Lowering stem height
#51
Yuri I think the seat post has been sliding down every-time I ride. It has been adding a variable that I did not notice. I thought it was all me.
The height I have it set now feels good. I will tweak it but it is close now.
I do want to lower the stem height just to see how it feels.
I am stubborn but if I can’t get it dialed in I will break down and pay someone to fit it for me.
This coming year I really want to concentrate on improving my fitness level so I can do longer rides instead of messing with my bike.
The height I have it set now feels good. I will tweak it but it is close now.
I do want to lower the stem height just to see how it feels.
I am stubborn but if I can’t get it dialed in I will break down and pay someone to fit it for me.
This coming year I really want to concentrate on improving my fitness level so I can do longer rides instead of messing with my bike.
Everyone's trying to get you close...
Do as Leisesturm (and many others) suggests, heel on pedal, adjust seat height to the point where you can pedal both front and backwards without rocking the hips at all - no higher.
And doing the cycling inseam measurement, per Iride01, is a good thing. Then using the .88 formula, you'll prolly find the heel on pedal method and formula will be very similar, maybe almost identical - just some confirmation. And it will also give everyone here some idea of you, relative to your height - always a good thing in discussions.
Seatpost slipping - Make sure the seatpost is CLEAN ! Many put way too much grease on the post - which makes overtightening happen...
Clean the seatpost completely, ALSO clean the Seat Tube throroughly !!! as far down as possible. If you don;t have Carbon paste, use silicon grease. A SUPER-light touch/coat on the post of grease is all you need... After I coat a post, I take a clean cloth and light pull it down the post to remove excess grease - then insert post.
Once you do the Heel on pedal method and find that height - I would wipe the post clean above the clamp, I small square of electrician's tape placed on the seatpost back just touching the collar - if the post slips at all, the tape will bunch/gather up and alert you to slipping... also if you decide to raise a few mm, it'll be an easy reference to where you were, originally.
The numbers on the back of the seatpost, just a relative reference - they don;t mean anything, just a reference to make it easier for slight adjustment. Every seatpost might be different, so no good to go from one to another, using it...
Leave the stem where it is, go ride for a few weeks, and then it might become a consideration.
The seat adjustment for a rider is the single most important adjustment made on a bike. Everything else as made relative to that.
Ride On
Yuri
#52
Thread Starter
old newbie

Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
A too high saddle does feel good. That doesn't mean it IS good. I don't know what the units on your seatpost are but going from 2 to 6 in one jump? The saddle was too low, but, honestly, you're flailing here. At least do the heels on the pedals drill or go into your HMO and tell them you want to be measured (height) accurately, in your bare feet!. When you get your saddle to the proper height I don't believe you will still want to lower your handlebars. In fact, you just might want to raise them!
#53
Thread Starter
old newbie

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,795
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
A too high saddle does feel good. That doesn't mean it IS good. I don't know what the units on your seatpost are but going from 2 to 6 in one jump? The saddle was too low, but, honestly, you're flailing here. At least do the heels on the pedals drill or go into your HMO and tell them you want to be measured (height) accurately, in your bare feet!. When you get your saddle to the proper height I don't believe you will still want to lower your handlebars. In fact, you just might want to raise them!
If my wife can get time and not be exhausted she has promised to take pics and video. She manages a hospitals ORs so I cut her a lot of slack.
#54
Thread Starter
old newbie

Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

This is a pic of the markings on my seat stem. I don’t know if they are simply index marks or if they are measurements. They seem to be a centimeter apart. It is hard to see it but the index mark line for 5 is even with the top of the seat tube. I don’t know if it slipped or if I just misread it. I may have only raised it from 2 to 5, not 6.
#55
Senior Member
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 4,589
From: USA - Pittsburgh / Southwest PA
Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV
Seatpost slipping - Make sure the seatpost is CLEAN ! Many put way too much grease on the post - which makes overtightening happen...
Clean the seatpost completely, ALSO clean the Seat Tube throroughly !!! as far down as possible. If you don;t have Carbon paste, use silicon grease. A SUPER-light touch/coat on the post of grease is all you need... After I coat a post, I take a clean cloth and light pull it down the post to remove excess grease - then insert post.
Once you do the Heel on pedal method and find that height - I would wipe the post clean above the clamp, I small square of electrician's tape placed on the seatpost back just touching the collar - if the post slips at all, the tape will bunch/gather up and alert you to slipping... also if you decide to raise a few mm, it'll be an easy reference to where you were, originally.
Yuri
I’m guilty of using too much grease on the seatpost - and not-a-surprise the seatposts have slipped on my bikes
actually first discovered this when glancing at pics I posted on this forum - the seat height appeared to be low and then realized the post had slipped
initially I used a small piece of black tape to determine if the post slipped - but recently began to use 3M red reflective tape (pictured below)

