London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

koens · 25th November 2009

just went and saw the nice guys at cyclefit who can't get me in till janurary

gave me a tip where he said to get the roughly correct saddle height, measure your inseam and minus 10cm or multiply by 0.9 and that shoul dbe height form bottom bracket to saddle.

said my saddle looked a bit low.

got back to work did the measurements and my saddle is higher than that figure! and it has been feeling a bit low but i've been to lazy to change...

Dutch Cheese · 25th November 2009

Saddle height = inseam x 0.885

Here is saddle height = BB centre - top of saddle

Of course it can be different for each person and for different conditions, but it's a rough guideline.

RPM · 25th November 2009

but what about crank length?

look, the easiest way to measure saddle height is to make sure you can drop your heel at the bottom of the pedal stroke, if your leg is locked out and you foot is only just level or pointing down, then your saddle is too high. Knee too bent and it's too low.

70% of the people reading this thread now have their saddles too high,

GA2G · 25th November 2009

I'm an expert on such matters, and would like to misguide as many of you as I can.

What I've found on my bikes, is that if the saddle height is exactly at the height of my navel, when I'm standing in normal shoes, the bike will be perfect for me. Of course this is ridiculous, but its how I roll. Or sizes 21-22inches, or 52-54cms, if one is Cherman, eats Le Pain, or any other such malarkey.

MrSmyth · 25th November 2009

so that doesn't take into account BB height, crank length or type of shoes/pedals.
i use my tumescent member as a guide. this has to be done totally naked at sea level and with a heamacrit level between 55 and 60.

kerley · 25th November 2009

If your leg is straight with your heel on the pedal with crank arm in line with seat tube then it should be close.

andy.w · 25th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmyth

so that doesn't take into account BB height, crank length or type of shoes/pedals.
i use my tumescent member as a guide. this has to be done totally naked at sea level and with a heamacrit level between 55 and 60.

What about atmospheric pressure?

MrSmyth · 25th November 2009

about 1000 mb give or take 50 mb is o.k.

Dylan · 25th November 2009

saddle height should be 76.5 using Dutch's equation. Actual height is 78cms which is most comfy for me.

andy.w · 25th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmyth

about 1000 mb give or take 50 mb is o.k.

Thanks. I'll wait until spring to set the correct seat hight.

vélo libre · 25th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmyth

so that doesn't take into account BB height, crank length or type of shoes/pedals.
i use my tumescent member as a guide. this has to be done totally naked at sea level and with a heamacrit level between 55 and 60.

being that the equation is based on inseam measurement, as gives you the height from the bb, bb heigh is irrelevant. given that crank length will only vary by about 10mm, and that is it only a guide, crank length doesn't really matter.

it is not meant as a perfect "make sure your saddle is this high to the nanometre" just as a starting point.

MrSmyth · 25th November 2009

thread reading/quote fail
bb height is relevant if you are using standing next to the bike and the position of your navel as a way to determine saddle height.

Smallfurry · 26th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmyth

thread reading/quote fail
bb height is relevant if you are using standing next to the bike and the position of your navel as a way to determine saddle height.

But what about navel height?
Mines quite high (relativly speaking). Should I line my 'pleasure trail' up with the seat post?

Crispin Glover · 26th November 2009

No formulas for me, just as high as I can get it without my leg locking up on the downward stroke *fnarr*

willski · 26th November 2009

Does it matter if you have an "in-y" or an "out-y"?

MrSmyth · 26th November 2009

i find kneeling on the ground next to the bike and placing the tip of the saddle level with my right eye and an outstretched arm touching the rear of the stem means the bike is perfect.
much better than getting a decent fit by a trained professional in a bike shop

Smallfurry · 26th November 2009

Seriously though the inside leg x 0.885 thing, gives you a great starting point. But the best position will vary. In fact, for me, it varies from bike to bike.
Some people might want to lower their saddle slightly riding fixed, as it can help with spinning.

I say do the math, and go for a ride carrying the appropriate allen key, to fine tune*.

(*totally not riped off from a previous Hippy post, honest)

Jaanus · 26th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

saddle height should be 76.5 using Dutch's equation. Actual height is 78cms which is most comfy for me.

