adjusting saddle setback

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PoorCyclist
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Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:26 am
Location: California's country side

by PoorCyclist

Plumb bobs and such is fun to play with, I have a general starting point of 5cm behind BB for myself.
But everytime I setup a new bike or saddle, I eventually wanted to move the saddle so it fits under my seatbones better. It is like no matter if I set the thing far back or forward, my butt kind of wants to sit in the same spot in space. e..g if I put the saddle back more, I ended up sitting at the nose more instead of really sitting back.

I understand the setback is the first then you set, then the cockpit, but I am not buying this, if this was so important, everytime you change your setback, you may need a new stem as well.


So is there anything wrong with what I am doing? The new saddle is ok but it's kind of killing my butt so I want to push it forward a little (5-10mm) so that I get more contact.
Last edited by Frankie - B on Tue May 08, 2012 9:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: moved to road section

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fa63
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Location: Atlanta, GA, US

by fa63

PoorCyclist wrote:I understand the setback is the first then you set, then the cockpit, but I am not buying this, if this was so important, everytime you change your setback, you may need a new stem as well.


It is important and that is pretty much exactly what you need to do. If you need to sit further back without changing your reach, you just get a shorter stem.

by Weenie


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bones
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by bones

Go with the flow.

Wingnut
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Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:41 am

by Wingnut

I agree with fa63, get your setback on the saddle done first then add the appropriate length stem to match your previous position.

If your stem is too long on the new bike then it may pull you too far forward ruining your whole position.

Image

krusty
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:48 am

by krusty

If it were that critical, you wouldn't see countless pros and others compensating for a too-small frame by cranking their setback to the max. That being said, assuming your frame is close to the correct size (and not too big), the correct setback relates more to your fore/aft balance than any KOPS relationship. The KOPS relationship approximates the position in which you will not experience too much weight on your hands, and one in which taking your hands off the bars will not result in the need for a drastic rearward flinging of your CG to enable the move. The smaller the frame, the easier this move becomes. This is an over-simplification, of course, but the point I'm trying to make is that the plumb-bob is not necessary. Other aspects of the fit are more practical to evaluate, and sometimes the frame choice dictates some of the fit aspects and makes analysis of someone else's position difficult.

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fa63
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by fa63

krusty wrote:If it were that critical, you wouldn't see countless pros and others compensating for a too-small frame by cranking their setback to the max. That being said, assuming your frame is close to the correct size (and not too big), the correct setback relates more to your fore/aft balance than any KOPS relationship. The KOPS relationship approximates the position in which you will not experience too much weight on your hands, and one in which taking your hands off the bars will not result in the need for a drastic rearward flinging of your CG to enable the move. The smaller the frame, the easier this move becomes. This is an over-simplification, of course, but the point I'm trying to make is that the plumb-bob is not necessary. Other aspects of the fit are more practical to evaluate, and sometimes the frame choice dictates some of the fit aspects and makes analysis of someone else's position difficult.


Smaller frames generally have steeper seat tube angles, so you have to run more setback to achieve the required BB-saddle distance. this is why you commonly see pros on 25mm+ setback seatposts with their saddles pushed all the way back. Also, the right amount of setback doesn't have to result in satisfying KOPS; for instance, I have long femurs and I am well behind where KOPS would put me.

Valbrona
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Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

by Valbrona

PoorCyclist wrote:So is there anything wrong with what I am doing? The new saddle is ok but it's kind of killing my butt so I want to push it forward a little (5-10mm) so that I get more contact.


Make a flat saddle your starting point - determine this with a long spirit level. But note that some saddles might suit you more with a slight nose-up or nose-down position. We are only talking 1 or 2 degrees, but these small amounts sometimes impact significantly on position. Note that it is much more common for saddles to be positioned slightly nose-down, as opposed to nose-up.

And I am sure there are a lot of riders out there who would feel the benefits of saddles with more padding.

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Rick
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Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

It is an ITERATIVE process: you should adjust saddle position such that you end up with BOTH the seating position you feel best at (on your butt) AND the position in relation to the cranks that you feel proper (whether that is KOPS or not is another subject).

But Yes, you do end up needing to select a stem length that also gives you correct extension AFTER you have adjusted everything.

That's why I end up buying about half a dozen stems and reselling them on ebay! :lol:

I personally end up with a version of KOPS that is "front of kneecap over center of pedal spindle".

PoorCyclist
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Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:26 am
Location: California's country side

by PoorCyclist

I guess all I am saying is I wanted to move the saddle a little so it supports my butt more, since I drop a plumb bob from the tip of the saddle, it may not really mean too much to replicate between different saddles.

I don't feel that the stem is causing me to shove forward, enough time riding on the bar top would let me confirm it is not too far.

Finbar
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:31 pm

by Finbar

I ride a small Italian frame (48cm) with 7cm of setback.
Nose of saddle behind c of BB.
I have a 25mm setback post & an Arione slammed all the way back on the rails.
Most of the small frames I have aeen have a steep seat angle (74/75) with a slack head angle (69/72).
Any weenies know of asmall frame with slack seat and steeper head angles???

metanoize
Posts: 186
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:53 am

by metanoize

Finbar wrote:I ride a small Italian frame (48cm) with 7cm of setback.
Nose of saddle behind c of BB.
I have a 25mm setback post & an Arione slammed all the way back on the rails.
Most of the small frames I have aeen have a steep seat angle (74/75) with a slack head angle (69/72).
Any weenies know of asmall frame with slack seat and steeper head angles???


Interesting! How tall are you? I'm 170cm tall. But I can't really ride anything with less 75° SA angle. Take a look at the BMC SLR01.

Finbar
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:31 pm

by Finbar

I'm about the same height - 169cm.
Saddle height is 70cm, sitting behind the BB just seems to work for me

metanoize
Posts: 186
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:53 am

by metanoize

Finbar wrote:I'm about the same height - 169cm.
Saddle height is 70cm, sitting behind the BB just seems to work for me


Ah, I see! My saddle height is maxed out at 67.5. I'm sure we have different femur lengths, that's why you need more setback. Thanks

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Murphs
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Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

by Murphs

PoorCyclist wrote:I understand the setback is the first then you set, then the cockpit, but I am not buying this, if this was so important, everytime you change your setback, you may need a new stem as well.



Yes.

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