Originally Posted by
milkbaby
Amazingly, that describes me (long legs, short torso) because I always wondered why I ride better with my saddle more forward than lots of my pals... (tho I ride a long and low position, not a sit up and beg upright position)
I disagree with the idea of forward being better. I'm 169cm tall with an 83cm cycling inseam and 73cm saddle height. That's a short torso with long legs. I have an 11cm drop from the saddle to the bars. I don't believe that KOP or femur length has much to do with where to put your saddle and neither do many respected fitters. I believe that the rider's weight balance over the saddle is more important. I use a 25 or 32mm setback post and have the saddle about as far back as it will go. FWIW, my knee is 1-2cm behind KOP. With that position, I can ride with a very low torso angle and not have to use my arms to support my upper body.
Of course, most frames in my size have relatively steep STAs, in the 74-74.5 degree range, but it would take a very slack angle of 72-72.5 degrees to be able to use a zero setback post, since each degree moves the seat rail clamp back about 12mm. The problem with that is it requires a longer chainstay length to keep the tire from hitting the seat tube. Most maufacturers want a chainstay length in the 405-410mm range and that requires a steeper STA, unless the seat tube is actually moved forward of the BB centerline. Some manufacturer's do this, but then you find out that the real STA is only around 71 degrees, but listed as 73, because the saddle rail clamp ends up at a position, similar to what would result from a traditional 73 degree STA, through the BB centerline.