Originally Posted by
63rickert
Lower saddle means lower center of gravity. Lower is more stable. Ever hear of a dropper post? There is a reason people are willing to pay money and endure complexity to have dropper posts. Perhaps you have noticed where trials riders or stunt riders put the saddle?
I don't own two bikes with same saddle height. And change saddle height from time to time just because. Bikes work fine with different saddle heights.
It gets technical the moment you start to slip and fall. Recovering from a slip is going to be mostly about rider technique. Having the technical aspects of the bike in easiest and most flexible starting position makes staying up much easier. OP broke a leg. Doesn't want to do it again.
Just came across this- i forgot you responded a couple days because I read it, laughed, and dismissed it as completely absurd.
Lower is more stable, sure. A bike with a lower bottom bracket is more stable than one with a higher bottom bracket. Agreed there.
And yes I have heard of a dropper post. I know what they are and have experience with them.
Oh, and many of my bikes have different saddle heights. This is due to the bottom bracket drop being different from frame to frame. But my saddle height isnt different just for the hell of it...that would be absurd.
I disagree that riding gravel requires, or even benefits from, a lower saddle height. Doing so will create fit issues for most(you apparently being the exception). Why anyone would ride 60, 30, or even 15mi of gravel roads with a saddle in the dropped position is beyond me. That sounds like a grueling exercise and completely unnecessary.
Gravel roads are simply roads that arent paved. A bike with endurance road bike angles and room for wider tires is really all thats needed. There is nothing technical about a gravel road compared to the activities you mention- technical downhill MTB or stunt riding.
I have honestly never seen someone riding gravel roads with their saddle dropped. I havent seen in in person, I havent seen it in magazines, and I havent seen pics on the internet. A dropped saddle could be beneficial for short segments of very steep gravel descents that are twisty or loose. That is entirely different from what you are suggesting though.
You do you and ride an ill-fitting bike for miles and miles of gravel.