#56
Thread Starter
old newbie

Joined: Nov 2009
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Likes: 1,130
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
another vote on the tape idea
I’m guilty of using too much grease on the seatpost - and not-a-surprise the seatposts have slipped on my bikes
actually first discovered this when glancing at pics I posted on this forum - the seat height appeared to be low and then realized the post had slipped
initially I used a small piece of black tape to determine if the post slipped - but recently began to use 3M red reflective tape (pictured below)

I’m guilty of using too much grease on the seatpost - and not-a-surprise the seatposts have slipped on my bikes
actually first discovered this when glancing at pics I posted on this forum - the seat height appeared to be low and then realized the post had slipped
initially I used a small piece of black tape to determine if the post slipped - but recently began to use 3M red reflective tape (pictured below)

I will also be doing away with the cam quick release and use a nut and bolt. It should be more secure and like someone said it will make my saddle harder to steal.
#57
another vote on the tape idea
I’m guilty of using too much grease on the seatpost - and not-a-surprise the seatposts have slipped on my bikes
actually first discovered this when glancing at pics I posted on this forum - the seat height appeared to be low and then realized the post had slipped
initially I used a small piece of black tape to determine if the post slipped - but recently began to use 3M red reflective tape (pictured below)

I’m guilty of using too much grease on the seatpost - and not-a-surprise the seatposts have slipped on my bikes
actually first discovered this when glancing at pics I posted on this forum - the seat height appeared to be low and then realized the post had slipped
initially I used a small piece of black tape to determine if the post slipped - but recently began to use 3M red reflective tape (pictured below)

Which model/version/year is this one ?
Ride on
Yuri
#58
Facts just confuse people




Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,328
Likes: 7,052
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Your Roubaix is a carbon frame isn't it? Be careful what band you put on that seat tube. I'm actually surprised that it had a quick release. I would have expected a band similar to the one on my Tarmac, that is just essentially a bolt and nut, but also has torque specs printed on it. Maybe they didn't do that back in the day yours was made. Also, if it's CF, even with a aluminum seat post, I'd think carbon paste more proper than grease or anti-seize.
I don't know whether or not the concerns I just gave you are valid considerations when getting a new band for a frame with a CF seat tube. However it doesn't seem right that just any clamp band will do.
Perhaps some others that know will say if there are.
I don't know whether or not the concerns I just gave you are valid considerations when getting a new band for a frame with a CF seat tube. However it doesn't seem right that just any clamp band will do.
Perhaps some others that know will say if there are.
#59
Thread Starter
old newbie

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1,130
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Your Roubaix is a carbon frame isn't it? Be careful what band you put on that seat tube. I'm actually surprised that it had a quick release. I would have expected a band similar to the one on my Tarmac, that is just essentially a bolt and nut, but also has torque specs printed on it. Maybe they didn't do that back in the day yours was made. Also, if it's CF, even with a aluminum seat post, I'd think carbon paste more proper than grease or anti-seize.
I don't know whether or not the concerns I just gave you are valid considerations when getting a new band for a frame with a CF seat tube. However it doesn't seem right that just any clamp band will do.
Perhaps some others that know will say if there are.
I don't know whether or not the concerns I just gave you are valid considerations when getting a new band for a frame with a CF seat tube. However it doesn't seem right that just any clamp band will do.
Perhaps some others that know will say if there are.
I will look into the clamp.
#60
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,919
Likes: 1,260
Working off of a theory that when buying second hand all bets are off, I Googled up some images of 2013 Spesh Roubaix's. None have Q/R seatpost clamps OEM. "Danger, Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!". Or not. But slipping (or stolen) saddle/seatpost combos are no fun. Especially when they are carbon. Pro tip: Those Q/R seatpost collars are designed to curve nicely around the seattube when closed. BTW for anyone interested this site has a sweet deal running on the o.p. bike.





