6 Things You NEED to Know About Saddle Setup - BikeFitTuesdays
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- Check out James' shop and book a bike fit here: www.bicyclerichmond.co.uk/
0:17 Saddle Height
3:13 Saddle Setback
7:34 Saddle Tilt
12:00 Saddle Width
14:29 Pressure Relief Channels
16:04 Types of Saddle
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Thanks for the help. Even after the video I couldn't find proper alignment, so I just ended up taking the seat off. Now I just squat right over the shaft. It took a little getting used to at first, but it's breaking in nice.
I find these saddles very uncomfortable. I am 75 and my genitals are under constant pressure. Please give a diagram of where should one sit to go a long way. I believe saddle geometry needs to be totally redone, because the uncalled for protrusion in the front is a hassle for old men with dangling scrotum.
On UK roads?! God help you when you hit a pot hole 😳
Grease the shaft
Lmao. 😂
Fellas, I made a 10mm adjustment on my seat post. Didn't feel like I was toeing down previously but my hands were getting fatigued. And I leveled the seat to zero horizontal. Unbelievable change! I've been cycling for 30+ years. Next time I'm in the UK, I'm making an appt. Seriously, thank you.
These BikeFitTuesdays videos are so informative and well presented - thank you for all the info you share!
Thanks for watching Tommy 👍
Mary Spender! Weird how two separate circles come together. She's a fantastic guitarist for those who haven't heard of her
Seen her often on Anderson's guitar channel, very surprised to see her here... without a guitar!
Same! Didn't know she's a road bike enthusiast.
I thought I was going crazy 🤣
Wonderful stuff Francis & James! Absolutely loving how much insight and experiences you guys are sharing and much appreciated. Keep them coming!
So many bike fit videos talk down to the viewer...repeating, ad nauseum, "it's beyond the scope of this video." This is so clear and helpful. Cheers
I juat wanna say back in August on the basis of these these bike-fit videos, I bought a Selle Italia Boost SLR Superflow and have found it to be wonderful. I'm thankful for these videos.
curious, did you buy the 130 or 145mm version? and how large of a human are you? :)
@@consistentwinner 145, I'm 181cm tall and I have I'd say above average width hips for a guy my height.
More useful stuff from James, saddle is the only area I still need to perfect. A revisit to James will be on the cards for next year. 👍
More really informative content, teaching me a lot about the complexities of setting a bike up correctly. There's a very good chance I'll be booking myself a session with James in the new year to benefit from his undoubted skills in this area.
I have to give credits to James and Francis here ! Great content on the bike fit Tuesdays. I love cycling, but always had some issues due to physiology, had some bike fits, but they were basically all crap. Unfortunately I can't afford to travel to the UK just for a fit, and (understandibly) James does not do "zoom" bike fits.
Still, following the tips here, I was able to experiment with my position (and more important shoes) and am now almost pain free and having the most fun on the bike ever !
I can't thank you guys enough for this !
Thanks for the good info, James! Wonder if you might consider addressing the benefits and drawbacks of using a leather saddle. I switched to a Selle Italia leather saddle a few years ago, and it's been a game-changer.
It's crazy how all your videos are jam-packed with top quality info. Simply invaluable. Thanks for sharing!
I have had several bike fits over the years and watch a lot of videos. Your videos are very descriptive and just make sense.
Best bike fitting channel by a mile.
Always really informative and very well explained.
Yep. The straight seat post has worked a treat for me since James made that adjustment. Top man 👍
In a world with so many idiotic bike fitters, it’s wonderful to hear from James who is truly helpful. Thank you so much.
These are always so well done. Please have more James on days other than Tuesday.
I was born and raised in New Jersey (USA) and I talk fast. I am not in the same league as Francis and James. Love the subject matter and expertise in all the videos even if I have to pause and go back a couple of times. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year to all.
Incredible video absolute genius stuff.
One of the best explanations one can find on CZcams currently.
Superb stuff keep it up need more videos from You two gents.
