Feet & a bicycle seat?

Question

Could someone please help concerning a question I have.

While sitting on a bicycle seat (stationary of course) should your feet be able to touch the floor - like should they be flat on the floor?
OR should you be able to touch the floor with the tips of your toes?
OR does' it matter whether your feet can touch the floor or not.

I cannot actually touch the floor with my feet while seated on my bike.....when I slow to a stop I just jump off my seat.....when I'm starting off I push off with my foot on the pedal at 2/oclock position, then move on my seat once I've got going.
I was taught this by a cycling instructor that I know.

Friends are telling me that I should be able to touch the floor while still sitting on my seat for safety reasons.
Is there a correct way?

old peculiar.......honey, I know my feet should touch the floor when I've stopped....unless of course I wanna land on my @rse.....please read the question again.......slowly now.

I HAVE had to stop quickly.....I just jump down from my seat.....

Answer 1

Generally, no, you feet will not be able to touch the floor. A stationary bike should be set up similar to a regular road bike. Basically you want the seat height set so that when you have one leg extended the leg is almost straight but the knee is slightly bent (you do not want to lock your knee). Also, the seat should be positioned such that when your pedal is in the 9:00 position your knee is perpendicular to the pedal and directly over it (and the ball of your foot).

If you have not already done so, go to your bike shop and have them fit you on your road bike. If I remember correctly, you are thinking about purchasing a new bike. Make sure they fit you when your bike comes in. They may charge for a full fitting, but it will be worth it.

Answer 2

As said by others, the most important thing is to have the seat fitted according to your pedalling stroke, just like you do on your road bike.

Your ankle should be able to touch the pedal when it is at six O´clock, (barefooted). Or, at six O´clock you should have your leg almost straight, with a slight knee bend to avoid and be able to deliver the maximum power in every pedal stroke.

If this setting allows you to touch the floor with your foot, tip toe, or not at all, that is secondary.
In my road bike I can touch the floor with almost half my foot, in my mountain bike, I can only reach it with my big toe. They have different geometries, but both seat are adjusted as described above.

In cycling it is the pedals our point of reference, not the ground. So adjust your seat according to that measurement.
That applies to a stationary bike too.

If you ride in the city a lot and have to stop and place your foot on the ground often, tip toeing could be annoying, so get off the seat and start pedalling as you describe you do. You are doing it correctly if that is the case.

Hope I have helped.

Answer 3

If you can, whilst seated, put your feet on the floor, then your saddle is too low, and you'll be bending your legs too much as you pedal.

With my saddle set just as I like it, the very tips of my toes can just about drag along the ground while I'm seated. That gives me plenty of pedalling efficiency (legs almost straight on the down-stroke), and when I stop for more than a few seconds (for which I can just balance on the spot) I slide off the saddle and plant my feet. Or stop by a kerb, so I can get one foot safely on the ground.

And, like you, I start from standing, and as I push off with my leading foot, I also push myself back into my seat.

I remember my cycling profficiency tests at school, and they told you then that you should be able to put both feet flat on the ground, and I suppose that is a sensible thing to teach children, but it doesn't allow for the most comfortable, efficient cycling.

Answer 4

No. You should not be able to touch the floor with your feet while standing.

The seat should be placed so that you can almost stretch your leg when pedaling. No matter if your bike has a tall bottom bracker or not, you won't be able to touch the ground.

You're doing the right things..

Answer 5

No, not really flat on the floor,when you pedal your legs should be nearly strait at the point they are most stretched so as to use the best possible the force you have, if your foot is flat on the floor then your knee will always be bent when you pedal and this will lead to you tiring quicker and your legs will ache, Take a look at the " Tour de France " and you will see

Answer 6

This is why some new bike companies have entered the market. Electra Bikes has a bike called the Townie:
http://www.electrabike.com/06_new/flash_index.html

It has , what is called, Flat Foot Technology.

By making the bike longer, it becomes possible to plant both feet flat on the ground, and still have proper leg extension ( so you knees aren't against your chest when pedalling).

There is no "correct way" to ride the bike you currently have- The bike must be radically re-designed, like the electra Townie.

Answer 7

Maybe, maybe not, and it doesn't matter. The seat height should be set so that your knees are slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Weather or not this will allow your feet to reach the ground is going to depend on the geometry of your frame and the size of your wheels, and isn't very important.

Answer 8

The old method of adjusting the saddle height is that while seated and stationary, the ball of your foot should support you, but with your heel just off the ground.It`s important to have the saddle at the correct height for you. Too high is dangerous , too low causes fatigue in your knees and makes the cyclist to wobble dangerously on the road,as can be seen everywhere. From what you say, your saddle appears too high by 30 to 40 mm.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

Your friends are right, you should be able to reach the floor with both feet, you need to to be able to stop safely.
if you can't lower the seat.
it's better to be safe than sorry, what if you needed to stop quickly?!