Stilly saddle adjustment.
 

How am I supposed to adjust this saddle if the "stop" marks are only as far apart at the clamp? Is the edge of the clamp not my reference point?

Saddle is a Selle Italia on a random post from the 90s.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...371b64c5b9.jpg

I would use the upper "clamp" as the edge but that still leaves you with little adjustment. Assuming the bike is a good fit for you and not the reason for a strange saddle fit cheating is possible, but if you are not a light weight a rail can fail. Knowing lawyers help design the safety margins/factors on every thing these days from what I have seen of saddle failures the worst outcome would be a long ride standing or walking. A replacement non-weight weenie saddle with stronger rails might help some as well.

Yup, I prefer Selle Italia so that's a familiar issue. I weigh 150 so I'm not worried about going past those limit marks. I set the saddle to suit myself. The marks are just a reference for repeating the setting if I swap saddles. And I use blue masking tape to mark my preferred position.

I've set my saddle forward past the limit marks on one bike with 58cm frame, and behind the limit marks on another with 56cm frame. No problems with either.

Saddle rail failure seems pretty uncommon. The only newer saddles I've read about bending were some Selle Anatomicas, possibly when buyers ignored SA's weight guidelines for saddle selection and didn't buy the appropriate Clydesdale saddle. I'd be very surprised if my Selle Italia, Bontrager or Selle San Marco saddle rails bent under my middleweight butt.

I suspect that if either end of the clamp is within the marked area, you are good to go. They may be trying to indicate that a portion of the clamp needs to be within the marked area an not outside of it.

I wondered the same thing, but otoh, I can’t picture a post where the entire clamp would fit outside those marks on either end.
Fwiw the only rail My 155# ever broke was an alloy one on a Concor Superleggera. And I wasn’t the original owner so I have no idea what it went through in the past.

Thank you for your feedback. I've been 155 my entire adult life so you and I should have similar results. This has become my saddle of choice because of its comfort but it's the first modern saddle I've ever used so those markings had me concerned. Actual riding position prefers the saddle be pushed back another 1/4 inch.