Is there a good reason to tilt the saddle down a tad? I see a mix of level and tilted and am wondering if there is any science or reasoning behind it?
Depends if you like blood flow to your nether regions or not. Largely based on your position, being able to maintain it and comfort. I only have minor tilt or I am sliding off the nose and can’t maintain my position.
Like the previous poster said tiling the saddle down can help relieve pressure points BUT the main reason it should be used to allow a cyclist to stay in a UCI legal position. The science is briefly touched on here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/team-gb-cycling-saddle-sore-medals
I have yet to come across a saddle that was designed to be ridden at an angle so having a significant tilt the saddle is often a sign of either: A) Having a poor fit on the bike B) the saddle is a poor fit for your backside. UCI rules limit the relative shape and placement of a saddle so riders can be forced into a situation where tilting the saddle is the only way to get some comfort.
I have… For example, the Bontrager Hilo has a 4-6% slope when the rails are parallel to the ground.
I have yet to come across a saddle that was designed to be ridden at an angle so having a significant tilt the saddle is often a sign of either: A) Having a poor fit on the bike B) the saddle is a poor fit for your backside. UCI rules limit the relative shape and placement of a saddle so riders can be forced into a situation where tilting the saddle is the only way to get some comfort.
You know that the saddle rail angle isn’t really indicative of the angle the saddle is designed to be ridden at, right? Lots of saddles are sloping forward if the rails are parallel to the ground.
I have… For example, the Bontrager Hilo has a 4-6% slope when the rails are parallel to the ground.
I have yet to come across a saddle that was designed to be ridden at an angle so having a significant tilt the saddle is often a sign of either: A) Having a poor fit on the bike B) the saddle is a poor fit for your backside. UCI rules limit the relative shape and placement of a saddle so riders can be forced into a situation where tilting the saddle is the only way to get some comfort.
I’m confused here. I agree that saddle is shaped (as are many ISM saddles) so when uncompressed the top isn’t parallel to the seat rail. But if you look at the nose of the saddle it’s pointing straight foward not downwards. The important line to trace is the plastic bottom structure of the saddle not the padding.
The point of shape is that when you sit on it and the padding compresses you are better supported. It is not designed to be pointed at an angle. The hard plastic part of the seat should be parrellel to ground.
Is there a good reason to tilt the saddle down a tad? I see a mix of level and tilted and am wondering if there is any science or reasoning behind it?Tilt the saddle down from where? From a flat position or a proper setup position?
I try my best to avoid tilting the saddle on my tri fits because it inevitably cause the rider to slide forward more than normal. While the saddle tilt might provide some saddle discomfort relief, the problem is usually transferred to the arms and shoulders where the rider is having to engage to “push back” against the saddle to keep from sliding off. You can tilt the armpads too to try and counter this, but not all cockpit setups can do it.
I tend to think that needing to tilt the saddle (from it’s correct setup) is probably an indication that the rider is on the wrong saddle and should be considered rarely and on a case by case basis.
I run mine tilted very slightly downward, but it’s an old Arione tri that’s a “scoop” profile, no cutouts or channels. The downward tilt from tip to tail leaves the nose section flat and rear kicked up. Seems to work well for me, albeit I’ve never tried a cutout saddle that I’ve liked or any noseless saddles.
If I read you correctly then the line you are talking about, as being parallel to the seat rail, is the outer edge of the plastic shell. I had a look at my one of these and the shell underneath the part where you actually sit does seem to slope in the same way as the padding does.
I run mine tilted very slightly downward, but it’s an old Arione tri that’s a “scoop” profile, no cutouts or channels. The downward tilt from tip to tail leaves the nose section flat and rear kicked up. Seems to work well for me, albeit I’ve never tried a cutout saddle that I’ve liked or any noseless saddles.I don’t think you have much choice if you’re riding aero on a saddle with a scoop shape - you have to tilt it down to flatten out the part of the saddle you are contacting.
I don’t see many riders on those types of saddles any more, but if it’s working for you then all good. Don’t fix what’s not broken.
I’m dreading the day it wears out and I need a new one. That’s gonna be a pain in the ass…
(see what I did there?)
So by this logic a flat saddle when compressed is actually pointing up?
The point of shape is that when you sit on it and the padding compresses you are better supported. It is not designed to be pointed at an angle. The hard plastic part of the seat should be parrellel to ground.
I feel if the saddle is tilted even the slightest. That you would be sliding forward right?
This is why I love my dash saddle. I still have the slightest tilt on the flatter section further back back but then it gently rolls forward so as soon as you find that fore and aft sweet spot you never move on your seat unless maybe on your hoods.
So it kind of does the tilt for you, where you aren’t slipping around?
I feel if the saddle is tilted even the slightest. That you would be sliding forward right?
Not entirely. At 30-40 kph even at no headwind , you have the retarding force of the wind you are creating hitting you (no matter how aero) pushing you back into the saddle and keeping you from falling off the front of a tilted saddle. Indoors on a trainer you will feel more like you are falling off vs outdoors having wind pushing you back on the saddle.
I feel if the saddle is tilted even the slightest. That you would be sliding forward right?
Not entirely. At 30-40 kph even at no headwind , you have the retarding force of the wind you are creating hitting you (no matter how aero) pushing you back into the saddle and keeping you from falling off the front of a tilted saddle. Indoors on a trainer you will feel more like you are falling off vs outdoors having wind pushing you back on the saddle.
Correct.
I went from a -9.7 degree tilt to a -5.5 degree tilt during my last bike fit.
I have never had a problem with falling off of my saddle…unless I am trying to do a track stand with no hands on the bars…which you never do while racing a triathlon.
Yes so the bit that can perch on the saddle to feel fixed in position is there and then it slopes to relieve any pressure spots. Personally I’m not sure how people ride with a tilted saddle. I think a bike fit starts with finding the correct saddle and working off that so either they have a bad fit or the wrong saddle…
At 30-40 kph even at no headwind , you have the retarding force of the wind you are creating hitting you (no matter how aero) pushing you back into the saddle and keeping you from falling off the front of a tilted saddle. Indoors on a trainer you will feel more like you are falling off vs outdoors having wind pushing you back on the saddle.
Maybe. But I need to tilt my saddle up a bit to keep from sliding forward. I probably wouldn’t want to do that for a 112mi, but for 25mi it’s better than the alternatives.
You know that the saddle rail angle isn’t really indicative of the angle the saddle is designed to be ridden at, right? Lots of saddles are sloping forward if the rails are parallel to the ground
I can’t think of any reason why manufacturers would design saddles such that the rails are not level when the saddle is at the ‘intended’ angle.