Mithrandir

So a few weeks ago I was cycling and I noticed a teen on a BMX bike riding in an extremely awkward position. The seat was all the way into the seat tube, the saddle nose was pointed up approximately 35-40 degrees, and the kid was so close to the pedals that his knees were flayed out about 40 degrees from forward just so he could reach them.

I considered stopping and telling him about a more proper position, but decided better of it for numerous reasons.

Anyway, over the past few weeks I've been noticing this position more and more. Almost every kid I pass on a BMX now rides like this; there was even a whole group of 6 riding like this on my ride yesterday.

Is this some new fad? It seems idiotic. Why the hell would anyone ride like that?

2manybikes

It is so that the seat is out of the way when doing tricks or BMX races. They just live with the poor position or pedal standing up. That's more important to them, most know it's a terrible riding position.

Mithrandir

Interesting, I would have never guessed, since I never see them doing tricks...

Mr. Beanz

What is so "idiotic " about it? BMX is a totally different style of riding/racing. Check out the video, they all have their seats low. First scene it's pretty obvious why.

I don't know pro BMX'ers but I' bet some of these guys are pros and would argue the idiotic position.

fietsbob

Custom Trials bikes lack any seat at all , you never sit down,
while bouncing over stuff like a mountain goat..

My Bike Friday uses a BMX sized 406 wheel,
but i wouldn't want to take it over that BMX Race course, sitting down, either.

Jeff Wills

I doubt this is anything new. Since when are teenagers concerned with "correct riding position"?

Mithrandir

Hmm, that's actually higher than what I'm talking about. The seats I see are literally as far down as they can go; the seat post is not visible, and the nose of the seat is usually pointed much higher. Regardless, they're riding on bike paths and roads, never decked out in protective gear, so I doubt they are doing tricks. I suppose they could be doing them at other times and are just lazy about readjusting the post higher when traveling. No clue. It looks extremely painful to me, and I just thought it was some new fad.

ahsposo 

Dude, these are the same people with their pants down to their southern-most position and the crotch at their knees...

Nermal

Your observations are the same as mine. Every BMX I've seen is being used for transportation; not tricks. Obviously, I'm not attending competitions, but they are common around here on both streets and trails. I wonder if they know what the bike was designed for, or are just following the crowd.

Mr. Beanz

Hm, stupid Haro people! Lower set of pics have the seats all the way down to the seat tube and angled saddles....Browse around the site, the riders are exactly that, baggy pants etc. If they enjoyed spandex, they'd be roadies. I bet some of those on the site are pro racers even though you'd never guess it.

Sort of strange. Riders stereotyping other styles even though they hate being labeled themselves. I do see plenty of kids doing tricks on local business steps etc. If a kid stops on the way home to purchase a drink, doesn't mean he's grocery shopping. Owning a BMX bike doesn't mean you have to do tricks 100% of the time.

I see plenty of TDF team jerseys that aren't racing in the TDF and plenty of riders riding MTB's as road bikes without ever touching the dirt. Is there a difference?

https://www.harobikes.com/bmx/bikes/500-Series

Mithrandir

Yes! That's exactly what I keep seeing! It looks ridiculous!

sknhgy 

I've seen the seats tilted up higher than the Haro bikes. Why?

You know what? One of the kids in town has his bike set up like that. Next time I see him I will ask him why - then I'll report back.

Alex carnavas

Here's one that is!

wahoonc

They have been riding BMX bikes that way for years...and you are just noticing? If you also notice, they will pedal like mad for a few seconds then coast, repeat until they get where they are going. Not all BMX bike riders do tricks are pro? Get outta here! And I thought everybody I saw on a CF road bike in kit was a TDF rider j

Aaron

KD5NRH

They're not sitting on them though; in real BMX, the "seat" is just there to keep the seat tube from becoming a rectal implant on landing.

2manybikes

And it's not new at all. It's a big world out there.

Jeff Wills

Can't be a teenager. The hat is on bill-forward.

StephenH

What looks very uncomfortable to me now (at 50) would probably have been a lot more comfortable at 15, so that tends to skew your perception.

When I was that age, I rode my bike to school. It was about a mile, and I felt like that was quite a distance.

clydeosaur

When I rode Freestyle / BMX, It was common for flatlanders to run you seat & post high enough so it would line up with you bar ends. This was necessary for certain moves. Ride height for riding comfort was not the biggest concern. Kind of like people who want to slam or flip the stems on there roadbikes. It's not for the comfort, but to have the "aero" or "racing" look...Go figure.

hotbike

I seen one of them last week, coming towards me, and at first I thought he was riding a recumbent. That's how low his seat was.

Alex carnavas

sun in your eyes while riding="Wtf is that? *squinting to see* oh crud!! *boom!*"

AlmostTrick

Most kids have BMX bikes and the poor saddle position for one reason: to fit in with their peers. Anything else would be uncool. The only tricks most of them can do is on video games. Yes, there are exceptions.

Steely Dan

my 17 year old nephew is one of those kids who rides his BMX with the seat post slammed all the way down and the saddle angled upward. he does do some minor trick riding, but i think he rides that way mainly for aesthetic reasons (ie. "it's cool"). he also wears his pants far below his waist and sports a b!tching fro-hawk. i often joke with him about when is he "gonna get a big boy bike", but he has fun on his little BMX and is more than happy to stand the entire time when he rides. he also doesn't ride hundreds of miles a week like i do, so the practical limitations of the set-up of his BMX are still beyond his level of cycling.

the fashion choices he's made for himself and his bike may be questionable, but he's only a kid and he's having fun; not everything has to make sense at that age.

fishymamba

Hey! I am very concerned about my riding position. Sucks that I don't have money to get fitted.

fishymamba

This guy has a slightly better riding position than most. And I have to admit, he kicks some serious ass.