Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fitting Your Bike
Reload this Page >

Which side do you ride on?

Search
Notices
Fitting Your Bike Are you confused about how you should fit a bike to your particular body dimensions? Have you been reading, found the terms Merxx or French Fit, and don’t know what you need? Every style of riding is different- in how you fit the bike to you, and the sizing of the bike itself. It’s more than just measuring your height, reach and inseam. With the help of Bike Fitting, you’ll be able to find the right fit for your frame size, style of riding, and your particular dimensions. Here ya’ go…..the location for everything fit related.

Which side do you ride on?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-16-13 | 02:36 PM
  #1  
Ekdog's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,398
Likes: 6
From: Seville, Spain

Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem

Which side do you ride on?

Gentlemen, which side of the saddle do you ride on?

In the interest of avoiding damage to the nether regions, should this delicate question not be asked by fitters of bicycles, just as a similar query is often posed by tailors? Ought a saddle be mounted a few millimetres off to the left or right, depending on one's preferences?
Ekdog is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 07:01 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,787
Likes: 3
WTF?

I ride in the CENTER, because I wear clothing that keeps my 'jewelry' out of the danger zone.
DX-MAN is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 07:06 PM
  #3  
Shimagnolo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,102
Likes: 6,009
From: Zang's Spur, CO
I ride on *both* sides of the saddle.
Shimagnolo is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 07:15 PM
  #4  
megalowmatt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 0
From: North County San Diego
I just tuck my johnson right down in the slot. Makes it real easy to ride dead center.
megalowmatt is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 07:18 PM
  #5  
Road Fan's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,196
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Your equipment needs to be up and out of the way. If some part of it gets caught between the saddle and your thigh, you might feel something a bit unpleasant.

It's one reason to wear the little elastic shorts and to get the correct size.
Road Fan is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 09:38 PM
  #6  
jyl's Avatar
jyl
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 68
From: Portland OR

Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997

I ride center and I think most people do.
jyl is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 10:08 PM
  #7  
Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: We love all bikes

I do believe most people ride slightly to one side or the other. Sometimes it is OBVIOUS and most of the time it is very subtle.
Keep in mind the pelvis is usually rotated on most humans to the left so sitting perfectly centered is probably not a reality for most.
Here is an obvious one
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Sadde_side_sit.jpg (24.7 KB, 65 views)
BikeFitPro is offline  
Reply
Old 06-16-13 | 10:19 PM
  #8  
cooker's Avatar
Prefers Cicero
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,860
Likes: 146
From: Toronto

Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others

It depends on your seating position, clothing and saddle. If you are wearing bike shorts and on a narrow racing saddle, the stuff rides high and central. You may have to do some adjusting and discrete tugging from time to time to keep it in place. The central member may be pointing straight ahead or tucked off to one side.
If you are wearing loose clothes and sitting more upright on a cruiser or Dutch style commuter, there might be a bit more draping to one side or other (or a little of both) but you don't want any crushing between thigh and saddle nose, so you still want the stuff to ride a bit high.

I find it all stays in place as long as I stay seated, but if I stand on the pedals for a bit, I may have to reach down and grab the stuff through my pants and pull it all up a bit when I sit, so it's back where it should be. I try to be unnoticed when i do it, but you can't always.

I do find I point the saddle a tiny bit to one side, but that is more to make my butt comfortable

Last edited by cooker; 06-16-13 at 10:24 PM.
cooker is offline  
Reply
Old 06-17-13 | 11:01 AM
  #9  
zandoval's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,603
Likes: 2,468
From: Bastrop Texas

Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites

Left knee hurting left side - Right knee hurting Right side - Hands going numb back side...
zandoval is offline  
Reply
Old 06-17-13 | 11:49 AM
  #10  
jyl's Avatar
jyl
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 68
From: Portland OR

Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997

As you descend toward the saddle, do a snappy little pelvic thrust, the stuff flies up and as you settle onto the saddle it all comes down and drapes nicely into place. It helps to be a transsexual transylvanian and wear a french maid's dress.
jyl is offline  
Reply
Old 06-17-13 | 02:33 PM
  #11  
Shimagnolo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,102
Likes: 6,009
From: Zang's Spur, CO
Originally Posted by jyl
As you descend toward the saddle, do a snappy little pelvic thrust, the stuff flies up and as you settle onto the saddle it all comes down and drapes nicely into place. It helps to be a transsexual transylvanian and wear a french maid's dress.
Don't forget to put your hands on your hips,
And bring your knees in tight.
Shimagnolo is offline  
Reply
Old 06-17-13 | 07:20 PM
  #12  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,787
Likes: 3
OK, I feel like we just got transported to Foo..........
DX-MAN is offline  
Reply
Old 06-17-13 | 07:37 PM
  #13  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

If I were is Spain, I'd ride on the right side, when in Ireland I rode on the Left side..
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 06-18-13 | 02:57 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 1,633
If riding a bike involved sitting on your junk I would be so out!
wheelreason is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 04:07 PM
  #15  
Banned.
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 1
From: Brighton UK

Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike

Originally Posted by BikeFitPro
I do believe most people ride slightly to one side or the other. Sometimes it is OBVIOUS and most of the time it is very subtle.
Keep in mind the pelvis is usually rotated on most humans to the left so sitting perfectly centered is probably not a reality for most.
Here is an obvious one
Hi,

That is more about very badly fitting clothing and has no technical basis at all.

rgds, sreten.

Last edited by sreten; 06-19-13 at 06:03 PM.
sreten is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 04:17 PM
  #16  
Banned.
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 1
From: Brighton UK

Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike

Originally Posted by Ekdog
Gentlemen, which side of the saddle do you ride on?

