I am frequently asked when performing bike fits how to measure the saddle height and reproduce the fit if the seat post is moved or taken off. Here is a reliable way to reproduce bike saddle height or match saddle height bike to bike for a similar style bike (i.e.-road bike to road bike or cyclocross to cyclocross bike) with the same saddle. If two saddles are different, the seat heights may not directly transfer. Each saddle brand will have a different resting spot for your sit bones and the total length of the saddle may be different as well requiring some minor adjustments to the position.
A few easy steps will have you confidently positioning your saddle time after time.
1. Measure the length of your saddle
2. Place a piece of painter’s tape with the back edge at the midpoint of the saddle. For example, this saddle is 28 cm long. Place the back edge of the tape at the 14 cm mark.
3. Measure from the center of the bottom bracket to the back edge of the painters tape. Some modern cranks do not have a nice central crank bolt to measure from. In this case, pick a landmark on the drive side that is most central and use that each time.
4. You will want your saddle height to hit the back edge of the painters tape. For this example the target number is 74 cm.
So fear not the dreaded move of your seat post and move that seat post to put in your car or to perform the necessary maintenance to keep your seat post from seizing up in the frame. Once you have your saddle height dialed, you can always wrap a piece of electrical tape just above the seat collar for an easy reminder of saddle height.
Ride on and visit ptbikefitllc.com often
