Thanks, Eric. I've very recently experienced the same with my saddle
height. I suspect my self-estimated pbh was low, as a 73 saddle height
feels fine and, yes, faster. That brings the 60cm within range, but I'll
keep looking. And will do!
On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 6:12:56 PM UTC-7
Hi Matt — Welcome! And I hope you find a Platypus that fits you well. Where
are you located? Maybe we can help find someone in your area so you can
have a test ride before you buy a frame. I think a 55, as you say, would be
more versatile.
I have a 2009 Hillborne that's a 57cm and a 2021
It may work for some but I have never been comfortable going by riv's
sizing standards of going big.
On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 1:30:23 AM UTC-4 Matt wrote:
> I just pushed my saddle height to 73 and was pretty comfortable, so the 60
> might be within reach according to Will. I've spent so
I just pushed my saddle height to 73 and was pretty comfortable, so the 60
might be within reach according to Will. I've spent so long on recumbents
and Bromptons that I haven't really needed to know the optimum height.
On Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 4:58:38 PM UTC-7 Roberta wrote:
> Tall
Tall guy!
If you’re in NJ or eastern PA, Delaware area you’re welcome to try my bike.
At that height, you might be able to do a 60. It is pretty big though. I’m
5’7”. Maybe my pbh is 82? It’s one of those two numbers. I’ll post pics
and measurements when I can get to my bike.
Roberta.
Thanks, Roberta. This experiential data is very useful. I'm 5'11 with
long-ish arms and torso, but a 60cm does look a little too large. I can
ride a saddle height of 73cm, but I'm just as happy at 72cm, so the 55cm
seems to be more versatile.
On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 7:56:21 PM UTC-7
Welcome.
I use the heel to pedal method also for saddle height, and modify as needed.
My PBH is also 83 and I ride a 55 Platypus, which is perfect. Years ago I
test rode a 60 Cheviot and it was way too big. I think 55 is your size.
Roberta, Philadelphia
On Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 7:46:05
This is all very helpful. 55cm seems more versatile. I'm unlikely to put
drop bars on it, but, still. If I can find a used bargain I'll try a 60,
else I'll go for the 55. Really appreciate the kind and quality of feedback
here.
On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 7:32:21 AM UTC-7 exliontamer wrote:
Aside from the subjectivity of saddle height I would attempt to try
different sizes of bikes to see which feels better to you. I realize that's
next to impossible with a Rivendell but if you have bikes that fit you well
I think the knowledge can work laterally. I had a friend buy an Appaloosa
Thanks, all! It seems more art than science. I usually cycle in sandals (I
refuse to call them flip flops), so I assume that grown-up shoes will add
some. Nice to be here.
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 6:27:48 AM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote:
> Of the methods I've read about that is and older one
Of the methods I've read about that is and older one (1960s?) and gives a
lower saddle than others; for me, a saddle quite a bit too low -- I did use
it myself long ago. Of course, all of these methods are simply starting
points.
To the OP: be sure to get your saddle fore-and-aft position in
I use Joe's method as well.
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 3:20:31 AM UTC-4 Joe Bernard wrote:
> I heard somewhere a million years ago that you should be able to rest your
> heel on the pedal with a straight leg. If you stretch it's too high, if
> your knee is bent it's too low. Sounds
I heard somewhere a million years ago that you should be able to rest your
heel on the pedal with a straight leg. If you stretch it's too high, if
your knee is bent it's too low. Sounds ridiculous but it's never failed me.
On Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 4:46:05 PM UTC-7 Matt wrote:
> Newb
Hi Matt, and welcome.
A standard starting height is PBH minus 11. If you’re rocking back and
forth to keep your feet on the pedals, it’s too high. If it’s not too high,
maybe it’s too low. Play around.
-Kai
On Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 7:46:05 PM UTC-4 Matt wrote:
> Newb here, but long time
Jay
The most accurate SH would be using a gonimeter to measure your leg angle
and adjust SH to get the optimum leg angle (I forgot the value). The bike
is bike is on a trainer and the front wheel is leveled. The gonimeter
measures the leg angle at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Typically
Laing, I've puzzled about how to take crank length into account and this
seems like a great idea. I'll give it a try. But at the end of the day,
anything that is a fairly reproducible number for an individual gets the
job done. I have a seamstress tape with a little rivet on the end that
grabs
Laing - I agree with you about the crank length. But then, I'm old and
have dealt with the issues of frame size v. saddle height v. crank length
so many times over the years that I can't recall them all. Nevertheless, I
seem to have dialed into some kind of combination of these that I have
I have never understood why any body is concerned "saddle height" which as
I understand it is the distance from the CL of the crank to the top of the
saddle, inline with the seat tube. It is very hard to measure from the
center of the crank and what if you have bikes with different crank
Like others have intimated, it sounds as if you’ve been running your saddle
much lower than recommended. I would suggest measuring your PBH one more
time with an assistant to be absolutely sure it’s correct, then adjust your
saddle to PBH minus 10-10.5 cm.
