NOLA_Belle

I've had several instructors fit me on the bike. I'm 5'6.5" and I'm currently at a J height and 2.5 seat. Ive been at an I height and used seat settIngs 1-4 and no matter where the seat is my butt bone hits it when I come out of the saddle. Can you offer any insight??

trailangel

So...a..... what is J height, 2.5 seat and settings 1-4?

Carbonfiberboy 

I have no idea what you're talking about but you should adjust your saddle yourself. Sitting on the saddle with your heel on the pedal, your knee should be completely straight, no gap between heel and pedal. Adjust until that's true. That's the coarse adjustment, but works for most people. If your seat bones are still hitting the saddle, try straightening your legs more when standing. The saddle nose should just brush the inside of your thighs. If the exercise bike's seatpost has holes and a pin instead of a continuous adjustment with a clamp, one position may be too high, the other too low. Pick the one that does the least damage.

IK_biker

Yes, I can.

fietsbob

# 1) look up human anatomy and find the proper name for what is the real name
for what you call a butt bone.

like coxxic. Pelvis, and which part of that, or something properly medical..

FBinNY 

I have no idea what chart or table you're using and what the numbers are.

However, I can tell you that riding out of the saddle is a learned art. When mounting and dismounting, you have to use the pedal as a step and come well forward of the saddle to avoid having it hit you in the back.

When pedaling out of the saddle, you have to use various styles, either slightly off the saddle but still positioned as if seated, or well off and forward. Hit a bump while in between and the saddle will quickly teach you why it's not a good idea.

This isn't rocket science, and it's best to learn and adapt as part of the process of being "bike smart" than trying to apply some kind of measurement and science.

NOLA_Belle

Don't be too helpful.

NOLA_Belle

thanks

NOLA_Belle

The sit bone. That's what they call it in my spin class and yoga class. The bony part of the ass. The ischium is what google tells me

NOLA_Belle

the numbers are what's on the bike. I falsely assumed that all bikes used the same numbering system. I'm doing this in a class so won't ever worry about hitting a bump.

NOLA_Belle

Shall I rephrase. When out of the saddle, the ischium bumps the saddle. I've tried moving the seat down and moving the saddle further back and forward and it keeps hitting. Is it ok that my butt/ischium touches the seat?

dabac

Unless sprinting or doing a steep climb on a loose surface, it is normal to lean a bit on the arms, bring the hips forward a bit and basically hold your whole body a little straighter when riding out-of-saddle.

FBinNY 

Sometimes the language itself is a hint.

We speak of riding a bike, not riding on a bike. So it's an active process more akin to riding a horse than to riding in a car.

So, IMO, this isn't something you control in advance, except for setting proper riding position. Then you learn how to position yourself and manage the bike in the various off the saddle positions. It's about using your legs to let the bike move under you, while not letting it beat you up.

I suspect that there isn't anyone who're ridden for a long time, who hasn't had the nose of the saddle remind them of the need to control the bike better.

So, I suggest, you set the saddle as best you can, then ride, and adjust the angle so you stay in the sweet spot without feeling that you're sliding forward or back, set the height, so you;re getting full leg extension with the knees slightly bent at the bottom and you don't feel your reaching down for the pedals (if your hips rock when pedaling, it's too high). Forward back is a bit harder to explain, and there are theories like the knee being over the pedal at 3 o'clock, but I prefer to start in the middle of the adjustment range and move it forward or back if it feels off.

NOLA_Belle

FBinNY, I've been taking spin classes since September. So I do think I'm new. Your post made sense as did a few more who responded. I'll change some things up on my body, maybe watch some technique videos on YouTube.

trailangel

Is this a spin exercise bike?

gl98115

On a fixed exercise bike, the only way to hit the saddle would be if your are shifting your hips from side to side while pedaling standing. First try moving your hips forward when standing. Also, are you using the toe clips on the pedals? Try concentrating on keeping your hips centered over the bike by pulling up on the pedal opposite that you are pushing down on. Also, on the side you are pushing down, pull up with that arm while keeping the opposite arm stiff.

berner

I'm guessing that the spin bike is not adjusted properly for you. In any case, the linked video shows a cyclist riding out of the saddle in mountainous terrain. What I especially like about this video is the relaxed and comfortable look and actually, the entire demeanor of the rider. You will notice that as the cyclist stands to pedal, the saddle is behind the, umm, behind. This is what makes me think your spin bike is incorrectly set up for you. There are also plenty of videos showing how to fit a bike. You may find it of interest to compare some fitting videos to how the spin bike was set up for you.

NOLA_Belle

Spin

NOLA_Belle

Yes

FBinNY 

I wish you'd been clearer about that early on.

On roads and trails, there's the possibility of the saddle hitting you because of bumps, or changing angles in fast changing terrain when mtn biking.

However, none of that applies to a stationary bike. So it's a misnomer to say the saddle is hitting you in the back, since it's not moving. Instead you're hitting the saddle with your back because of poor pedaling technique that has your body moving forward and back in the space between the saddle and handlebars.

So, IMO you don't have a mechanical problem and do have a coaching one, and the solution is to work with your spin coach to address refining your pedaling technique when off the saddle.

IK_biker

OK.
You can not be helped as you have demonstrated that you don't know how to properly ask a question.

FBinNY 

This shouldn't be held against the OP. Most people who don't know something (anything) also don't know enough to precisely and correctly frame the question. It's a question of unknown unknowns, and something that folks needing to elicit information from others have to learn to live with.

NOLA_Belle

thats ok. Others have managed to help.

NOLA_Belle

thanks

fietsbob

blind guess you are not standing up far enough out of the saddle..

when climbing the riders mass is over the crank axis, and since the bike is going up hill

slightly forward/above where it would be on the flat floor of a spin class.


some of those stationary bikes tilt upward to replicate the hill slope..



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