I know there's a bunch of threads on this already and I searched and looked through but didn't really find the direct answer I'd find with my own question answered.

Recently I've been worrying frequently about my saddle height, but I haven't been able to adjust it. I don't really know the perfect way to measure it and when I ride with my friends I ask them if it seems like it's too big of a bend of my knee at the bottom of my pedal stroke. I've had a little bit of soreness in my thighs and calfs but I guess that's expected when you're riding 20+ miles in one sitting.

I honestly don't know. It's pretty comfortable but I kinda feel like I could be putting a little more energy into each stroke as I pedal and I feel like I could gain a little more speed a little quicker. Help meeee!


This is her by the way. My friends rose my seat for me, but it was a little too uncomfortable and I got super tired so easily and was reaching for the pedals so I brought it down to a little over a half an inch. I'm only 5' 7'', I'm just super worried about how much better I could make it for myself, or worse. Hahaha, I'm a mess.

I always liked using the following as a good starting point.
Raise the seat until when your heels are on the pedals, your legs are completely extended. Then when I pedal with the ball of my foot it puts just about enough bend in my knee. Its a place to start...

Like with your foot pointing up and your heel on the pedal? I don't know what you're trying to say exactly haha.

I think the saddle should be a touch more horizontal.
And regarding height - I won't bother searching now, but just yesterday someone started a similar thread and someone else posted a very instructive youtube-video about how to proper set up the saddle on a bike.

eta: and please take those dorky reflectors off the pedals and install a front brake.

Hahah don't pick on my little reflectors. I actually didn't even notice them until you pointed it out. And no way! I love riding brakeless so much, so much nicer.

If you're talking about the youtube video of the guy from Performance Bicycle, I watched it and attempted to fit myself. I still can't tell if my legs at a 10 degree angle though. I just gotta figure this out and I'll be all good!

One of the places I have seen the heel toe thing.

"How to do it: The Allen bolt that holds the seat post in place is on the side of the frame by the base of the seat post. Pedal backward until one pedal is completely at the bottom. Your heel should just be able to touch the lower pedal with your leg straight so when you place the ball of the foot on the pedal (ball over the center of the pedal) your knee will bend. This is a great starting place for seat height"
https://www.caree.org/bike101bikefit.htm

Alright I'll definitely have to try that. I will next time, just gotta keep that measurement of 1/2 an inch so if it isn't comfortable, I can change it back to where it is or lower it. We'll see. I still need tipssssss guys. I want to not worry about it anymore hahah.

TROLL!!

How can we comment on your saddle height when we can't see you on the bike.

Someone posted a link to a youtube video (made by performance bikes) going through the fitting process in extreme detail!

You say no other thread in the WORLD answers your question, but you are just worried if your leg is bending too much (saddle too low). Figuring out saddle height is the most basic and widely covered thing on any bike forum.

Do you ask for advice on how to hold your cock when you take a piss to??? ****!

Once you've adjusted the saddle height approximately, the recommended next step is to adjust the fore-aft position. The usual test of Knee over Pedal Spindle (KOPS) is a starting point. After that slide the saddle back and forward until you get the best comfort and power for your riding style.

Hahah geez, over react much. I'm not saying no other thread answers it because a bunch gave me a few good tips, I just wanna get the saddle height perfect. Stop being so hard on me for no reason at all. And that analogy makes absolutely no sense.

1st: level out your saddle.
2nd: raise or lower you seat.
3rd: adjust the saddle on the rails

Don't ever listen to anyone telling you to adjust things a "tiny bit" or when something looks "a little off" while you're not on the bike giving a full profile shot in the drops.

That said, do you realize you've got road bars with short reach and drop? They may leave you feeling too upright, fooling you into thinking your saddle is too low.

109% of your true inseam (pubic bone to floor) = saddle height from top of the saddle to the pedal spindle.

That's as direct as it gets.