Originally Posted by
greaterbrown
If you are saying that a forward tilted saddle will make you move forward if sitting vertically, then sure, you're right. But most riders aren't coasting all the time. they are putting pressure on their pedals which lifts them and moves them back against the saddle.
Take your bench at 45 deg.: If I just sit down on it, it moves me forward. But what if I move it backward? Then I have to stick my butt further back to make contact with it, thus tipping me backwards and taking weight off my hands.
Take a look at the final time trial from the 2010 TDF. Contador was sliding forward on his saddle & then shifting his hips back due to an improper saddle angle. This was in an aggressive time trial position, not sitting upright. For the most efficient pedaling while seated, you want your weight fully supported on the saddle not on the pedals or your hands. It is much easier approaching a cadence of 200 if you do so.