How to Perform Correct Saddle Fitment

(or how to adjust your seat for you Americans)

Stelbel Tandem courtesy Cicli-Berlinetta

In search of a supremely comfortable cycling experience you’ve decided to purchase a new saddle. Eschewing inferior plastic perches you’ve wisely elected to purchase a fine handmade leather saddle by Brooks. Whether by visiting one of the Dealers of Excellence, or after having carefully perused our online shop, you’ve ascertained which category best describes your cycling.

Confident in the knowledge that you’re a competitive bike racer, a long distance tourer or an urban commuter, and after due consideration to matters aesthetic, you’ve selected the saddle most suitable for your needs. Many miles and hours of cycling comfort await once you properly affix your new posterial support to your conveyance in the following manner.

Going Down?

Some cyclists unneccesarily incur excruciating discomfort by simply failing to attach their saddles in a fit and proper manner. Put simply, your saddle should be fixed parallel to the ground, give or take only a couple of degrees. If your saddle is inclined with a pronounced rearward slope, you’ll constantly be hauling your backside back atop your bike as it slides inexorably down towards the rear wheel. Conversely, if your saddle slopes dramatically forward, you’ll always be correcting the tendency to slip off the nose of the saddle, possibly impacting your delicate parts on the top tube and/or handlebar stem.

Going Up?

The state of true cycling Zen can really only be attained when the saddle is realtively flat, pointing neither up at the skies nor down at terra firma. Keep in mind that your saddle must be affixed at the proper height, where your leg should be very nearly, but not quite, straight when in the down position with your heel centered on the pedal.

Follow these recommendations and avoid any hint of a grimace or oddly contorted riding style. In summation-  say nope to slope, flat’s where it’s at. Enjoy the miles ahead!

Flat’s where it’s at.