This was super helpful. I’ve been on a Fizik Arione for many years and definitely get numbness on any ride of around an hour or more unless I consciously move right back on the saddle and get on my sit bones, and sit more upright, exactly the type of ‘compensation’ you’ve described. So I think I need a bike fit to check my position first and possible cut out saddle to get comfy.
How honest, practical, informative & appropriate todays BFT was 👏 Such sound advice and tips👌...... Francis, you'll have get James up to the Toon for a few days in 2022 ( just say its a "cycling holiday" 😉).
clear, concise, precise. I wish i can be as eloquent as James. Thanks for these content
You are great at explaining things, and you're little story interjections are refreshingly funny. I love your videos, please keep them coming
Another great video from Francis and James. James is such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic presenter I am happy to watch even if I don’t have any issues with the current episodes subject matter. I do actually get a sore butt after about 1.5/2.0 hours of riding and find that if I just stand up for 20-30 seconds it relieves it-probably just blood flow-unless James knows different?
Maybe do some sciatic nerve stretching, it helped me a lot.
What I really like about the SMP Dynamic is the fact that it does not allow for any kind of wrong positioning on the saddle. It is like a vise that gives you a more or less gives fixed position to craddle yourself into and I guess that is why it needs to be setup with more care than other saddles. All other issues that usually cause saddle-problems can then be sorted out as you will feel them instantly because you can't compensate any longer for them by slipping and twisting on the saddle. In the end, with bike, shoes and everything else adjusted properly, you can then even go back to something more conventional and less cringeworthy looking if you feel so inclined.
I am a 138 pound male at 5'5" and found the SMP evolution (2* nose down) to be the most comfortable saddle for me, despite their attitude towards the SMP's.
Only started watching these the other day, hooked by them. Excellent information
Great Job James, You have pointed me in the right direction Soo many times!!!! and Thanks too Francis!!!
Great informative vlog from James. Thanks.
I have learned more about setting up my bike from these videos than anyone I've found. Because of this I'm enjoying my road bike more than ever.
💪👍
Wonderfully practical. Hearing more from James about troubleshooting various issues, like ulnar nerve pain, how people ride in the fit studio vs real life, and maybe the future of AI bike fit tech would be insightful.
This was the best saddle video I have ever seen!!! Thank you so much!!!
I enjoy very much to hear this guy talking.
He knows what he is talking about. No cliche here, only deep experience!
You're awesome. I'm binge watching a ton of your videos right now 😆
Thank you sir, I’ve learned a lot from you today. Definitely subscribing to this channel. Cheers!
Well, apparently the Selle Italia Boost SLR is good and James mentioned it twice. So, i had to go and get one and, how do i say this, it is indeed pretty nice! Saddle is sorted :D
Check first which one is the right fue you I have the 130 mm switch to 145 mm try them both see and
I wish you were much closer to me (Las Vegas), because I'd book an appointment in a heartbeat. This is only the second video I've watched here, and I absolutely love what I see. Thank you!
Awesome as always boys!
Brilliantly explained
James’ content is always on point, easily one of the best on cycling fitting on the Tube! I’ve learned a lot!
Easily the best saddle video out there.
