How to Adjust a Bicycle Seat

Having your bicycle seat at the proper level is important. A low seat will cause you to fatigue your legs quickly, while a seat that is too high will make your pedaling less effective and your bike harder to control. Fortunately, it is easy to adjust a bicycle seat to the correct height.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Stand near a wall, straddling your bike, with one pedal in the six o'clock position.

2. Sit down on the seat and balance against the wall.

3. Put your heel on the pedal in the low position, and your other foot on the pedal in the high position.

4. Observe what position your leg is in. It should be straight but not locked.

5. Get off the bike.

6. If the bike seat was not properly adjusted, open the quick release.

7. Adjust the seat. If it was too low, raise it. If it was too high, lower it.

8. Close the quick release.

9. Repeat the steps above until the bicycle seat is correctly adjusted.

10. Ride around a bit to make sure your bike feels comfortable at the new height.

Tips & Warnings

• On a mountain bike, you may want to be in a slightly lower position than on a road bike.
• Different riders have different preferences. See what seat height feels comfortable for you.
• Most bicycles made today have quick release seats. If yours doesn't you can loosen the bolts on it with an allen wrench and then tighten it again when you have finished.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!