What’s the effect of having the saddle nose too far down?
More stress on quads, weight on shoulders. Less use of glutes?
What’s the effect of having the saddle nose too far down?
More stress on quads, weight on shoulders. Less use of glutes?
I was fairly sure this video did exist. Thankfully my search term in YouTube found it quite easily
My friend was doing some research on this that I took part in but changed jobs before publishing.
Anyway, there seemed to be some benefit from tilting the nose on long climbs, but hard to change during a race.
So more stress on quads then ![]()
Depends, TT or road?
TT but in aero and sitting up.
Not sure.
But pointed up way too far it, it is a painful insertion if you get out of the saddle and sit down wrong.
You have reminded me I need to book a bike fit, it is a pain in the arse though (see previous comment, although this is just a finding time thing) and its not cheap these days.
I’ve got two, can’t be arsed to reread them.
Different for everyone on every bike setup. Start with a spirit level and set at horizontal. Ride a bit. Change up or down a fraction depending on whether you are slipping forwards or saddle is pressing on your groin. Ride some more. Keep changing until you find what works for you. Probably slightly different for each bike. My preference is actually that all my bikes have very similar rider geometry (pedal to saddle height, nose to bar distance and nose to bar drop etc.), including saddle angle (very slight downwards angle for me) regardless of bike type. MTB slightly different case as they have dropper posts, but at full extension similar to the other setups. When riding flat out on level ground then all feel almost identical. I also have very similar saddles on all my bikes so they all feel the same - only difference is the MTB ones tend to have kevlar armour on the corners for when they get dropped or leant against walls.
my instinct is that the main problem with a sloping saddle is that you can slip off it. Or at least, have to expend energy and brain power not slipping off it.
More pressure where it hurts.
The best saddle I had (have) is/was a carbon one.
Makes you sit properly.
100%, I use the same Specialized Mirror saddles on the road and MTB. The saddles are set at 0° but the key part for me is that the setting is from the main part of the saddle where the pressure is based rather than the nose or rear of the saddle.
Basically my seats been angled down for god knows how long, I flattened it and all my trouble holding threshold disappeared. Instantly comfortable like it used to be too.
Such a schoolboy error. I usually check my bike set up at the beginning of each year. I can’t remember angling it down either, so could’ve been all last year I just don’t recall. But probably after I stopped cycling in July.
So now I’m wondering how it’s affected me physiologically, training like this for at least four months.
I’ve always found level to work well on my road bikes. On the TT bike, for TTing, a slight tilt down of 1.5deg, worked well when I had Ariones.
For IM, I went back to level because at some point I changed to a Sitero. Having said that, I had a different position overall for TTs, than I did for IM.
I had a fit session years ago with Scherrit Knoesen and strangely, one of things that reduced saddle tilt (or the need for it) was canting my insoles by 4deg.
I have a strange body type though, I have a long torso compared to my legs, plus my back means I need a position that wouldn’t suit many, relatively high but long, (rather than short). Which is why my TT bikes always looked a bit big for me on paper, but after having numerous TT bikes over the years, I found this worked.
Thought TT pretty much everyone would want a forward tilt to help rotate pelvis forwards in keeping with the rest of the position. I’ve seen 2-7 degrees recommended, and ride at 5d.
Too flat means you won’t be able to apply power effectively and close of your hip angle.
Too angled and you’ll be readjusting backwards feeling like you’re slipping off.
Preference will presumably link with how far over the BB you are.