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Old 06-11-14 | 01:05 PM
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Roadie1
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 21
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From: Tampa, FL

Bikes: Trek 600 (restored)

Question About Leg Length

I have always ridden a road bike but at times more seriously than at others. This is one of my more serious times and my age and the amount I am out of shape is starting to rear its ugly head and I need advice from the group.

I am 6'2" tall and weigh 220 lbs. I have a leg length discrepancy of approx 3/4", my right leg is longer than my left. My hips are rotated (left hip rearward) and my left tibia and fibula are shorter than my right amounting to the discrepancy.

I am riding a 60cm c - c road bike with traditional geometry. I have my saddle set at 81cm from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle. I arrived at this figure by standing in my socks against a wall and placing a book firmly between my legs and then measuring. When I am riding I consciously drop my right heel during my pedal strokes to try to mitigate in part the leg length discrepancy. I also have a 1/8" shim inserted between my cleat and the sole of my left road shoe.

I am noticing as I am doing my longer rides that I am riding more on my right cheek as if my longer right leg is pushing my hips across my saddle which is probably the case.

The question I have is how should I be setting my saddle height? Is the 81cm figure good or should I be setting it for my shorter left leg or my longer right leg or is there something else altogether than I need to be factoring into this. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks.
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