It’s new bike day, either you’re waiting for it to turn up, or you have it in your front room. 

Whether you’re a seasoned rider wanting a reminder or a new cyclist who needs some help, we are here to support you. In that vein, we’ve written a few guides to get you started. It’s not meant to be a comprehensive guide, just to get you moving and comfortable on your new bike. 

As always if we’ve missed something or if you need any further help, give us a call or an email on the contact form which you can find here and one of our team will be happy to help.

Continuing from our New Bike Guide, which you can find here. In these articles, we’re going to take a deep dive into some of the more important topics.

An incorrect saddle height can lead to knee pain, hip discomfort, and poor pedal stroke efficiency. Too high, and your hips will rock side to side, wasting energy. Too low, and your knees will overwork, leading to strain. In this article we’ll break down the steps to dial in your saddle height for maximum performance.

The right saddle height ensures you have good biomechanical efficiency by allowing your legs to move smoothly through the pedal stroke. When dialled in correctly, it:

1. Maximises power output by engaging the right muscles.
2. Prevents injuries, particularly to the knees and lower back.
3. Enhances comfort over long rides by reducing unnecessary strain.

Let’s get into how to find your ideal saddle height.

A simple way to get an initial estimate is the Heel Method:

1. Mount your bike and sit in a normal riding position.
2. Place your heel on the pedal and rotate the cranks backward.
3. Adjust the saddle height so that when your pedal is at the lowest point (6 o’clock position), your leg is fully extended without rocking your hips.
4. If your knee is still bent, raise the saddle. If your hips shift side to side, lower it slightly.
5. This gives a ballpark figure but isn’t perfect.

For a more precise adjustment:

1. Clip into your pedals (or rest the balls of your feet on flat pedals).
2. Rotate the cranks so that one foot is at the 6 o’clock position.
3. Aim for a 25-35° knee bend in this position.
4. Too much bend? Raise your saddle. Too little? Lower it.

Saddle height isn’t the only factor. fore and aft adjustments affect weight distribution, comfort, and pedalling efficiency.

1. Check your knee position: With your cranks level (3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions), drop a plumb line from the front of your forward knee. It should align with the pedal axle.
2. Too far forward? Move the saddle back slightly to avoid excessive strain on your knees.
3. Too far back? Move the saddle forward for better power transfer and control.
4. Test ride and tweak: Small adjustments (2-3mm at a time) can make a big difference in comfort and efficiency.
5. This step ensures your weight is balanced, preventing strain on the knees, hips, and lower back.
6. This method improves pedal stroke efficiency while reducing knee strain.

Troubleshooting Saddle Height Issues

Even with careful setup, you may encounter some problems. Here’s how to address them:

Numbness or Discomfort While Riding

• Possible Cause: Saddle height is correct, but saddle tilt or fore-aft position is off.
• Fix: Adjust saddle tilt to be neutral and ensure proper saddle setback.

Lower Back Pain

• Possible Cause: Saddle may be too high, causing overextension.
• Fix: Lower the saddle slightly and check core strength for support.

Struggling to Maintain Cadence

• Possible Cause: Saddle is too low, restricting leg movement.
• Fix: Raise the saddle incrementally and test ride to find balance.

Poor Traction on Climbs

• Possible Cause: Saddle too far back, affecting weight distribution.
• Fix: Move the saddle slightly forward to centre your weight better.

Ultimately it might take a ride to get this dialled in, don’t be afraid to change it if it doesn’t feel quite right.

Dialling in your saddle height is a simple yet critical step to maximising performance and comfort on your new bike. If you need any more advice, let our bike sales team know and we’ll do our best to help.