B1KE

Hey everyone

I have my fit dialed in for the most part but was wondering about the position of my sit bones in relation to the saddle.

1. Exactly which part of the saddle should they be on?

2. I notice I sit a bit on the wider part of the saddle but at times I'm cycling through and see a rough patch of pavement so I sit up off my seat and when I sit back down, I'm not always in the same position that I originally was, this may be subconscious at times. Is this normal or should I always focus on consciously being in the exact most optimal part of the saddle? Thereby determined by question #1 .

OCD much? Why Yes!

catgita

I have always found positioning on a conventional saddle a bit vague. I tend to move forward over time and then shuffle back, like riding an old fashion typewriter. When I first started road riding I was told to slide forward when spinning and slide back when turning slow; it was like having an extra gear on a bike with only 5 cogs.

I don't move around that much anymore, but moving around a bit is a good thing to avoid pressure spots. Basically sit where it feels best, adjust saddle position accordingly.

Scooper

Steve Hogg's approach is geared to SMP saddles mostly, but about halfway down the blog is his take on how to measure saddle position for different models to achieve maximum comfort. What's really important is how far you tilt your pelvis forward when sitting as your ischiopubic ramus gets narrower at the front, so depending on whether you're sitting upright or in an aggressive aero position, the pressure points will be either wider or narrower.

ltxi

Then your saddle is out of adjustment. Set up properly you shouldn't have to constantly be conscious of/adapting to saddle position.

migrantwing

Read something interesting recently about KOPS (knee over pedal spindle) not being great methodology to use. The guy explained that it's all about centre of gravity and where your body sits in relation to sitting and standing, as opposed to if your knee dissects the pedal spindle.

B1KE

Thanks for you reply.

1.What do you recommend for adjusting it properly? Right now I'm fairly comfortable, feel no pain, discomfort on long rides but always like to optimize my position.

2. So what you're saying is when I get out of saddle and get back into saddle I should be in the exact same spot as before whether I'm conscious of it or not?

ltxi

Ref 2: Yep, pretty much. With a properly fitted and adjusted saddle, your butt should just slide onto it/back onto it naturally. No squirming around or thought required. Wrt 1: Given you have a good/correct saddle for you, restart with a fit guide or just continue to tweak from where you are until you get there.

Carbonfiberboy 

Everyone is different w/r to exact position on the saddle. Some folks sit all the way back where it's widest, some folks put their sit bones further forward where it starts to roll off. There's not one answer. Plus most folks move around some on the saddle during long rides. Many folks push back when climbing, move forward on the flats. Whatever works for you is the thing to do.

ltxi

^ x2

StanSeven

Most people also shift positions based on power. Rolling along flats or gentle hills may mean sitting in the middle. Seated hard climbs could mean sliding back some. Sprints or fast climbing can men sitting on the nose.

Road Fan

Basically your sit bones should be on a wide-enough part of the saddle that your weight (as much of it as is on the saddle) is held up BY the sit bones, not by softer parts that are ahead of the sit bones. This is one key to long-ride comfort, to make the sit-bones take your weight.

Your seating position is essentially a pedaling position, based on good pedaling for your kind of riding. Your body self-selects it. The job in fitting is to position the saddle so that it supports your body primarily at the sit bones, while you are in your best pedaling position.

There will be compromises: to get long-term comfort, for different riding at different times in a long ride (such as sprinting, climbing, rolling along). Consider the time-trialer who usually sets up a very forward position for maximum power, at the expense of balance and some measure of comfort. I don't time-trial, so maybe I should not say quite so much, but they do set up more forward positions.

Carbonfiberboy 

I might also point out that exactly what one sits on depends on the degree of pelvic rotation. One hears folks say that we sit on our ischial tuberosities. That is not generally the case. Roadies normally sit on their pubic ramus, which is further forward and narrower. Stick your hand down there and feel around.