It is common sense that you have to get your bike to its right height. That way, it will improve your cycling performance. Also, it will make the riding experience more enjoyable. How you position your body also affects your riding performance. It can influence both the power you put on the pedals of the bike and your comfort level.
But, a comfortable position may still have little effect on the comfort level. So, you still need to go through the right-sizing of your bike and the ideal seat height. Our guide will give you the simple methods to answer your question: how high should my bike seat be?
Why is it Crucial to Know the Right Seat Height?
An ideal set of the saddle is most beneficial in increasing the efficiency of pedaling. Moreover, it prevents discomfort and injuries. Your bike’s height needs some easy adjustments that will allow your bike to get its greatest benefits. In fact, experts reveal that a variance of 1 to 1.5 centimeters from the standard saddle position can make a big effect on your energy level. Also, it can affect your whole biking experience.
Methods to Getting the Right Bike Height
The Heel Method
It is one way each bike specialist will tell you to try whenever you want to position your saddle correctly. All you have to do is to put the heel of your shoe on your bike’s pedal. Then, you have to set the height of the saddle by positioning your leg straight under the pedal cycle. Next, your pelvis should remain horizontal.
Even though this is the most conventional method, there is a scientific basis to support this one. Also, it will often lead you to a saddle height that is just too low for you. The problem with this way is that it does not take too much consideration into separate variations. It does not take into account the foot, femur, and tibia length.
The 109 Percent Method
It is a more active strategy created by Hamley and Thomas in the year 1967. The duo conducted an experiment on various saddle heights. Then, they ultimately discovered that the perfect way to get the right height is to position the seat at 109 percent.
It means that you have to place it 109 percent of your inseam length as you measure the pedal axle going to the top. Your inseam dimension will serve as the measure from your crotch going to the ground. To compute for this, you have to face the wall.
Then, place a thick book in between your legs. You have to make sure that you are standing correctly with your heels on the ground. Put a line above the tip of the book. It has to touch the wall.
The distance from the ground to the line is your inseam measurement. For more accurate results, you may want to measure it a few times and take the average dimension. It is the most popular method approved by experts and coaches.
The LeMond Method
It is also a traditional strategy aside from the 109 percent method. Three-time Tour de France winner Greg Lemond pioneered this technique. Moreover, you need to utilize the inseam length as a guide for LeMond method. The formula can calculate 88.3 percent of your inseam length. You can use it to compute the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of your saddle.
Experts revealed that this would produce a different seat height than that of the 109 percent strategy. It may seem to work for some people. However, it may not be ideal for people with longer femur bones.
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The Holmes Method
The technique helps lower down injuries in cycling. Also, Holmes strategy covers a different approach when it comes to measuring the right seat height. However, before you start with this method, you have to use a device known as the goniometer. It measures the angle of your knee joint under your pedal stroke. The strategy suggests an angle between 25 to 35 degrees and closer to 25 degrees for people with patella tendonitis.
The approach may sound quite technical. However, research by Pelever has shown that setting your bike’s seat to a 25-degree angle breaks the other methods. More professional cyclists recommend people to use a goniometer and a 25-degree angle.
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Conclusion
Changing the height of your bike is probably one of the easiest adjustments you can make. However, this one brings so many benefits. You need to find the right saddle height to increase your efficacy when paddling. Plus, it improves comfort and helps avoid injuries.
Thus, making sure that your bike has the right height is one of the utmost importance. It does not only provides you strength, but it also enhances your overall riding performance. So, you will do not want to ignore your bike height!
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