Amazing content informative useful and fun to watch. Thanks
very informative great videos and information keep up the great work
Excellent video!! Thanks
Such great info! Not certain I know how to apply it, but it educates me more than I was 30 min ago. I am a Bike Pro in Texas. I was racing in MT on a new bike and saddle and at mile 24 I stopped my bike on side of highway in the middle of the race and ripped my bike shorts down and gave myself an inspection to see what the heck was goin on down there (spectators were thrilled)... decided to pullout of race get to phone and called a DR! Saddle had excessive padding. Get fitted later and told I need a Power Comp 168mm,,, too wide! It did however cure my soft tissue issues, but made riding obviously sub-optimal. My sitbone width has now been measured over 50 times using everything from cardboard and tinfoil to a Ratul machine and every contraption inbetween and I measure 111-118mm depending on which Vudu contraption you believe . So that is according to Ratul a 143 saddle or almost a 155 saddle. The 143 saddles make me feel like I am going to fall off the side so I am on a 155 as of this week. Because just like James said I cannot get my saddle tilt correct I find myself sitting off to one side because my "boys" can't find a happy place in the middle. I stuck with Specialized and decided that when I road the 155 Power Comp (in parkiing lot) that my hamstrings still rubbed wings of saddle, so I had been told the Power Comp was laterally flat, but a Power Arc was rounded and so one was a "plank" and one was a "log" feel... I went with the log feel thinking it would help with the hamstrings not hitting the wings. I am now on the 155 Power Arc Expert and it has a flared up rear which makes me tend to slide forward... ugh... anyhoo like James said (notice a "like James said" pattern here!) my sit position is more of a constant compromise to avoid this or that... I am going to level the "middle third" of the saddle tomorrow and see if that cures things and see if my saddle it too high as I run it a little high because likeJamessaid some of us went a bought a bike that is too big for us and if my knees are too bent I get knee pain... the journey with the Marquis de Sade continues... thanks James for all your help!
Sounds like you need slightly shorter cranks
It's not a beginner's video, but it's full of hot and useful information. I'm kind of a micro-adjuster of my bike, and know that a few centimeters is the distance from heaven to hell in bike riding, with pain, inflammation and etc. Great video.
@JamesThomas, @bicyclerichmond love your videos. Went from Spez Power Arc 143mm to a Pro Griffon Team 142mm and the change in comfort was immediate as well as pressure on my hands/hoods virtually gone. Also went for a 38cm width bar and it's a match made in heaven. I've always had a 42, then a 40 and after your vids a 38....hooray! Thanks for all the tips!
You still on the griffon?
@@hankschrader2353 I am. Still going well.
Epic! Thanks for all that!
Great vid - lots of saddle adjustments to play with in 2022. What’s your opinion on Garmin’s Cycling Dynamics? I use their Vector 3 double-sided power meters, and would like a better understanding of the power phase and platform center offset measurements, and how it relates to bike fit. Hope everyone has a happy New Year!
Would be great to have a TT/Triathlon specific bike fit video! 👌🏼
I wish I lived closer to James as I would surely drop by.
About saddle type, I find pressure relief channels very uncomfortable as a result of pressure concentration along the girth of the channel itself. I'm now very comfy with flat saddle without channel.
Thank you for the great info!
About 2am on Sunday morning I had a new insight about bike position. Straighten the abdomen. I'd had my first ever cluster of gallstones over about 14 days after 25 years of having them 2 or 3 times a year. On Friday, I suddenly thought to force myself into ten press-ups, kettle swings, plank, back to press-ups, etc. After a few sets, gallstones vanished. Felt fantastic. Did same on Sunday night but gallstones popped out after one set of press-ups! Googled it and got papers from Swedish Journal of Gastroenterology based on studies of huge numbers of men in Korea. Sitting, crunched up (as in curled up on bike which used to trigger gallstones occasionally) stops the bile flowing. Stretching the abdomen straight while pumping away in an effort (press-ups, planks, kettles, bike) is amazingly helpful. It will affect how I modify my bike set up this week (will build an adjustable jig based on a fit of about 20 years ago and work the jig measurements in relation to whatever works for straight abdomen). Aiming for 100km per day for a week as a test. Then will think about a new pro fit, being 67 now
It's almost worth flying to the UK to get a fit with James. Great tips and info.
Lots of people have!
Thanks for watching 👍
Your videos are always loaded with great information / recommendations one query regarding saddle tilt. You mention measuring across the saddle from rear to tip with a maximum 1-2 degrees of downward tilt for some saddles this could result in saddle nose tilting up slightly if measured from centre.
I love my short saddle, prologo scratch m5, eliminated leg rubbing, feels great
Solid watch game James, love speedy on leather.
I have a Selle Italia pro link genuine gel saddle without pressure relief chanel (but with a soft part where normally pressure channel is).
