Riding Fromme the other day with my family, we were by some tweens doing a mountain bike summer camp. The group had every type of bike you’d imagine seeing a North Shore eleven or twelve-year-old pedaling. There were some solid budget hardtails with good geometry. Some older budget hardtails with good-enough geometry. A fresh carbon full suspension rig with a nicer build than yours. And, of course, some clapped-out sag-wagons that need $600+ in work tomorrow just talking about fork, shock, and frame bearing servicing. 

But almost all of the bikes had something in common that triggered a bit of a flash-back for me. The saddles were too high. Way. Too. High. Straight legs with bodies swaying side to side in order to get the pedals turning, too high. Anyone over 18 without a blackbelt in Yoga trying that sh*t wouldn’t be able to walk the next day, too high. Painful to look at too high. 

In all the above cases, the diagnosis is simply dropper posts that are too long at full extension even with the posts fully inserted in the frames. I get it, even with reducers the Clairebarian has to lower her dropper a bit with the remote to find her comfortable climbing height. Not a big deal. When you have infinitely adjustable seat height at the push of your thumb and your post is too high we’re probably talking about education over any actual issue with fit. 

It reminded me of another teenager, many years ago, who had a habit of raising their saddle way too high for the climbs. This younger version of myself was picking up his bike one day at the local shop, after having a new rim laced when the two gents behind the counter started sizing him up and giving each other the side-eye. 

There was a vibe. Awkward silence. And then one of them told me that my seat was so high that he had trouble test riding my mountain bike. I have somewhat disproportionately long legs, but the fellow had four, maybe five inches on me. I remember saying something like “I don’t know, it feels okay” but I was very intrigued by their promises of more power, more efficiency, and better technical climbing prowess so I submitted to a quick bit of help with my fit and a maximum line being lightly scratched into my seat post. 

And wouldn’t you know it, I was instantly a better climber in absolutely every circumstance. I made things on technical climbs I’d never made before. I was faster on every ascent. I was fresher riding longer distances. It was awesome. Not a conversation to have with a gaggle of tweens riding with their summer camp, okay, but maybe one-on-one a free-advice conversation with an actual value in the having? 

And I was having this conversation the other day with a new(er) rider I know and they looked at me like I was a criminal mastermind unveiling my wicked plan just before my laser cut James Bond in half. So if you too are suddenly wondering if your saddle is too high there’s a simple trick to ballpark it. Put your downward-facing pedal at the very bottom of your pedal stroke – which is not straight down perpendicular to the ground but rather where the pedal is furthest from the saddle. As with pistons in car engines, this is called the ‘bottom dead center’ (BDC). Now, put your heel on the pedal with your foot flat, and at your optimum saddle height, your leg should be approximately fully extended. Now when you move your foot back you should have an optimum ~30°-to-35° bend in your knee at the fullest extension. 

It might save you some discomfort and that’s always a win. But if you share it with your friend – kid, tween, teen, adult – who’s massively over-extended it could make them a much better climber. That’s a win too, even if it means they can now beat you up your favourite technical climb. And please, if in doubt – and especially if in pain – consult someone with extensive bike fit experience about your personal experience.