Saddle Height
 

I'm after getting my hands on my first proper road bike, which is a classic Pinarello, just like most things that come out of Italy, it is a sexy ass bike and I got it at a great price.

However, the seat is not adjustable and it is about 1/4 inch too high, I can still pedal with high cadence, my hips don't move and I'm not overextending my achilles.

But I still know that it is too high as my knee is locked when I put the pedal to the middle of my foot and go to the back of my pedal stroke. Also the saddle is killing me, especially going downhill, where I can't pedal due to restriction.

My first question is whether or not my speed is being hampered by this problem even though I'm a lot faster on this bike than my old one.

My second question is whether or not it is worth paying an extra €300-€500 to buy a bike with an adjustable seat.

Please help, I need to return it tommorrow if returning it is my best option

1. What makes you think the seat is not adjustable?

2. If it is too high, your achilles will feel it and you will damage them and not be able to ride or walk.

3. Why would you position your pedal in the middle of your foot?

4. You do know you can change the saddle, right?

1. It's a Bike that they started making around 1984 and the design never changed, the attention to detail on the saddle bar is great, but due to how skinny it gets, it makes it unjustable.

2. That's good to hear, it's not dangerously high to promote injury.

3. Putting the pedal to the middle of your foot is a test to see if the saddle is too high, it's hard to describe without photos, so I'll try find one to explain. I don't pedal with the middle of my foot.

4. The saddle is changable, the saddle bar might be a lot harder to change on this bike, plus it will lose its antique value if I change the saddle bar, I might be able to sell this bike off for a lot of money some day

BS. With the exception of integrated seatposts (which didn't become common until the last 5 years) all road bikes have adjustable saddle height, assuming you don't exceed the limits of safe seatpost clamping. Does it have a tapering aero post? Is that what you mean by "how skinny it gets"? If that's the issue, you can get a new seatpost - the sizes are standardised. However, if you need the saddle low enough to be encroaching on the aero section then it's very likely that the bike is too big for you.

Take a picture of the seatpost/saddle and we can tell you what you need to do.

If you have a Pinarello, it has an adjustable seat post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think your issue is you have a bicycle that is way too large for you. I say this because if you have a Pinarello with one of several Campy "type" seat posts that are ovalized at the top section and you are having to drop the saddle down into the oval section to get your leg extension correct--the frame is way, way too big for you.

Here is a pic of one of my Pinarello bike (before an overhaul) and notice that the Pinarello pantographed Campy seat post is at the limit which is an indicator that my frame is correctly sized for me for racing, I have a 75.5cm saddle height. If I had to drop the post down onto the oval section, partially obscured in pic by the velcro strap, well, then the bike frame is too large.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/DSCF0033.jpg


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/PA240139.jpg

Better pic of a Campy aero post set within the correct range, note oval section is not any where near the seat clamping section of the frame:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/PA300140.jpg

If I read that correctly, you have an "aero post". You can probably find a non-aero one at a local shop for $30, or a used one on ebay (that might even be the correct time period) for the same or less. Go get that and keep the beautiful original post in your sock drawer should you ever sell the bike or put it in a showroom or something.

Are you talking about the seatpost?
Like this:

http://www.cyclart.com/photos/Ebay/s...o-25.4-NIB.jpg

Thanks for the replies, the seat post looks exactly like your middle picture "Loose Chain" and yup I went past the oval part. Frame must be too big for me so.

Back in the day, if a frame was properly sized then the nose of the saddle would be apx. 6 inches from the top of the top tube when set at the optimal saddle height (Source: The Custom Bicycle by Kolin & de La Rosa, 1979, page 192). This roughly corresponded to the "fistful of seatpost" rule which indicated the proper amount of post to be showing. My, how times have changed!

Sounds like your frame might be too large for you. I had a Raleigh Pro Mk IV in 1977 that was too large for me and it made for an uncomfortable ride due to the too long top tube.

How are you determining your saddle height? There are numerous methods/formulas, but they all result in a slight bend in the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Well, the good news is that a classic bike is an easy sell. I hate that it is too big but seriously, if the seat post has to be shoved down into the frame into the oval area to get your leg extension/saddle height correct, the frame is too big. :(

Getting a bike that is, "Ah this is reaaly niice," is a hard thing. You will know it when you get it.

I think I'm getting a new saddle for now, if not I'll get my money back, I've to find out if I could sell it myself for more though, I've heard it can be worth a lot due to its history

No! It's a new seatpost you need, assuming the saddle isn't horrendously uncomfortable.

Sorry, I meant seat post, wrote that last one in a rush. The Bike is perfect now, thanks a lot for all your help, I'll def be active on these forums !!!! :)