latexyankee

I've been trying to raise my saddle. I feel it should be about 1.5 - 2cm higher at the very least. Every time I do I get pain on my left sitbone area ONLY. Researching has told me this most likely my body dropping the hip for compensation.

I try not to OCD over this but I've finally found a saddle I love and my stroke just feels better when my saddle is higher. I know this will not affect my overall speed and performance but some of it is mental and I just feel too low on the seat. My seat is just a tad higher than my bars at this point and that's ok...but I do get a little of knee discomfort every so often and I blame it on saddle height. I can touch the ground on my tippie toes with both feet seated on the saddle, my heel does just touch the pedal at 6 o'clock but It could go a tad higher and be completely extended,my stroke feels better when seat is higher but it could all be in my head. I know this is subjective and there are pro riders with a non normal leg extension, I just don't want to be robbing myself of wasted power. I suppose the only real option is to shell out a ridiculous amount of cash for a fit and get a shim on the left side, unless cleat placement can possibly be a factor.

I'm also finally ready to drop my bars a bit, I have all the spacers under my stem and I planned on moving one up and riding for 2 weeks to see how it feels, I feel rather cramped in drops....my saddle to bar drop is verrrrry shallow, maybe an inch or so.

Not really a question here, just looking to vent and see if anyone else had similar experiences with one side of their ass.

Thanks for listening

Doctor Morbius

It's common. My left leg is 1/2" shorter than the right leg.

f4rrest

You can buy shims and wedged on amazon.

Also try twisting your saddle off center slightly. I have excess pressure on left sit bone, and twisting the saddle slightly right helps and allows me to raise the seat.

latexyankee

What did you do to accommodate this?

StanSeven

I would see if you have an actual or apparent length discrepancy first. Do a Google search to find out. If it's apparent caused by an imbalance, you can correct that through stretches and exercises.

latexyankee

I've tried the off center idea multiple times over the past year. Doesn't seem to alleviate anything in my case. As for shims I have no idea what size or length or whatever to buy, I dont have any idea what the severity of my LLD is....if it is even in fact true. These are all my presumptions based on experience. I guess I could order a shim or two and try it out, cheaper than a $300 fit.

fried bake

i suffer from the same ailment and have had a fit that addressed it effectively with shims/wedges and now it's all good.

you can do it yourself if you read this blog extensively.

Observations on bike fitting, cycling and life? | The Steve Hogg Bike Fitting Website Team | The premier resource for REAL bike fitting information.

70sSanO

25 years ago I went on a cycling weekend and put on a lot of miles. My right hip hurt so much I had to drive with my left foot.

I got my legs measured and the left leg is 3/8" shorter. Back then I got a thick rubber sole and cut it and put it between the bottom of my shoe and the cleat. I only made up about 1/4" but it was enough, but my left shoe weighed a ton.

What I do now is put an insert in the shoe. It has been a cheap fix to find EVA foam flip flops and cut the left one to fit into my left cycling shoe. It has worked quite well and it doesn't add as much weight.

John

Xherion

I have a similar issue. My right leg is slightly shorter than my left. At first when I was running SPDs, I would adjust the saddle to the correct height for my left (longer leg). Then I would get pain in the back of my right knee. Then I would change it to the correct saddle height for my right leg. Then on longer rides, I would get pain in my left knee.

Finally broke down and bought new road shoes, SPD-SLs and put two shims on my right shoe to get the proper height in both legs. No more problems.

Doctor Morbius

Nothing. It hasn't presented a problem when riding.

furiousferret

Make sure they are different and its not the hips...alot of people have crooked hips that cause a leg length discrepancy.

StanSeven

That's what I mentioned earlier about apparent or functional LLD. There are multiple reasons for apparent when in reality both legs are the same length.

greenlight149

i had this problem too, left sit bone area hurts while right side doesnt, then i made a conscious effort to shift my hips so the force is more equally distributed ( so far so good, the pain is gone). i have been to a chiropractor before and was told my spine had a curve, could be why my hips are crooked.

latexyankee

Is there any easy way to check this at home? Have the wife measure from a certain area?

I saw this on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bike-Fit-Lengt...s=cycling+shim

Thinking of trying it out to see if it helps.

furiousferret

Measure the inseams, have someone check your iliac crest and make sure they're aligned.

latexyankee

I dont have anyone at home to check my iliac crest lol. It seems like x rays are the only method, and that's not going to happen, would cost less to just pay a fitter. No disrespect intended, I have real ****ty insurance.

I ordered a 3mm shim, guess I'll start there and see how it goes. My front right knee is hurting a little this morning after yesterdays ride home from work (30mi) I really need to get this saddle up about an inch.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Andy Somnifac 

A saw and some gorilla tape could take care of it as well.

StanSeven

Yep since you said you can touch the ground with both toes while on the saddle

latexyankee

I've been noticing it more and more this season, my knees just don't like it. Shim will be here today I hope its enough space to provide some relief.

totalnewbie

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...screpancy.html

pointing to this thread not for speedplay, but withtin the thread someone suggested difference treatments upper leg/lower leg discrepancy. I did an xray finally and found out the distribution of my upper leg/lower leg discrepancy and adjust my cleat/shim accordingly.

Silvercivic27

I have a leg length discrepancy, and use the black shims from Bike Fit. My problem, though, is that one of my femurs is longer, so shimming will get me out to length but my knees are in different places during the pedal cycle, so still not perfect, but close enough. I guess I could have surgery to cut down my femur if it bothered me that much, but then my pants just wouldn't fit right, lol. My pedaling vectors on my Pioneer powermeter are very intersting too, lol. Oh well, still moves the bike forward at a good pace!

Silvercivic27

Oh yeah, and if things aren't right, you should get a fit. If it costs money, so be it, but I will tell you that I have been fit by some very good fitters and have never paid a dime. I guess it depends on how you interact with people and how much charisma you have.

latexyankee

I have a 3mm shim from bike fit but it keeps moving my cleat to one side no matter how much I tighten. Its most likely because its spd 2 bolt, where the 3 bolt style would be more secure.

Things have gotten a little better, I had to remove the shim for reasons outlined above, but I only get a little a chafing while in the hoods now, drops are fine. I started a new thread about it yesterday.

tjkoko

A competent chiropractor could assess the leg length discrepancy.

latexyankee

Sure could but they would assess the **** out of my wallet. My insurance is garbage, doesn't cover crap.

No disrespect but even talking about a trip to health care professional gets me fired up.