Fore/aft saddle positioning and handling
 

Will pushing my saddle as far back as possible affect bike handling?

Yes. Changes the center of gravity.

No.

Yes.

Sigh. I will expand.

Moving your saddle around can have slight effects on handling inasmuch you are altering your fit and balance, which have some consequences for bike handling. If moving it back is a better fit and improves your balance, you may see some benefit to your ability to handle the bike. On the other hand, if it worsens your fit, you may see the opposite. There is certainly no easily predictable, large effect of saddle fore/aft positioning on handling.

On the whole, these effects will be very small, and it's hard to imagine that they are going to be noticed by most people. If your bike fit is poor enough to have a negative effect on handling, the remedy is going to require more than simply sliding the saddle around. Significant handling problems related to fit (a diagnosis that might be hard to make!) are most likely when the frame simply doesn't fit, especially if it is too large.

Hope that helps.

Yes because you'll be constantly distracted by other riders asking if that bike fits

Yes, but so little that you won't notice it.

Will pushing my saddle as far back as possible <--- you can do that but dont forget to lower the saddle. If you ask why you have to lower it then use the search feature, a lot of threads about that :p

i don't know what kind of range your saddle allows (fore, aft), but on mine, i routinely move around that much as i ride. so i can't see as how it can make much difference. my experience shows this to be true too. on occasion i get out of the saddle altogether :eek: where it can't make any difference.

i know there are those on this forum that think otherwise, but i don't believe 'em.

Trying to be helpful: There is actually an ideal saddle position for you. A couple of months ago I did do-it-yourself bicycle fitting measurements at http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO. You might want to do the same, if you haven't yet. Try to be as accurate with your measurements as practicable--you will need some assistance from your wife on some of them. The suggested results are very good in my own experience. I especially followed the BB-Saddle Position, Saddle-Handlebar, Saddle Setback suggestions, and I can say that the bike fits so much better. I now ride so much easier anatomically-wise. This document explains it all: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pdf/fit_details.pdf

If you shorten the reach, or raise or lower the cockpit and move the saddle, that may affect handling, but not really by just moving the saddle.

Not that either....in any consequential way.