How to Adjust Bicycle Saddles

Everyone is different when it comes to bicycle seats. In any kind of cycling, making your saddle comfortable is important. This is done by moving your saddle's forward, back and tilt positions using the saddle rail clamp. It can take weeks to properly dial in your saddle, making small adjustments, little by little. If you take the time to dial these in when you begin your ride, it will be more efficient and more comfortable.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-mm hex wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Loosen the 5-mm hex set screw directly under the bike seat. It is facing straight down, the only one there. Turn it through four complete turns or until the saddle gets loose enough to rock around when you grab it.

    • 2

      Squat down beside the bike and get at eye level with the saddle. Grab the saddle with both hands and level it by tipping it up or down in the front. When the seat is in a flat line horizontally, tighten the hex screw two turns.

    • 3

      Look at the saddle rail, the two brackets that hold the saddle to the top of the seat post. You will see marks painted on the side of the rail; these are your forward and back limiting marks. Tap the saddle with the palm of your hand forward or backward until the indicator marks are centered in the middle of the clamp that holds the saddle to the top of the seat post. Tighten the hex screw two more turns.

    • 4

      Get on the bike and ride. If you feel as though you are slipping forward on the seat, that it is tilting you downhill, then get off, loosen the hex screw and tilt the nose of your seat up. If you feel like you are slipping backward, tilt the back of the seat up.

    • 5

      Ride the bike. If you feel like the saddle is too short and you are hanging off the back end of the saddle, then get off, loosen the hex nut and slide it back 1/4 inch at a time until the seat fits. If you feel like you are sitting on the nose of the seat, it's too far back, move it forward.