First saddle on my first road bike, I've been using it for years and it has served me well, no problems at all and actually quite comfortable for me. My hips are crazy flexible rotating outwards but longitudinal axis is limited somehow.
I do run it quite forwards, yes I know this adds pressure to my handlebars but I ride fine like that. I don't know why it feels good so I'm probably keeping this saddle and possibly shapewise very similar saddles on my future N+1 bikes (maybe yes with a pressure relief channel)!
The Deda seatpost shown is not 25 mm setback but 12 mm, I have one and I really like it so far, nice middle ground especially for steeper seat tube angles.
Some things I’ve noticed in my personal setting up is that if the seat is lower or , I sit far back it messes with my ability to breath properly especially when climbing (which is a huge issue as it helps me climb faster and not blow up into a long climb).... when I used smaller cranks this was less an issue. Also I found there is a sweet spot for me with height and set back where I can get a good lift on the up stroke at the same time a good push down on the down stroke, it seems to be where the the load is spread fairy evenly between the glutes, hamstrings and quads.
Great stuff Francis and James! Thanks for sharing your know-how and and more importantly explaining the reasoning behind it. I was wondering how you go about defining a reference point on saddles for measuring saddle height/set back. There seem to be different approaches that lead to mixed results in terms of consistency. Selle Italia came up with their BRP (where the saddle reaches a width of 70 mm) which is supposed to work for most saddle brands!? Others suggest finding the widest point of the saddle +5mm towards the nose - because this is where the sitbones are. These methods are certainly better than just measuring along the seat post, but I am curious what your thoughts are for establishing a reference point to replicate the same saddle position across different saddle shapes and brands. Cheers!
Awesome video
On saddle width, I agree with the assessment and I think the main problem is the lateral curvature across many saddle designs. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the 'effective' width (i'm not sure if that's a real term or not), i.e. the width of the saddle utilised between the sit bones
You talked about the curve of the saddle nose to tail, but not laterally and I think that's where a lot of issues/confusion with saddle width arise. Let's say you had a saddle that was pan-flat laterally, in this case a 135 might work for you. If you then switched to a 135 that was curved across its width, your sit bones are going to sit lower on the wings and then the middle pushes up into you soft tissues, so it seems like you need a 145. Does this make sense?
and that is why james is a legend...
Ooof one of the best BFTs so far
Also I love how James does a cross-eyed thing every time he quotes "opening up the hips" 2:28
Yep, I have a short torso and short legs so I have a zero setback seatpost. Yay to my fitter!
very useful stuff.
James has surprisingly good comedic timing.
Genius at work. Xx
Hi, Francis! Thank you for all the content!!!
This isn't related, but would you be able to do a power meter video? I'm not sure if there are only a few that are actually good and I should focus on.
Thanks!
Tremendous! just need to start applying some of the principles from the last 2 videos. Hand pressure issues, numbness in my toes and saddle pressure problems 😞 Bike fit would be lovely, but unlikely.
How cool y'all had Mary Spender on the fit machine. She's so talented. Love her music vids.
Great learning this way, I will defenitly use your tips conserning the shoes... luckily for you I live in Flanders, otherwise you would have to throw me out of your shop before closing...seriously, job well done... 👍🏻👍🏻
Keeping all in mind you told us about shoes I purshased a pair of GAERNE HURRICANES MTB/Gravel shoes....thx again for the excellent educational vid...👍🏻
Love these videos so much. I have several bikes for specific purposes (gravel bike packing, road touring, city grocery getter) and for years I have been trying to dial them in with one bike feeling amazing to ride and the others becoming torture quite quickly. Watching your fit videos help me make more educated adjustments to make each bike fit for purpose instead of trying to make every bike a (less comfortable) mirror of my old road bike. I'm cursed with having average legs, a short torso and gorilla arms, no standard bike out there fits me well. It was incredibly frustrating because I'm a trained bike mechanic but proper fit was never really something I learned.
