How To Adjust Mountain Bike Seat

The seat height is the distance from the ground to the top of the saddle. The correct seat height will be a matter of personal preference and will vary depending on your body proportions, riding style and bike type.

The rider should take a few test rides with different seat heights to find the right one. The rider should also make sure that their feet are on top of the pedals when they are at rest on their seat. This will ensure that they have enough leg extension when pedaling.

What is the correct height for a mountain bike seat?

The saddle is at the right height when your heel just touches the top of the lower pedal with your leg straight; your crank should be right at the bottom of its stroke. If you have to tilt to one side on the saddle to achieve this position, then the saddle is too high.^[1]

What is the correct angle for a bike seat?

The correct saddle angle is much more important than most cyclists realize. For example, lower back pains are a common issue for cyclists, and an incorrect saddle angle is often (part of) the problem. The guideline for the angle of your saddle is between 0 degrees (horizontal) and 4 degrees nose down.^[2]

Should you be able to touch the ground when sitting on your bike?

The height of your saddle is important for the most comfortable position and safe riding style. When you sit on the saddle, both feet should reach the floor and the balls of your feet should be touching the ground.^[3]

What happens if saddle is too high?

A saddle that is too high will cause the hips to rock back and forth. Not only does this detract from pedalling efficiency, but it can also be extremely uncomfortable. Discomfort can show up in your lower back or as knee pain (especially in the back of the knee).^[4]

Should my knees be straight when cycling?

Place the heel of your foot on the pedal, and then peddle backward until you reach the ‘six o’clock’ position, which is the down most part of the pedal cycle when your leg is outstretched in line with the seat tube. Your knee should be straight, with your leg fully extended.^[5]

Should your leg be fully extended on a bike?

Proper position: With your foot at the bottom of the pedal stroke, you should see a slight bend in the leg, reaching about 80-90 percent of full leg extension. This is true for road, mountain and hybrid bikes.^[6]

Why am I sliding forward on my bike saddle?

Women riders will generally want as little weight as possible on the saddle, and many men find the upward tilt uncomfortable. Of more frequent concern are downward-tilted saddles. These cause the rider to constantly slide forward, or brace themselves with their arms as long as they’re in the saddle.^[7]

What happens if your bike seat is too low?

A saddle too low usually means the hip angle between the torso and the thigh at the top of the stroke is restricted, which further diminishes the ability to generate force. And when force is generated, some of it is transferred into the knee instead of down to the foot, and this is a common cause of anterior knee pain.^[8]

How do you know if a mountain bike fits you?

Look for listed standover heights, and compare that number to your inseam. The difference between your inseam and the standover height should fall within the target ranges. (For example, if you have a 30” inseam, you’ll want a mountain bike with about a 28” standover height.)^[9]

Is it better to have a bigger or smaller bike frame?

Neither a smaller or bigger frame is better for everyone and generalizations in frame sizing are almost always risky. If your riding position is established first the best decision for you will likely become much more clear. Consider bike fit the holy trinity of comfort, power, and efficiency.^[10]

How do you tell if bike saddle is too far forward?

Signs That Your Fore Aft Saddle Position is Set Too Far Forward. If your saddle is set too far forward then you may be using your upper body too much causing tension in the shoulders and arms as well as having sore hands. You will be able to have a quicker cadence but you will tend to sit back on the saddle up climbs.^[11]

How do you tell if bike seat is too far back?

Pain in the back of both your knees (pain in one knee is a sign that your saddle is too high). Feet go numb (from “toeing” the pedals). Upper hamstring pain in both legs. Quads only feel like they are working on climbs as you sit more forward on the seat.^[12]