In terms of bike fit, seat height is easily the well-nigh basic and perchance the well-nigh of import measurement to become correct. With the correct seat height, riders will exist more comfy and able to produce more power than with an improper setting. The skillful news is, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to find the right saddle height, which can be used on pretty much any mountain cycle.

Why is mount bike seat peak so important?

For starters, an improperly set mountain wheel saddle superlative can lead to joint hurting, muscle soreness, and even saddle sores. Near riders tend to set up their seat superlative too depression, which results in burning quads on the climbs and overworked joints. Past raising the saddle up, the rider is able to become more extension out of their leg muscles, and the articulatio genus joints aren't forced to curve as sharply.

On the flip side, a saddle that is raised up too high can atomic number 82 to pulled hamstring muscles, hyperextended tendons, and even achilles and other foot problems.  Not only that, cornering and treatment suffer as the rider'due south center of gravity moves higher off the footing.

Beyond comfort and handling considerations, seat superlative plays a large role in power transfer on the bike. With the right saddle height, riders are able to produce the optimal amount of leverage with every pedal stroke, fugitive the muscle fatigue that is specially associated with seat heights that are as well depression.

How practice I find the right height for my saddle?

There are a couple easy of ways to get the right saddle height for a mountain bike. Both of these methods volition aid riders find a starting point, but it'southward of import to brand refined adjustments based on feel.

Start at the Hips

One quick and easy manner to find the right saddle height is to just stand next to the cycle and set the saddle even with the elevation of your hip bone. It's best to practise this while wearing normal biking shoes since this volition affect the altitude from saddle to pedal.

I found this method to work pretty well on a full suspension cycle I'm currently testing. Of course, every bicycle has a slightly different static bottom subclass height, so this method volition work ameliorate on some bikes than others. Remember, this is simply a starting betoken, and one time an exact seat superlative is determined, that measurement tin can be transferred to whatsoever wheel, regardless of bottom bracket height.

For riders who are used to riding with a saddle that's too low, hip height may come equally a bit of a shock. At least give this a attempt, and if later a short ride it feels uncomfortable (or unsafe), drop the height half an inch and effort again.

Measure Your Inseam

If you lot know your inseam measurement, you lot can multiply that measurement past 0.883 to get a crude idea of your saddle height (ie, the distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle). Personally, I'm not super confident in this number for a few reasons:

  1. Everyone calls this a "rule of pollex" or a "rough" judge for saddle height, merely the precision of the number (to the thousandth!) implies that information technology is very precise. Don't be fooled–it's but a starting point and is based on averages.
  2. Not everyone agrees on how inseam should be measured for this calculation. Should riders use their pants size, or actually measure from crotch to ground? Should the measurement take into account shoe height?
  3. The guess is off by a full inch for me. According to the rule of thumb, I should accept a saddle acme of roughly 31.75 inches, but my actual (preferred) height is 32.75 inches.

With the estimated saddle height measurement in mind, use a record to measure the distance from the centre of the bicycle's bottom subclass to the top of the saddle directly above the seat mail. Once more, go for a exam ride, and determine if you lot have the right superlative by looking for signs of hyperextension (too high) or muscle and joint fatigue (too depression). If this stuff feels fine, but you're feeling tippy or uncomfortable, read on.

Minimum Seatpost Insertion

When setting seat meridian, it's of import to ensure minimum seatpost insertion into the bike frame. Most seatposts have a minimum insertion line marked toward the bottom of the post, however, information technology can go rubbed off or covered with clay over time. Most seatposts will need to be inserted a good 3-iv inches to avert damaging the bike frame. This generally means the post should extend well beneath the joint where the elevation tube joins the seat tube. A longer seat post may need to be purchased to gear up proper seat height and avoid damaging the bike.

On the flip side, some riders may notice their seatpost is as well long to get a proper fit. For alloy and even carbon posts, it is oft possible to cut off some of the excess from the bottom to allow the post to be prepare lower into the frame. Some newer dropper posts are even cuttable, though be sure to cheque with the manufacturer.

While we're on the bailiwick, the numbered markings constitute on many seatposts (similar the ane pictured above), can be helpful for remembering where to ready a particular mail service on a particular bike, but they aren't standardized across posts. Not just that, every bicycle is unlike, so even the same mail service will register a different number depending on the bike. Seat height, as measured from the bottom bracket to the elevation of the saddle, is transferable to any bike and whatever postal service.

A Annotation on Dropper Posts

At present, one of the symptoms of a mountain bicycle saddle that is too high is reduced cornering control and stability, particularly on descents.  If everything else feels comfortable, don't lower that seat superlative merely still! This is precisely why dropper posts exist, and if you don't accept one, consider getting one. If you do accept i, utilise it oft.

For many years I rode with a stock-still seat post, and when I set my seat height, I compromised by setting the mail service a tad lower than the platonic height for me. The upshot was my treatment felt ok, but I certainly wasn't maximizing my power. A dropper post allows riders to become the all-time of both worlds, essentially offering the passenger multiple seat heights to cull from, depending on the circumstances.

When setting seat height with a dropper post, always be certain to ready the height based on the fully extended length of the post. There is no need to set up the lower height of the post; essentially, in that location is no height that's too depression for descending (within reason). This is why riders today are demanding dropper posts with more and more travel, and bikes with shorter seat tube masts to let maximum flexibility.

I found my seat pinnacle! Now what?

For bikes with a quick-release seatpost clamp, I recommend swapping the clamp for one that uses an Allen bolt. This is an inexpensive part that can salvage weight, but more than importantly, information technology ensures that no one (the rider included!) monkeys with the seat tiptop. Keeping a consistent seat height from ride to ride makes the rider stronger and more confident over the long term.

One time the seat summit is dialed, use a record measure out to find the bodily height using the method described in a higher place, and shown in the 3rd photo from the top. Memorize this number and use information technology for bike demo days, rental bikes, and fifty-fifty swinging a leg over a friend's bike.

What's your saddle height, and what is your inseam to seat height ratio? Mine is 0.910, not 0.883. 🙂