Why Are Mountain Bike Seats Offset?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Fair Bicycle says that the negative offset could

help strike a balance for some new bikes with extremely steep STAs

. Extra large frames with seat tube angles of 77o or steeper can make the seated position much shorter in comparison to the reach measurement or standing position.

Why do mountain bikes have uncomfortable seats?

Finally, the main reasons why mountain bike seats are so uncomfortable are

the size of the seat and settings, not being used to biking regularly, and human anatomies with the sitting bones not used to get the bike seat

. Also, there are other factors such as how long is your ride and the type of ride.

Do I need an offset seatpost?


There is no advantage to a zero setback seatpost for a road bike

. Fewer people all the time take any stock in the idea that femur length and the resulting knee over pedal measurements are relevant to producing the proper rider position. It’s better to have the rider properly balanced over the saddle and ignore KOP.

Why are bike seats made the way they are?


Bike seats are only intended to hold a biker’s sit bones and not their whole weight

. They come with an unusual and slender shape that allows our lower limbs to move freely during cycling. Plus, your position and proper seat adjustment while biking also make a huge difference in your comfort.

Why do seatposts have setback?

Road bikes for years have had posts with setback- a seatpost where the clamping area for the saddle was behind the centre of the post that came up from the seatpost. The theory behind this was

to allow for proper weight distribution

(ideally 60 % on the rear of the bike, 40 % on the front).

What is saddle offset?

Bike saddle offset is

similar to saddle setback, although offset or “layback” comes from the seat post rather than adjustment of the saddle

. Bike saddle offset can range from 0 mm to 45 mm and is often used when riders with longer femur’s need to get further behind the bottom bracket.

How can I make my mountain bike more comfortable?

How do I make my mountain bike seat more comfortable?


Avoid the seat covers with thick padding

, which usually applies more pressure to the sitting bones, rendering the cover useless. Instead, go for one that has thinner padding that will make your seat sturdier and add more plushness to your cycling experience.

How do I make my bike seat not hurt?

  1. Set your saddle at the right height. This is another reason to get a bike fit. …
  2. Try a saddle with a cutout. A cutout redistributes pressure in the crotch and may relieve pain.
  3. Get the right shorts. …
  4. Use the right lube.

How much is a saddle setback?

The more traditional method, know as ‘Knee Over Pedal Spindle’ (KOPS), proposes that

optimal saddle setback occurs when the tibial tuberosity is directly over the pedal spindle when the crank arm is at 90 degrees in the downward stroke

.

What is setback on a bike?

Saddle fore/aft position, also called saddle setback,

determines the position of your knee and hips in relation to your foot-pedal connection

. Moving your saddle forward or backward changes the range of motion of your hips, knees, and ankles, which alters your pedal stroke.

Can I turn my seat post around?

A –

Yes, the setback seatpost can be used as a set forward seatpost

. No modifications are necessary. The forward direction or set forward works well for converting road bikes into triathlon bikes.

Why are men’s bike seats so uncomfortable?

There are multiple reasons why bike seats might be uncomfortable.

Bicycle seats aren’t meant to carry the riders full weight, but only their sit bones

. Their unusual shape allows thighs to move freely when cycling. Proper rider form and seat adjustment can also make a big difference in comfort.

Why are some bike seats split?

Is a bigger bike seat better?


Wider saddles tend to be more comfortable

so are good for long rides or leisurely riders where extra weight from more materials isn’t an issue. Thinner saddles tend to be better for short efforts – such as racing – where comfort isn’t dispensed with entirely but is compromised in favour of other factors.

What is a zero setback seatpost?

Seatposts can be zero offset, or come with layback. A zero offset seatpost will

place the saddle directly above the clamp

– though of course you can adjust it forward and back on the rails.

How is seatpost setback measured?

If you dream of being famous – think of what birds do to statues. How to measure setback? Well I guess you’d measure the setback by

measuring the centre of the clamp area to the position in line with the straight bit of your seatpost

. It’s measured from the seatpost centerline to the center of the clamp.

What is a layback seatpost?

A layback seatpost is

one that positions the saddle clamp behind the centre line of the seatpost

.

How far forward should my MTB seat be?

Generally speaking, you want the saddle

as far forward as possible

without letting your kneecap move in front of the ball of your foot whilst pedalling; the knee joint becomes much less stable and prone to injury once taken past this point.

What happens if your saddle is too far forward?

If your saddle is set too far forward then

you may be using your upper body too much causing tension in the shoulders and arms as well as having sore hands

. You will be able to have a quicker cadence but you will tend to sit back on the saddle up climbs.

What happens if saddle is too high?

A saddle that is too high will

cause the hips to rock back and forth

. Not only does this detract from pedalling efficiency, but it can also be extremely uncomfortable. Discomfort can show up in your lower back or as knee pain (especially in the back of the knee).

Should the saddle be higher than the handlebars?

As a general rule of thumb,

you want the top of the handlebar about as high (or higher than) the saddle, unless you’re a sporty rider looking to ride fast

. Try touching your elbow to the nose of the saddle and reaching forward towards the handlebar with your hand.

How many miles a week should I mountain bike?

Registered. Varies widely but generally somewhere around 100 on average. Daily rides are generally in the ~20 mile range.

One or two 30-40 mile MTB rides in a week

will squew the average as will weeks with significant road miles.

Can you put a comfortable seat on a mountain bike?


The most comfortable mountain bike seats are WTB and Selle Italia

. They have comfortable saddles, durable and lightweight. Riders love them because they are suite for long rides and easy to install.

Should your feet touch the ground on a mountain bike?

The height of your saddle is important for the most comfortable position and safe riding style. When you sit on the saddle, both feet should reach the floor and

the balls of your feet should be touching the ground

.

Why are mountain bike seats so high?

But, why are mountain bike seats so high? Generally, the seat of a mountain bike is kept at a higher position than other bike types,

to decrease the power needed for the pedal to work smoothly

. Thus it increases the overall effectiveness of the pedal power and results in increasing the overall efficiency.

What is the correct riding position on a mountain bike?

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.