To outsiders, people who often ride bicycles usually have high saddles, but such a height is necessary in actual riding. Of course, this height may be an optical illusion.

Bike design makes saddle look taller

Newer road bikes often have tighter geometry, which means the top tube of the bike is sloping more downward. Such a compact body allows more of the seat post to be exposed on the top tube, making it look taller than older bikes.

The handlebars of road bikes are particularly low. If there are two bicycles with the same height seat, the lower handlebar will obviously give people the illusion of a higher seat.

The seats of ordinary riders look relatively high, which is largely a visual illusion.

Similarly, the saddles of professional riders look higher, often because their handlebars are lower and their bodies are more compact. After all, the height of the saddle is determined by the length of the rider's legs. Two people with the same leg length will set the saddle height to the same height, while a bicycle with lower handlebars will appear to have a taller saddle.



Bike seat height is important

Your legs are weaker when your knees are bent, and stronger when they're almost straight.

A lower bike saddle allows you to pedal with very bent knees, making riding at the same speed appear more strenuous. And a taller saddle (within reason) keeps your legs in a stronger, more comfortable range. Just like a squat, the further you go down, the more your legs will bend and the more tired you will feel.

Shoes and pedals will also affect the seat height

Riders with shoes and pedals have bikes that look taller. Because the cleats of lock shoes are often under the forefoot, connected to the lock pedal and fixed together. Recreational riders generally have the cleats positioned a little further back than the cleats of their shoes, which also causes the saddle of a rider with pedals to look a little higher.

NOTE: For actual riding, you should keep the ball of your foot over the center of the pedal, even if you are not pedaling with shoes.

bike seats

Set the correct saddle height

There are various professional and advanced technologies that can do a complete simulation test for you and customize a completely fitting height (accurate to the millimeter). As an ordinary person, there is no need at all, simple settings will do.

When you get on the bike, place the balls of your back feet on the pedals and ride slowly. If your knees are fully straight and you still have some pressure on the pedals, then this height is almost the right height.

If your knees are still bent, raise the saddle to adjust.

If your heels aren't pressing into the pedals, or you have to tilt your butt to stay pedaled, lower the saddle a little.

Many people are worried about bicycles. The seat is too high and their feet cannot touch the ground when parking. Therefore, when actually riding, if you want to park, you can park on the curb on the side of the road, or leave the bicycle to sit (standing after sitting for a long time can still Relieving the pressure on soft tissue) Standing parking is the safe and reliable way to park.