Small Frame & Saddle Setback

I thought this warrant a topic on it's own, a lots of small frame tend to have a ridiculously steep seat tube between 74-75 degree than the norm's, which in itself isn't a problem as modern saddle have a long rail enough to set it further back (or forward Gaston style) however for those who choose saddle such as Brooks are outta luck.

Here's a few solution I've aquired from the forrum and elsewhere, using the narrow rail of the Brooks saddle as a benchmark to the setback required;

[STRIKE]SJS Micro Adjusted 40mm Setback Seatpost.
edit: turn out SJS don't have anymore in stock, and doubtful they'll return, very fustrating, the only other choice I know of so far is the expensive Nitto S84 Tokyo Fixed and Freshtripe sell.[/STRIKE]

**edit II: **turn out that the setback in the Nitto is almost identical to the Velo Orange one, despite the mount being further away on the Nitto seatpost, the clamp is much larger than the VO's one which are very narrow.
If any one of you know of a 40mm setback seatpost, do post it here.

Idea for frame with 75 degree.

Velo Orange Grand Cru 30.2mm Setback

Idea for frame with 74 degree or less.

These two are the most readily available solution, the Velo Orange can be fetch from Freshtripe and Tokyo Fixed, I don't know when the SJS will be back in stock, I'm waiting to hear back from them about this.

Another solution is an adaptor that go on top of your normal one bolt seatpost, a cruel but effective solution;

VK Saddle Adaptor, they're about £23 and SJS sell them.

If you liked your Brooks saddle but want to keep the seat post, the Selle Anatomica is regarded as the "better" Brooks B17 with a huge amount of rail as seen on the photo;

Available in the States I'm afraid, but Tokyo Fixed should import them, should as I asked them two years ago, not sure if they'd do it again.

Idea for frame with 74 degree or less.

I have never given saddle setback a second thought. My seat tubes have always been in the region of 73 -74 degrees, my Cinelli has a seat tube angle of 74 with no saddle setback. Why would I want saddle setback what is the advantage? As far as I can tell the only difference it more weight on my arms.

V

which in itself isn't a problem as modern saddle have a long rail enough to set it further back (or forward Gaston style) however for those who choose saddle such as Brooks are outta luck.

Thanks Ed, I do have this prob with my Brooks. Very helpful.

I have never given saddle setback a second thought. My seat tubes have always been in the region of 73 -74 degrees, my Cinelli has a seat tube angle of 74 with no saddle setback. Why would I want saddle setback what is the advantage? As far as I can tell the only difference it more weight on my arms.

You need what you need- and obviously a steep seat tube works for you- so you may need a zero layback post on a 72' frame.

Kati needs more layback/setback on her small frame, as do most short riders (around 5' 3" and shorter) on small bikes- and this is a general and hence potentially interesting point for this section of the forum- small frames get to have apparently short top tubes by means of steepening the seat angle- a dishonest or ignorant practice in my view.

see also Sheldon Brown on this and Rodriguez Bicycles FAQ has some intelligent comments.

I have never given saddle setback a second thought. My seat tubes have always been in the region of 73 -74 degrees, my Cinelli has a seat tube angle of 74 with no saddle setback. Why would I want saddle setback what is the advantage? As far as I can tell the only difference it more weight on my arms.

Interesting one this. Moving the saddle back means you sit further behind the pedals. Your weight is then further back in relation to your feet (which are in a fixed position), changing the angle of your legs. Assuming the handlebars are also brought back so the reach is identical, this puts less weight on the arms.

It helps to imagine the extreme case where the bike basically becomes a recumbent, with the seat way behind the pedals - you'd be pulling on the bars not leaning on them.

edited main topic.