Originally Posted by
BCRider
You're right. When you spin faster you can't help but end up with more weight on the saddle. Like most things in life you want to try to hit a happy compromise. I'm not really sure how much % of my weight is on the saddle when I'm riding but obviously it goes down on the hills and increases to "mostly" when I'm just cruising along with little pedal resistance. I know that on the flats I tend to pedal in bursts and then coast while standing on a pedal to ease the pressure on the saddle. Then pedal some more, coast, pedal, coast..... It works for me and I really find it's tough on the backside when riding with a little group where it's important to maintain the pace because we're all drafting off each other. So I tend not to ride with these drafting groups anymore. But that's just me of course.
It's good to know that my rear end is not alone...
Originally Posted by
BCRider
Not sure what you mean by "knees tight". If you ride with too much internal isometric stress in your legs you'll tire sooner. Try to relax and if you think about it at all think about easing up on any residual pressure that tries to limit your feet and knees from moving in a circular way. Relax what isn't needed for the work and apply what is needed.
By tight, I meant tried to keep the thighs parallel to the top tube, and a bit closer as the knee rises to the top. I'm still experimenting with it to find a comfortable style. What tipped me off about my knees is that my inside heel kept getting caught by the frame as the pedal rises. It occurred to me that my left knee in particular is waving in and out a lot as I pedal. That partly makes it a bit harder to have consistent balance, and it also made it more difficult to keep my left foot on the pedal.