Where is the best place to sit on the bike seat?

Question

I know this is a strange sounding question... you should just sit on the seat... but it seems as if I have better performance when I move up on the nose of the seat, although it isn't comfortable. I have played with the fore/aft of the seat and believe I have it where it is needed, but I wonder if I shouldn't move the seat back a bit and sit more on the nose? I have fairly big legs for a cyclist and sitting more on the back seems to limit my performance, like my hamstrings are hitting the side of the seat more? I have tried to see where exactly the pros sit, but it is hard to tell.

Answer 1

you are not alone. if you noticed in the tour, during time trials if things are moving smooth, riders tend to slip to the nose of the seat. that is common.

to answer your question, you sit everywhere. comfort comes from moving around and is why drop bars are so important. changing hand and seat positions keeps you comfortable on the bike. most cyclists tend to move toward the nose when spinning on flats or downhills, and they tend to move toward the back when climbing. a good pair of cycling shorts also helps. for me, i am most comfortable on a narrow saddled with the center cut away, and yes, i end up on the nose a lot. with good shorts it really doesnt hurt or anything though.

Answer 2

Rex_ provided a very good answer. Actually, bike position is easy and complicated at the same time. Not knowing what type of riding your doing, weight, bike, saddle only a general answer can be made. Here is a list I quickly made:

1. Bike fit is very important and strongly related to the all bike ergonomics.
2. Saddle height is as important as #1 above.
3. Saddle style/model - I've tried 8 to 10 saddles over the last 10 years or so, $15 to $150 in price. Each butt has it's favorite saddle.
4. Determine what type of rider you are. Racer, conditioning, pleasure, road or mountian? If you ride a lot, 50+ a week or simply an ocassional 5-10 mile ride.

All this and more make a difference.

I'm an ex-ocassional racer road/mountian bike. Still ride hard for conditioning. I use a lightly padded Selle SLR. It has little padding, is narrow (a must for not having your legs rub as you stated) BUT it fits me and feels good. Wide saddles with thick padding will be very uncomfortable if you ride long and hard. They will cut off your circulation and not allow moving back and forward on your seat like Rex_ pointed out.

You should move around on your bars and seat, stand if even for 10 seconds every so often. Padding is far less important for comfort than fit. You don't generally want to sit on the nose of the saddle too long, it will hurt after awhile, but I do for very hard efforts like a time trial. You should be on your sitting bones most of the time (sitting back on the saddle) That reduces contact with the soft tissue and nerves in you crouch.

If you strech too far for your bars it will roll you forward onto your soft tissues/nerves. A saddle too high will cause rocking which will chafe your legs and give you saddle sores.

Remember there is a reason for most saddle models, if you try to use a comfort (big, wide and super padded) for performance/training/racing you will hate it. If you ride a couple times a year youd hate a racing or performance saddle.

'nuff said?

Answer 3

First of all, have you been fitted to your. Often cyclist have their seat nose tilted incorrectly or at the incorrect height. You also need to have the "stretch" measured to make sure you are at the correct length from seat to handle bar. Too long a stretch puts too much pressure on the pubic bone region, and to short puts too much pressure on the ischium, or tail bone. There is a golden zone that reduces the pressure. You also need to change position on a farely constent basis, including standing and cranking it out for awhile. Nothing worse than feeling like you have a 16 penny nail driven into your crotch on a long ride. Hang in there, find a good seat and position, and have your bike set up for you. It can cost up to $200 to have a complete fitting done, but the relief from pain is sooooo worth it. Crank-on!

Answer 4

Depending what you're riding. For climbs it's better to sit more on the nose of the seat, while on flats you move backward. On downhills, at least on mountain bikes, you tend to stand up.

Probably you should try raising your seat, I don't know how tall you have it. You should almost be able to stretch your leg when the pedal is at the lowest position.

Answer 5

On a mountain bike, when you are doing a steep climb, you want to move towards the front of the seat as you are leaned over the handlebars. It helps with the climbing.

Answer 6

personaly i like sitting right on the middle so it doesnt hurt your but or i like sitting on the back so its doesnt give you wedgies. or you could try standing up more