Thus You didn`t measure Your inseam correctly. Apparently You were too lenient on Your balls.. lolz
Most framebuilders would tell You to measure Your inseam with a stick that is firmly pulled up against Your crotch, as if You`re trying to lift yourself with the stick. Agreed, it`s somewhat uncomfortable. But its used because it really shouldn`t matter how well You`re hung when choosing saddle height

Then the maths would have made sense and You`d have Your 78 cm.

Smallfurry · 26th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSmyth

i find kneeling on the ground next to the bike and placing the tip of the saddle level with my right eye and an outstretched arm touching the rear of the stem means the bike is perfect.
much better than getting a decent fit by a trained professional in a bike shop

Yeah, and if the bike makes a nice solid noise, when held by stem and saddle, and dropped 1". It is a good bike. Test rides pfffft.

(I also purchase stereo systems based solely on the smothness of the CD eject mechanism)

koens · 26th November 2009

hmmm, ok thanks... i think... will try RPM's method...

fruitbat · 26th November 2009

Take your inside leg measurement (without shoes) multiply by 1.09 and then use this to set the distance between your saddle and pedals.
Adjust as necessary.

CrazyJames · 26th November 2009

The cyclefit guys said the optimum saddle height is one that gives a 35-40 degree bend in the knee at the very bottom of the pedal downstroke.

Dutch Cheese · 26th November 2009

For 4-Cross, DH and BMX ?

25th November 2009	#1
koens	Saddle height? Inseam minus 10cm? just went and saw the nice guys at cyclefit who can't get me in till janurary gave me a tip where he said to get the roughly correct saddle height, measure your inseam and minus 10cm or multiply by 0.9 and that shoul dbe height form bottom bracket to saddle. said my saddle looked a bit low. got back to work did the measurements and my saddle is higher than that figure! and it has been feeling a bit low but i've been to lazy to change...
	quote reply

25th November 2009	#4
GA2G	I'm an expert on such matters, and would like to misguide as many of you as I can. What I've found on my bikes, is that if the saddle height is exactly at the height of my navel, when I'm standing in normal shoes, the bike will be perfect for me. Of course this is ridiculous, but its how I roll. Or sizes 21-22inches, or 52-54cms, if one is Cherman, eats Le Pain, or any other such malarkey. Last edited by GA2G; 25th November 2009 at 18:40. Reason: sausage rolls are lovely
	quote reply

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25th November 2009	#2
Dutch Cheese	Saddle height = inseam x 0.885 Here is saddle height = BB centre - top of saddle Of course it can be different for each person and for different conditions, but it's a rough guideline.
	quote reply

25th November 2009	#5
MrSmyth	so that doesn't take into account BB height, crank length or type of shoes/pedals. i use my tumescent member as a guide. this has to be done totally naked at sea level and with a heamacrit level between 55 and 60.
	quote reply

25th November 2009	#6
kerley	If your leg is straight with your heel on the pedal with crank arm in line with seat tube then it should be close.
	quote reply

25th November 2009	#9
Dylan	saddle height should be 76.5 using Dutch's equation. Actual height is 78cms which is most comfy for me.
	quote reply

26th November 2009	#14
Crispin Glover	No formulas for me, just as high as I can get it without my leg locking up on the downward stroke fnarr
	quote reply

26th November 2009	#15
willski	Does it matter if you have an "in-y" or an "out-y"?
	quote reply

26th November 2009	#17
Smallfurry	Seriously though the inside leg x 0.885 thing, gives you a great starting point. But the best position will vary. In fact, for me, it varies from bike to bike. Some people might want to lower their saddle slightly riding fixed, as it can help with spinning. I say do the math, and go for a ride carrying the appropriate allen key, to fine tune. (totally not riped off from a previous Hippy post, honest)
	quote reply

26th November 2009	#21
fruitbat	Take your inside leg measurement (without shoes) multiply by 1.09 and then use this to set the distance between your saddle and pedals. Adjust as necessary.
	quote reply

26th November 2009	#22
CrazyJames	The cyclefit guys said the optimum saddle height is one that gives a 35-40 degree bend in the knee at the very bottom of the pedal downstroke.
	quote reply

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