How to Adjust Your Road Bike Seat

Road bike seats need to be properly adjusted to get the best performance and comfort.

Bicycle seat comfort is a major consideration when adjusting your bicycle to fit your body. Because cyclists who ride road bikes spent long periods of time on their seat, seat comfort is a primary concern. Besides comfort, improperly adjusted seats can result in inefficient pedaling. Road bikes have three main adjustments including height, pitch and horizontal position. Knowing how to adjust your road bike seat in these three areas will maximize riding comfort and efficiency.

Things You'll Need

• Allen wrench set
• Fixed wrench set

Instructions

1. Loosen the bolt on the seat tube of your road bike. The bolt will require either a fixed wrench or an Allen wrench. Loosening the bolt will allow you to raise or lower your seat post.

2. Raise or lower your seat to the desired height. As a general rule you should just be able to touch the ground when you are sitting down on the seat. Do not raise your seat post above its maximum height. At least 2 inches of the seat post should remain inside the seat tube.

3. Adjust the pitch of the seat by loosening the pitch bolt underneath the seat. A perfectly horizontal seat is a good starting point.

4. Move the seat forward or backward by loosening the forward position bolt. Adjust the seat so that when your pedals are horizontal, your bent knee is positioned above the pedal axle.

5. Ride the bike for a few miles to check your position, making adjustments as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust your road bike seat properly before spending money on a new "comfort" seat. Most seat-comfort problems are the result of poorly adjusted seats, not poorly made ones.

• Tighten all seat bolts securely before riding. Loose belts may result in a seat that moves unexpectedly, causing crashes and injuries.

References

• Sheldon Brown: A Comfortable Saddle

Resources

• Jim Langley: Bicycle Seats Explained