able to find any. I may be doing something wrong, what are my options?

Hi all,
My saddle has an adjustment to move it a little back and forth. Right now I have it all the way back and I have noticed that when I push myself towards the far back end I have more leverage to pedal better. For this reason I would like to be able to move my saddle even further back, but it has now reached its limit. I was trying to find another seat post, one that would be bent backwards to allow for further back saddle position, but I was not able to find any. I may be doing something wrong, what are my options?

I would say that your bike is too small for you. Not long ago I was worrying about the same thing. My bike just didn't feel comfortable and I kept feeling like I needed more space between the handlebars and the seat. A longer seat post helped a little, but I finally saved enough to get a new bike and it feels so much better. It was an expensive option, but the best one for me.

I would say that your bike is too small for you. Not long ago I was worrying about the same thing. My bike just didn't feel comfortable and I kept feeling like I needed more space between the handlebars and the seat. A longer seat post helped a little, but I finally saved enough to get a new bike and it feels so much better. It was an expensive option, but the best one for me.

I think these are two separate things. One, there is the position of your seat relative to the pedals. Moving this back and forth can make the pedal stroke more comfortable as well as enabling you to generate more power from your legs. There are general guidelines about its position, but my experience is that it is so personal that you just need to try it out.

Two, there is the position of the saddle relative to the handle bar. I think the best thing to do is position the saddle to achieve a pedal stroke you like, then if necessary, change or adjust the bar stem to create the appropriate distance between saddle and handlebar. It sounds like you would have been better off changing the bar stem than the seatpost.

What about an offset seat post like this (click image)?

http://www.somafab.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/soma_seatpost_forged_both.jpg (http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/layback-seatpost)

I'm new to all this but I did notice that my Bontrager SSR will adjust more than the stock seat that came on my bike. The rails on the bottom appear to be longer. You might check that too.

How tall are you and what length crank are you riding.
The bike size has a little bit to do with layback, in that larger sizes sometimes have more layed back seat-tube angles (to compensate for using too short cranks). If the angles are the same in two bike sizes, then the only difference is seat-post extension (vs seat-tube extension) which doesnt affect the layback.

Did you buy the bike recently from a local bike shop? They may be able to help you dial in your saddle adjustment.

But, assuming that the bike is the correct size, or that you're stuck with this one for a while, can you clarify whether your current seatpost is a zero setback seat post? generally, most seatposts ARE the setback type, like pictured a couple of posts ago. A zero setback one would look like this:
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It would be straight the whole way.

For a setback seatpost, you might look at the one that Velo orange sells: http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/vo-grand-cru-seat-post-long-setback.html
This has a larger setback than most seatposts.

BUT...you may also want to double-check the angle on the saddle. Are you also feeling like you always have to slide back to get on the widest part of the saddle. If that were the case, it might man your saddle was pointed down to much. Make sure your saddle is totally level as a starting point in your adjustments. To check level, place a hardcover book on the saddle lengthwise, and then place a level on the book.

What you want is a 20mm setback seatpost.

What you want is a 20mm setback seatpost.

??
Just curious: How do you get 20mm as a specific suggestion if we don't even know the details of his current post?

The OP posted in another thread they have a new Trek 7.3FX which has a 10mm setback seatpost.

Thanks for the suggestions. The bike was fitted at the lbs and the seat post is already set back. I have now adjusted the seat backwards and pointing down a little and it feels better. I have to checkout that seat recommended by Texasplumr. Yes, I do have a trek 7.3.