Ok my Trek 7.2 came with a saddle that was wider and cushier "relaxed" than I cared for. So I picked up a Bontrager Race Lite Lux Saddle. I installed the saddle in what looked like a horizontal setup. I went for a ride today. I noticed that one I was sitting on the back part of the saddle not having a tendency to slide forward like I did on the old saddle. This was good, and it also felt good on my sit bones. I also noticed I had an issue with pressure on the sensitive areas north of the sit bones. I road about 10 miles and its wasn't to pleasant when I was done. So I thought maybe I had the saddle tilted to far to the rear. The seat post is some cheap spring loaded thing. I went ahead and tightened it all the way so there is really no spring action in it. Anyway tonight I got a small board that is flat laid it on top of the seat then put a level on it. It was showing the front of the saddle was high. So I made an adjustment one notch forward. Now the level shows it is low in the front. Using a level the notches are two close to get a perfect horizontal. IS this because the seat post is so cheap? Or is this a common issue?

One other problem I had today. I am using some cheaper bicycle shorts I got at a local sporting goods store. They have seemed to work ok till today, but I noticed it seemed like if I sat strait on the saddle where I ride, that they were pulling back on my crotch causing more pressure. If I sat towards the front of the seat and moved back a bit it would seem to relieve some of the pressure. So I hope I don't have multiple issues here. I know I need to get a good pair of shorts and thats going to happen this week.

So any pointers on adjustment of my seat? If I need a new seat post recommendations? Also how do you get the length measurement? IS the 300mm the length of just the tube? Or the whole seat post from the clamp down?

Thanks as always,
Blake

Bump.

Anyone have any suggestions for Blake?

East Hill

not being able to level your seat completely is an issue with cheaper seatposts. yours, like mine have fixed notches in the clamp that don't really allow super-fine adjustment.

i do not know which seatposts offer complete adjustment of the tilt angle. i'm sure there are some more expensive posts that still have these awful notches in them as well, but i haven't done any research on them, since i was actually able to get my angle dialed in with my OEM seatpost.

luckily, there is a 'be-all end-all' seatpost that you can't go wrong with. it's expensive though. Thomson Elite, pretty much everybody who has ever used one will swear by them forever. they're around $70 though, but they offer infinite tilt adjustment, no 'in-between'.

as for your question regarding length, most manufacturers measure their posts from the center of the seatrail clamp to the bottom. you've also got to take into account the minimum insertion mark on each post. just because a post is 300mm tall, does not mean you have 300mm of useable post.

Try moving the saddle back in the clamp just a bit to get it level.