Softride Saddle Height Tricks?

Triathlon Forum
1

Anyone know the best way to get the right saddle height on a softride?

Say you want to get 74cm BB-Saddle center… How do you get that taking into account the flex of the beam?

2

You would need to put your softride on the trainer, and have someone measure the difference and/or how far the beam displaces when you are sitting on it … Also, you may want to point the nose of the saddle a bit downwards, as when the beam flexes it will eventually even out … andy …

3

Better yet, measure the saddle height, or your BB to hip height while you are on the bike pedaling. Then you don’t have to calculate for any deflection because the seat post is already deflected.

4

  1. Put bike on trainer.

  2. Warm up…

  3. Get a long piece of string or ribbon with a weighted object on the end. Tie the non-weighted end to the saddle rail at the midpoint of the saddle on the non drive side. Let it fall straight between chain stay and rear wheel. Tie it so that the weghted end is suspended above the floor about what your estimate of beam deflection is. Measure how far it is from the floor.

  4. Get on the bike and pedal in whatever position you will be racing (i.e. down on aerobars). Do not just sit on the saddle as this will overestimate deflection.

  5. If you have estimated correctly you should see minimal slack in the string/ribbon transiently as you pedal. Otherwise, have someone look as you pedal to see how far from the floor the weighted end is. Once you are confident in your deflection number, you add that much height to your measured unweighted saddle height (obviously).

If it helps, I ride a Rocket at 79 degrees (saddle tip over BB) and weigh 160. My deflection in the aero position is 1cm, so for effective 79 cm saddle height, I set to 80 cm.

5

Well, you don’t really have to know. I used to try to do that, but now I just measure BB to the little bolt that tightens the saddle before and after I adjust. It works just fine.

If you really want to know. put it on a stand or trainer and push the back of the beam down HARD with one hand while you measure with the other. It doesn’t go down much more than that when you sit on it. Most of the deflection occurs with the first few pounds of pressure, at least on the Rocket.

6

It took several months to finally get my position dialed in. The beam will “fatigue” over time and use. So you may need to adjust it slightly every season.
Once you get the fit right, you will love it.