Q&A for How to Adjust Your Bike Seat

Typically, a correct saddle height will inhibit one’s ability to comfortably put a foot down while on the saddle. Correct saddle height will usually require the rider to come forward off the saddle to stand comfortably over the top tube when stopped, and the rider can mount the saddle again after starting again. Correct saddle height is about achieving the best biomechanical advantage while riding, not the most comfort while stopped.

It could be that your handlebars are too far away from the saddle, or too low relative to the saddle, causing your body to be too bent over. Try adjusting or switching your stem. If soreness persists, visit a bike fit professional or seek the advice of a medical professional.

Most people’s legs are uneven lengths. Try adjusting your saddle height using your left leg as a reference. If that doesn’t help, adjust your foot position. Try pointing your toes slightly inward or outward while you pedal. If soreness persists, consult a bike fit professional, or seek the advice of a medical professional.

After determining the correct seat height, place a yardstick from your saddle to your handlebars, and measure the angle with a level. Typically, they should be nearly level. For more aggressive riding, the handlebars CAN be 1-2” lower than the saddle. For more relaxed riding, the handlebars can be 1-2” higher than the saddle. Typically, the higher your handlebars relative to your saddle, the more comfortable you will be on your ride.

This is an uncommon problem. If the saddle is unable to go low enough for you to ride the bicycle, chances are you’re riding a frame that’s too large. I would recommend an appropriately sized frame. Sometimes, a seapost is excessively long, and is coming into contact with the water bottle bosses on the inside of the seat tube. If this is the case, a bike shop can help you cut your seatpost down an inch or two to help.

Loosen the seatpost binder bolt or quick release. Then you can lower the saddle to the desired height.

It could be that you have not actually tightened the bolts enough. Consult torque specifications for your make and model of bicycle, or visit a local bike shop and they can help you. Alternatively, you could have a seatpost that is too small for your frame. There are many sizes of seatpost and compatibility between frame and seatpost is very specific.

Loosen the seatpost binder bolt or quick release. This will allow you to lower the saddle.

If you can remove the seat to access the top of the post, that's best. Take a board and whack it solidly with a hammer on top of the post a few times. If this doesn't work, directly tap the top of the post with the hammer lightly, then a little more heavily. If all else fails, you'll have to clamp vise-grips on the post, tap upwards a few times and then downwards on the post (not full force), and then repeat three or four times. If it's still frozen, you'll have to sacrifice looks and risk chewing it up with the vise-grips, twisting or drilling a hole through the post to gain leverage.

With most bikes, you can lift the whole seat up and out of the frame once you've released the lever or loosened the bolts.

Try to tighten it, if that doesn't work, try pouring bleach on the bolts. This may sound odd, but it will make it a lot easier to tighten.

Most bike seats have a screw or a lever. If you undo them, you can then twist the seat and adjust it.

Put your left foot on the left pedal and right foot on right pedal. Hop on your bike and sit like you would on a chair.

Change the seat for one that is more comfortable for you. I had the same problem, but now that I've moved the seat I could ride forever.

You can try stretching it, to see if you had just pulled a muscle. However, if the pain persists or gets worse you should seek professional medical advice on this matter.

I usually use a cable (zip) tie on the seat post to mark the height of the seat. The tie shouldn't slide down unless you are physically moving the tie itself. Just slide the cable tie to the bottom of the seat post, then as you move the seat up hold the cable tie to keep it at the bottom of the post.

For a rough measurement of seat height, while sitting on the seat, put your heel on the pedal with your foot at ~90 degrees to your leg, then move the pedal to the bottom of its rotation. Your leg should be straight but not locked (if locked, the seat is too high, if bent, the seat is too low). You should be able to place the ball of your foot on the floor with a straight leg when stopped, maybe while leaning slightly to the side.

Wear whatever shoes you would wear cycling. These do not have to be specialist cycling shoes unless you have cleat pedals (ones you clip your foot into).

New bikes come with mostly the same seat set-up, so use the steps above. If you brought it from a store then they may be able to help you get it set up faster and easier. The matter of a bike's age does not matter when adjusting the seat/saddle.

You should undo the bolts that are attached to the seat. Then tilt to desired angle and you can make it comfortable for you.

If it still turns, then that most likely means that the seat post is not the right size for the seat clamp. In this case, you will have to either get a new seat post, a new seat altogether or some sort of type material to hold the seat in place.