Im so ready for bicycle. richmond James approved certification. Lol
The biggest difference and improvement I've had with saddle comfort was changing the saddle angle. My seat was level from front to back, when i lowered fhe front part immediate improvement. Been adjusting to find the right angle that is just right, I have adjusted height and forward and backward position.
Very useful video again. What about the „rule“ that you should be able to lift your hand up from the handlebars whilst pedalling an be balanced (don‘t feel the urge to get back down on the handlebars)? What about advice on saddle width based on pressure measurement on the bike?
On the „make selling things more scientific“ thing: Wherever I see simplified measuring devices and a wall with „pick one of 3“ products behind it, I will leave the store. 2 real bike fits, before and after buying the bike were a real eye-opener.
The Selle SMP TRK honestly changed my biking life. Maybe it looks silly, maybe some people think it does not belong on a road bike, but damnit it just works for me. I have no idea how people can ride on these flat saddles that come with most road bikes.
Any chance we could get a TT/Tri specific episode? Thanks, these videos have helped me so much!
I have an SMH on 2 of 3 bikes. I had it dialed in relatively quickly. I haven't had numbness since. The 3rd has a Brooks, but it's low my low mileage classic.
I'm watching videos about bike fitment and start to watch this one and then randomly see Mary Spender who I follow for guitar tips!
Excellent video - I'm amazed how much was covered in the time; lots of great tips. However, WRT SMP saddles, I personally tend to run saddles quite rearward so they make my life easier as I don't need such offset posts. For me the angle is super critical, though once it's set all is good. Yeah, they look a bit odd, but when you're sitting on them you can't see them. If I'm ever in the UK again I might well visit. ;-)
I found the same...the shape tends to mess with your perception of angle....once set correctly they work great.
Great video. James, I have a question - have you ever fitted SQLab 612/611 saddle? It's surface looks like divide into three "shelves". I wonder what's your opinion about that saddle and how you would fit it for endurance bike and an individual with short massive torso and long legs :)
Maybe a vid on proper bib fit..how to know yours is the right size so the cushion/shamy actually does it job
Man, he’s good 👍🏼
Smart stuff.
Was totally NOT expecting to see Mary Spender in a bike fit video! 🎸
Great video as usual, especially as it addresses the problem that in some circles it seems the right thing to do to advise to run a higher than needed saddle. Maybe it must be a form of compensation for some, who knows.
PS I will not tell my fellow Italian countrymen saddle makers that you called them out! What did they call it, find the animal in you or something? It implied that if you are flexible you would have to ride with a posterior rotated pelvis and a bent spine. Odd.
I don't really know what it means, but I put an inexpensive Selle San Marco short saddle with a cutout on my Bianchi Oltre in place of the longer one that came with the bike. It's much more comfortable, I find, so now I'm thinking of trying the SLR boost that is similarly contoured. Since the San Marco is such a good fit, however, and I don't need to worry about weight or racing, I'm also inclined to just keep with what's working. If a saddle for 25 pounds is comfortable, though, in the end it's my bum that has to ride on it.
An Selle SMP TRK saddle worked for me....but yes the position has to be spot on.
Whoa! Bonus content from Mary Spender the guitar lady? Would love to see her ride with Francis up north.
You make greats videos! When are the best time to be on calp for riding? I am going to calp tomorrow for the first time.
Any thoughts on 'BiSaddle'? It's a saddle of two halves that can be 'infinitely' adjusted for width, channel size and nose width.
Great video once again ! What’s your thoughts on SQ labs saddles ?
If I were into road bikes and lived in Britain, I would go to this guy for a fit.
Miss the videos with James
I love the Toupe saddles. I wonder why Specialized stopped making them, given their popularity
Nice to see Mary Spender starring in your vid :)
Would love to see a video on Q factor as I’m thinking about buy the assioma shi but are unsure due to the Q factor
We have a video on q factor here! czcams.com/video/VXH9oXoJeOc/video.html
General attitudes towards Selle Italia SLR vs ISM type saddles for road bikes with clip-on aero bars? Great video!