Commuting fit
 

I've always got a tender lower back. I exercise 5-7 days a week. Ride a road bike with flat bars. Up to now I've always set my seat height by the old method of putting your heel on the pedal with leg just slightly bent.

Just lately I'm watching around and a lot of commuters can touch the ground while sitting on the seat. I've also read somewhere that if the seat is too high your hips have to oscillate as you pedal.

With these thoughts, I'm going to lower my seat by 2 inches for a while and try it. An auxiliary benefit of this will be relatively higher bars and that will also be more comfortable for my back.

Has anyone else tried this already or found it good or bad?

PS:- Over 55 yo.

2 inches sounds like an enormous adjustment. I think you will find it harder to pedal.

Jim, I've also felt that the heel on pedal method has left me with a slightly high saddle, but more like a quarter inch or so. Reaching the ground is not a standard fit method, as it depends on how long your foot is and the bottom bracket height, neither of which pertain to saddle height (relative to the pedals) if I'm not mistaken.

Maybe this doesn't work for anyone but me. I put the seat height equal to the top of my hip bone. Put your hands around your hips. The sharp point you feel at your index finger is the top of your front hip bone. Put the seat height there for a starter. Too high a seat makes your lower back arch = pain.

I'd be very surprised if lowering your seat any amount relieves back pain. I'd suggest looking at other dimensions of your fit first, and in particular how they relate to hip angle and pelvic attitude, so that you're tipping your pelvis forward more, if indeed you are not already.

I haven't been sure how high my saddle should be, either. Inspired by this post, I took a look around and found this site.

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/art...t-right-14608/

I just ordered a goniometer from Amazon for $12.

With the current saddle height, I can reach the ground on both toes while sitting on the saddle. I wonder how different the saddle position will be based on the goniometer method.

I lowered my saddle by more than an inch and have hardly noticed any difference in how it feels to ride. From more recent observations I've seen a lot of people have their femur (thigh) pretty much horizontal at the top of their stroke, whereas mine is nowhere near horizontal yet. Not sure how I ended up with the saddle so high. Maybe I was trying to convince myself I had some physical largess. I think I need to do something with my bars because my wrists get sore too.

re: the sore writs, do you have straight bars? one reason I prefer my drops over the bikes with straight bars and why I converted one of them, is because the drops give you more options, meaning you can hold them like straight bars but you also have several other wrist positions. also you can raise drop bars so they aren't slammed down like racers have them. here is my most comfortable commuter (before and after) which started as a straight bar hybrid that I roadified with drops but raised the bars.

Another option is to install bar ends on the flat handlebar. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered. I like this option better than "roadifying" the bike because (1) it's cheaper and less complex than replacing bars, brake levers and shifters, and (2) I personally like to use the flat-bar part for my primary hand position. Of course, YMMV. :)

Sure, lots of people put their saddles really low because they're still afraid of losing easy contact with the ground. That doesn't mean it's a good idea.

yup. I tried them too at first. but the angle of the straights bars were actually not straight so my bar ends and especially my drop bar ends forced my wrist into angles that were not ideal. but they were fun to try.

thanks for these good ideas everyone

Bar type does not, per se, cause wrist pain. Flat bars do not make your wrists hurt. Like I said before, you need to look at other dimensions of your fit beyond saddle height. This is not brain surgery, but it pays to think about it.

I agree with this 100%. My fit seems to have me placing a lot of load through my wrists. It's as though I need the bars to be about 4" higher up and 4" further rearward. I will probably try some bar ends. I would like to keep my frame and replace the fork with one with a longer stem.

Some people dont care how the leg extension is ..

and the flat foot stop is more important..

The bike Biz has made frames with very laid back seat angles for them.

Trek 'Pure' is one .. seat separated rearward lets the leg extend..
but distance to the ground is lower.

my preference has changed over the years .. last bike buy I have Trekking bars , a bit higher than the saddle ..


my roadie bike and drop bar touring bike the bar tops and saddle are close to the same..




FWIW, heel of my foot on the pedal, leg is straight, so ball of the foot on the pedal, the knee is bent a bit.

Try moving your seat rearward. To keep from over extending your leg during pedaling, you will have to lower the seatpost a small amount (<1/2").

Having your rear end further back can reduce the weight on your hands. Imagine standing in front of a table, bending over with your legs vertical, you press hard on the table to support yourself. But if you bend over, while pushing your butt backwards, you are balanced and don't need the support of your hands. Same principle has you pushing your rear back when doing squat lifts.