How much performance difference does there tend to be by changing saddle height by small amount, even just a 1-2 mm change? Is the difference worth worrying about?
This might start off a fit issue, but I’m just curious since when I travel with the bike I have to remove the seatpost from the frame. I have it marked, and I’m pretty darn close to getting it back to where I was really comfortable, but I know that there will be a slight change. I can feel the difference when it’s not right, but sometimes I have trouble getting back to my ideal position in a short amount of time. For me, it all seems to be trial and error.
So, how much will a slight change effect my performance?
I’ve never noticed a difference in comfort or performance in just a few mm change, but have noticed that some other posters claim the contrary. Seems to be an individual thing.
i don’t know how much difference a mm or two may make but i do remember the worse ass cramps I ever had came after travelling. my seat was to high and my glutes cramped about mile 5 in the run.
I’ll have the new workout video out soon. “Rock Hard Ass Spinning Intervals” $29.95 and it’s yours!
1 mm may make a small difference in feel, 2 mm can be felt if you are well dialed in to your bike. I am not sure how much performance impact there is, but let’s just say that there is a HUGE difference between 172.5 and 175 mm cranks otherwise crank manufactueres would not sell them. Likewise, there is likely a huge difference if your saddle height changes by 2 mm. So to be thorough, just take some black electrical tape and mark off your saddle height. There is no reason why you can’t get it back to where it was. As a backup, learn your centre of BB to centre of top of seat distance by heart. Mine is 70 cm exactly for the saddle I am using (Avocet O2). If I use a softer saddle, usually 69.8, with a harder saddle that flexes less, 70.2.
I’ve never been able to tell a 1 or 2 mm height difference, but do agree that there are a lot of factors that could add up to make a 2mm difference significantly more (or less). Chamois/shorts, tights in the winter, saddle pad, different saddle, different shoes, socks or no, sock thickness, etc.
Frankly, on my Softride I’m happy to be within a .5cm target range.
Edit: I should also add that with any beam bike, your saddle height fluctuates with your weight - including any behind the seat bottle carriers. Fully loaded, I sit lower than on a quick boot where I’m not carrying any fluids.
Aparently Eddy Merckx would change his saddle height to make up the difference for tights vs no tights. You might recall that we are talking about the days of thick old school wool tights. Regardless, if 2.5 mm makes a difference in crank length, you can get it makes a difference in saddle height.
I just rode this weekend, and about halfway through my 70 miles on Sunday morning I noticed I was feeling sort of cramped up. This wasn’t muscular tightness, but I felt like I was sitting squashed and not extended and comfortable. I was going slower than I wanted to, and I was having a hard time spinning at 100-105rpm like normal. I stopped at my favorite water fountain about 2 miles later and checked…my seatpost was down about 2.5mm. It definitely does make a difference.
“but let’s just say that there is a HUGE difference between 172.5 and 175 mm cranks otherwise crank manufacturers would not sell them.”
Sorry - you just got busted by the fuzzy logic police. Are you talking here about the same mfrs that make carbon water bottle cages and titanium skewers?