Alternatively, you could use the
IME, there's no objective way to get the "right" saddle height, but the Riv
method gets me in the ballpark. I do change my saddle height +/- a cm or
so, even on the same bike, depending on the kind of riding I'm doing
(single track vs path/road/gravel) and how flexible I'm feeling at any
given
At the time, I thought Grant's recommendation of PBH minus 10 or 11cm
seemed like a nice simplification of the mainstream performance saddle
height method that became a widespread standard in the 80s. Even though
Grant's advice on frame height and bar height were/are way out of industry
Yes, back when I rode with clipless pedals that had limited float (SPD on
the MTB, Look on the road), I had to set the cleats up carefully taking
into account the width of the cranks. I later switched to Speedplay frogs
with 30 degrees of float. I just needed to ensure that I could rotate my
Well sure Patrick, I get what you mean. It also depends on the pedals
and *their* width too. Back when I rode all straight arms and racing pedals
of any kind I needed a narrow shoe not so much for the cranks but the
pedals were so narrow. On the Stumpie with wider flat cage Suntour pedals
A tangential but related question to that about saddle height: Do you
others who use cycling specific shoes favor different shoes for different
pedals and cranks? I find that even a slight difference in sole thickness
can make a saddle feel awkward; add to this the "flare" of the crank arms
and Q,
I have PBH of 83. My B17 is set at 71.25. I have the pedals that came
with the bike and wear sneakers, marketed as "walking shoes."
Roberta
On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 7:20:50 PM UTC-4, Christopher Cote wrote:
> I'm curious how many here find that Grant's "rule" about saddle height
>
15 yrs ago I measured my PBH at 83.5 and my saddles were at 72.5 with B17
and up to 73cm with a Flite using 170mm cranks and clipless MTB pedals.
I am currently measuring my PBH at about 83.0 and my saddles are 72.0 +/-
5mm. I notice with thin flat pedals and thinner shoes I can be
Steve Hogg is the master wizard of real world fit, IMHO. His use of a
goniometer to measure leg angle and thus determine saddle height has worked
for me. My local shop has one, so they set the height on the two bikes I
ride the most. I then measured from crank center, in parallel to the seat
I've never measured saddle height, well, I suppose I tried once and I
observed that there appeared to be enough room for error and variability in
measuring based on the type and position of my saddle that I wasn't sure I
could use a tape measure measurement as a baseline to set saddle height
Good point, I do shove the saddle back as far as it goes on an offset seat
post. I've been measuring along the seat tube. That would make a difference.
Chris "trigonometry" Cote
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Hi,
I haven't seen anyone else mention this, but when I set my saddle back,
like way back on the Nitto lugged seat post, I have to measure my saddle
height from BB to where my sit bones go, not parallel to the seat post
tube, thus lowering the saddle more in relation to the ground.
Thanks for the input everyone. Seems like the 10cm delta holds for a lot of
folks, but they're riding with "normal" shoes and pedals. For those of you
in that camp, are you also able to reach the pedals in the down position
with your heels? Just curious.
Chris "just a number"
--
You received
Hmmm, I have read most if not all GP wrote, and while message is received,
numbers rarely stick. So, I got out my tape measure: with a PBH of 91, and
Keen bike sandals with a sole of 1.9, my saddle height is 67 cm to center
of crank. I don't think it is the numbers (36", .75", 26.5"), so, I am
Oops!
PBH x 0.8*8*3 = Saddle height.
I ride just a bit lower than that.
On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 9:52:47 PM UTC-6, Mojo wrote:
> I have a couple of formulas in my garage, using cm:
> PBH x 0.69 = Frame Size
> PBH x 0.833 = Saddle Height
>
> I believe I got these from one of Grant's
I have a couple of formulas in my garage, using cm:
PBH x 0.69 = Frame Size
PBH x 0.833 = Saddle Height
I believe I got these from one of Grant's writings. My Riv custom follows
these formulas. My PBH is 89.2 and Grant built me a 61.5cm frame and my
saddle height is 74cm using 175mm cranks
Don't forget to factor in your crank length.
5mm difference in cranks equals 10mm in the full revolution.
5mm shorter means 5mm less at the top and bottom of the stroke.
Go from 165mm to 175mm cranks and you may find your hip flexor, knees and foot
muscles as well as calf and Achilles' tendons
I think it works well for me and I actually worked backwards and got my PBH
from my saddle height. I have a hard time measuring PBH due to obesity and
my wife and I measured it at 83cm (5'11"). I can straddle an 84cm S.O.
bike and still bend my knees a bit so I know 83cm isn't accurate. From
I ride in sandals as well, and with a midfoot pedal placement, which has my
saddle lower by some amount. I also like a bit lower saddle because I floor
live and so am very used to squatting and bending my knees, preferring a
lower stance, for example, for running.
With abandon,
Patrick
On
My PBH is 88 cm and I put my saddle heights at 78 or 77 cm. That works
well with thicker-soled shoes like Keen sandals, but if I take a ride with
thin-soled shoes like Vibram Five Fingers, that saddle height is too tall.
It's easier to change my shoes than it is to lower (and then raise) the
Oh, and this article mentions the tilted hip thing:
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/11/knee-pain/
Chris
On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 7:20:50 PM UTC-4, Christopher Cote wrote:
>
> I'm curious how many here find that Grant's "rule" about saddle height
> being 10-11cm lower
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