Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
Now to really stir things up!
I am well aware that KOPS is a bunch of crap as the final word on where your saddle should be placed. OTOH I don't think anyone has devised a better STARTING POINT for saddle position that the placement that yields KOPS. It really works as a position for folks to try out first before they move on as comfort and performance optimization dictate. I mean, after all, you have to start somewhere. It just so happens that I am completely satisfied with my riding experience with the saddle at KOPS, and that is the setting that yields my large saddle setback. My point is only to broach the question to OP: how did you arrive at this forward position you are trying to "center" by using a zero setback saddle? Was there a gradual optimization by continually moving the saddle more and more forward from some KOPS-like starting point? Or did you get there some other way?
Ask yourself this Robert. If the OP really understands his fit, do you really think he would ask the question that he did? Probably 60% of all those that ride road bikes could be in a better position.
That said, extrapolating from the pros, they ride a very broad range of setback...from 40mm to 115mm or so. Many factors at play. I move mine around a bit as it turns out....currently around mid pt of 25mm setback post with 73 deg sta. To me, riding behind this closes the hip angle too much for comfortable drop riding.
Not everybody needs to ride in the 'backseat' however and if the OP is light, fit and young and his pedal forces are high enough, then he might be OK with a straight post.