In the interest of avoiding damage to the nether regions, should this delicate question not be asked by fitters of bicycles, just as a similar query is often posed by tailors? Ought a saddle be mounted a few millimetres off to the left or right, depending on one's preferences?
Hi,

No. The position of your bits on a saddle has nothing to do with which side
your bits hang dressing, just as much as tailors only ask to avoid the hanging
side when measuring your inseam, it makes no difference to the tailoring.

rgds, sreten.

FWIW I always dress to the right, being a lefty, apparently most
righties go for the left, which makes sense if you think about it.

Last edited by sreten; 06-19-13 at 04:49 PM.
sreten is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 06:01 PM
  #17  
Shimagnolo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,102
Likes: 6,009
From: Zang's Spur, CO
Originally Posted by sreten
Hi,

No. The position of your bits on a saddle has nothing to do with which side
your bits hang dressing, just as much as tailors only ask to avoid the hanging
side when measuring your inseam, it makes no difference to the tailoring.

rgds, sreten.

FWIW I always dress to the right, being a lefty, apparently most
righties go for the left, which makes sense if you think about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANwTBK3Ylg
Shimagnolo is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 01:16 AM
  #18  
Ekdog's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,398
Likes: 6
From: Seville, Spain

Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem

Ekdog is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 04:57 AM
  #19  
Road Fan's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,196
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Originally Posted by sreten
Hi,

No. The position of your bits on a saddle has nothing to do with which side
your bits hang dressing, just as much as tailors only ask to avoid the hanging
side when measuring your inseam, it makes no difference to the tailoring.

rgds, sreten.

FWIW I always dress to the right, being a lefty, apparently most
righties go for the left, which makes sense if you think about it.
The sadly deceased Tom Miller put a guideline in his original Selle AnAtomica instructions to rotate the saddle slightly based on pressure felt on the inner thigh or back of thigh, rotating just a bit to reduce that pressure. It's not a measure intended to keep the boyz out of the way of your flailing legs.
Road Fan is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 12:35 PM
  #20  
briankari
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Are you sure? Badly fitting clothing? Not a leg length issue forcing one leg to reach? or as the post indicates, a rotated pelvis. badly fitting clothing seems a bit short-sighted...
Originally Posted by sreten
Hi,

That is more about very badly fitting clothing and has no technical basis at all.

rgds, sreten.
briankari is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 01:36 PM
  #21  
Banned.
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 1
From: Brighton UK

Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike

Originally Posted by briankari
Are you sure? Badly fitting clothing? Not a leg length issue forcing one leg to reach? or
as the post indicates, a rotated pelvis. badly fitting clothing seems a bit short-sighted...
Hi,

Short sighted ? In looking for the technical your missing the bleeding obvious.
Said chaps pants are clearly rotated anticlockwise ; Why ? Don't ask me.
Perhaps he dresses to the right and needs to twist his pants like that.

rgds, sreten.

I'm not saying the chap doesn't have issues, I am saying the poor
clothing fit for whatever reason makes things look much worse,
and very hard to judge if there are real issues, its not obvious.
Why his pants are like that could be quite a few reasons, but the
photo does not show someone riding on one side of the saddle.

Last edited by sreten; 06-20-13 at 01:57 PM.
sreten is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 02:03 PM
  #22  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I guess I too have a hard time seeing the "bleeding obvious" here. Are you saying his bibs are way too big for him? That might cause bunching and twisting- and then I'd see your point (thought the clothing looks tight to me). If they are too tight, I can't believe his shorts would twist so much. What I see, to be honest, is this chap has more of his glutes leaning to the right side and less leaning to the left.
Originally Posted by sreten
Hi,

Short sighted ? In looking for the technical your missing the bleeding obvious.
Said chaps pants are clearly rotated anticlockwise ; Why ? Don't ask me.
Perhaps he dresses to the right and needs to twist his pants like that.

rgds, sreten.

I'm not saying the chap doesn't have issues, I am saying the poor
clothing fit for whatever reason makes things look much worse,
and very hard to judge if there are real issues, its not obvious.
Why his pants are like that could be quite a few reasons, but the
photo does not show someone riding one one side of the saddle.
brianvee is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 04:09 PM
  #23  
Reynolds's Avatar
Passista
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 1,211

Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility

I think I ride on center, but my saddles tend to wear more on the left side.
Reynolds is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 04:14 PM
  #24  
gitarzan's Avatar
Lost Again
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Columbus, Oh!

Bikes: Soma Saga, 1991 Sirrus, Specialized Secteur Elite, Miele Umbria Elite.

Just ride one of these and tuck your junk in the slot.
Believe me, you'll remember to unclip your shoes every time you stop.
gitarzan is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 04:38 PM
  #25  
Banned.
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 1
From: Brighton UK

Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike

Originally Posted by brianvee
I guess I too have a hard time seeing the "bleeding obvious" here. Are you saying his bibs are way too big for him? That might cause bunching and twisting- and then I'd see your point (thought the clothing looks tight to me). If they are too tight, I can't believe his shorts would twist so much. What I see, to be honest, is this chap has more of his glutes leaning to the right side and less leaning to the left.
Hi,

The midseam of his shorts is nowhere near his arsecrack.
You are missing the obvious, his clothing is out of kilter,
to such an extent its impossible to judge any real issues.

rgds, sreten.

Again not saying no issues, just hard to judge.
The clothing fit makes things look much worse.

Last edited by sreten; 06-20-13 at 04:50 PM.
sreten is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.