Saddle fore aft position

[phopwood]

All,

What difference does the saddle fore aft position make.  I had nothing better to do the other day so I measured the position of my saddles in relation to my bottom brackets.  The position on one bike is 25mm further back than another, but they both feel OK when I ride them.  So the question is does the fore aft position matter that much.

Peter

[julk]

As long as it suits you on each bike then they are both set up right for you.

I use 'Knee Over Pedal’ as a rough guide to get my saddle position, then it depends on how racing/relaxed/upright you want your upper body using a combination of stem length/height and handlebar type/shape to get the hands position comfortable.

We are all different but your body (pain/discomfort) will soon tell you if something needs a change.
Julian.

[Danneaux]

Hi Peter!

My two cents' worth...

I agree with Julian and concur KOPS (Knee Over Pedal Spindle) doesn't work for all, but has been a good starting point for me and I take care to ensure all my bikes are setup identically.

I have found my saddle distance behind the BB to be so important for me, I with it *first*, then build from there to get the reach and riding position I need. I also seem to be unusually sensitive in this regard. Get my *overall* setup right, and I've spent 17 hours happily on the bike and have done 24 hours pretty comfortably. Get it wrong, and I really feel it.

You may enjoy this article, reproduced from where it originally appeared in US cycling publication _Bicycling_ magazine: http://sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

Additional resources here:
http://hypercatcycling.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/understanding-bike-fit-kops-knee-over-pedal-spindle/
http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/05/seat-set-back-for-road-bikes/
http://www.ctc.org.uk/file/member/201003042.pdf

Best,

Dan.