View Poll Results: Do you change your saddle height for thicker shoes?
I keep it the same, doing all that work is crazy



14
32.56%
I change it, riding without proper fit is crazy



13
30.23%
Got clipless, not an issue



13
30.23%
I never thought about this but now it will haunt me always



3
6.98%
Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll
Thick soles and saddle height
#1
Thread Starter
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
Likes: 3,550
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Thick soles and saddle height
Here's a good one for a gray December afternoon. Do you adjust your saddle height for different shoe thickness? Would the difference in leg extension drive you nuts, or would the need to change it all the time drive you nuts?
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 12-15-16 at 04:10 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,687
Likes: 301
Why would Clipless make it "not an issue"?
A winter shoe like Lake 303 adds something like 1/2" from the face of the pedal to the sole of my foot compared to the summer shoes. The bike is still rideable, but who wouldn't react to a 1/2" saddle drop?
A winter shoe like Lake 303 adds something like 1/2" from the face of the pedal to the sole of my foot compared to the summer shoes. The bike is still rideable, but who wouldn't react to a 1/2" saddle drop?
Last edited by dabac; 12-15-16 at 04:11 PM.
#3
Thread Starter
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
Likes: 3,550
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Good point. I'll leave that as a special case since I can't figure out how to edit the poll options.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#4
Half way there

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 895
From: North Carolina
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Another choice is what I do, switch to non-clipless pedals in the Winter that adjust for the thicker soled shoes.
#5
Me duelen las nalgas

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,519
Likes: 2,832
From: Texas
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
I change it routinely. Both bikes have those silly QRs on the seat posts, might as well use 'em. I even mark the posts for quickly finding the right height. I ride platform pedals with whatever shoes I feel like wearing that day. Even a 1/4" adjustment helps. Reminds me, I need to adjust it for my new Merrell cycling shoes. Just got 'em this week, got a little soreness in the left hip. The Merrell soles are less flexible and just slightly than the Montrail hiking shoes I usually wear.
#8
I actually didn't think of it until the middle of last winter. Last July I finally tired of cold feet, broke down, and bought cycling boots which had thicker soles.
I did not adjust my saddle height and within a couple weeks, I had knee problems.
Made the adjustment, and the knee problems went away.
Always, always, always make the adjustment.
Also ... as your Brooks starts to break in, you'll have to make a very slight saddle height adjustment too. The whole fit thing is fluid.
#10
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,547
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
I have shoes that I wear for riding and I wear my clogs otherwise. I don't think I would ever ride in my clogs - although I do sometimes see commuters doing it. My shoes for riding all have about the same thickness in sole and I ride grip king platforms; the slight difference in thickness is easily offset by the ability to move my foot around on the large platform. Once a year (spring) when I buy new riding shoes I make a seat post adjustment and that's it - I have a brooks saddle and locking seatpost and saddle bolts instead of quick release.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 4,400
Likes: 106
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito (Celeste, of course)
Any time I change shoes/pedals I wind up needing to adjust the saddle like ~5mm. It's not as much of an issue on the mountain bike.
Plus it takes all of 2 min to adjust the saddle, and that's without a QR saddle clamp. You know which way it needs to go, and by roughly how much. It takes me longer to put air in the tires.
Plus it takes all of 2 min to adjust the saddle, and that's without a QR saddle clamp. You know which way it needs to go, and by roughly how much. It takes me longer to put air in the tires.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 5
From: Brisbane Aust
Bikes: Giant ToughRoad Giant talon
It's not an issue because changing your seat height once a year from summer to winter shoes is "not an issue" OP is clearly talking about day to day riding where you might regularly wear different thickness shoes.
#15
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 188
From: TX Hill Country
Getting the cleat adjustment & saddle height back to correct is a PIA even w/ all of the data in my build/fit logs.
I like my knees, it's worth the effort.
-Bandera
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 259
Likes: 37
From: near Omaha, NE
Bikes: Trek Domane 2020 SLR7, 2016 4.3 Disc, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman
I don't want to lower my saddle and mark the seatpost, then raise it again to reveal the marks from the lowered position.
Looks pretty ****ty
Looks pretty ****ty
Last edited by cb400bill; 12-16-16 at 09:09 PM. Reason: Bypassing forum censor
#17
Not quite dead.

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 473
From: Carolina
Bikes: ICE Sprint X Tour FS 26 trike
I changed from my trail running shoes to a pair of crocs one day last summer when it was drizzling rain, because I wanted dry shoes to wear at the end of the day's ride. Apparently, the soles of the crocs were significantly thinner. I strained my right Achilles that day.
#18
Banned.
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 742
Likes: 1
Bikes: Trek
As far as adjustments. I once replaced an old saddle with the new exact model. Didn't figure I would need to adjust the saddle height. But a 72 miler right after the swap told me I did!
Last edited by cb400bill; 12-16-16 at 09:09 PM. Reason: clean up
#19
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Proper size matched Honed and polished seat Tubes dont do that + you dont have to tighten the bolt much to hold the post Up .
Last edited by cb400bill; 12-16-16 at 09:09 PM. Reason: clean up
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 259
Likes: 37
From: near Omaha, NE
Bikes: Trek Domane 2020 SLR7, 2016 4.3 Disc, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman
#21
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I cannot guess the fit precision of any parts of your bike remotely..
Carbon assembly paste includes an abrasive to have it function, of course ..
good luck with your needs for consumer Product satisfaction ..
Carbon assembly paste includes an abrasive to have it function, of course ..
good luck with your needs for consumer Product satisfaction ..
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