How to Determine the Correct Saddle Height for Your Bike

Finding the right saddle height will make you more efficient on the bike and will help prevent knee pain or injury.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bike Shorts
• Bike Jerseys
• Bike Shoes
• Bike Tools
• Bikes
• Allen Wrenches
• Bikes

1. Put on your regular cycling shoes.

2. Sit on you bike. Stabilize yourself by placing one hand on a table or counter.

3. Swing the pedals around to the bottom of the pedal stroke.

4. Place your heel on the pedal.

5. Adjust the seat height so that when your heel is on the pedal, your leg is perfectly straight - this way, when the ball of your foot is centered on the pedal, you will have the right amount of bend in your leg.

6. Fine-tune the fit. Put your feet on the pedals so that the balls of your feet are centered on the pedals, and pedal backward. Do your hips rock back and forth? If so, the seat is too high. Conversely, if you feel cramped, it is probably too low.

7. Go for a ride. If you don't have a quick-release seat, bring a 5-mm Allen wrench with you.

8. Fine-tune the seat height during the ride. Experiment a bit, and go with what feels most comfortable.

Tips & Warnings

• Mountain bikers may want the saddle slightly lower, especially if they ride a lot of difficult terrain.
• Knee pain in the front of your knee can often mean your saddle is too low. Knee pain in the back of your knee can often mean your saddle is too high.
• As you get in better shape, you may find yourself raising your saddle a bit.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike.

Who Can Help:

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[sadiemay]

on 5/22/2009 Mark: My husband died from head injuries received in a fall. Please, wear a helmet.

[candym]

on 12/22/2008 Mark, you said: "In the UK cycling has a similar safety record to walking, so why the warning to 'always wear a helmet'?"
Have you ever seen what happens to a head when it thumps pavement hard? Take a watermelon and drop it onto the ground.

If your head doesn't split open, you can receive traumatic brain damage.

Wear a helmet.

[Mark-T]

on 4/24/2008 In the UK cycling has a similar safety record to walking, so why the warning to 'always wear a helmet'?

[Mark-T]

on 4/24/2008 In the UK cycling has a similar safety record to walking, so why the warning to 'always wear a helmet'?

[Mark-T]

on 4/24/2008 In the UK cycling has a very similar safety record to walking, so why the warning to 'always wear a helmet'?