Seat hight in pictures?

[MichelleOH]

I have a question...

In all the pictures I see (even of my bike), the seat looks really high. Higher than the handle bars, in fact. http://www.jacksbikes.com/contents/e..._2.0_2010.html I'm wondering if this is just to make the bikes look more cool or if this is how it should be ridden...

My 55cm frame would have to be MUCH smaller...like a 49cm (if not smaller) to look that way. As mine sits, the seat is actually a bit LOWER than the handle bars. Did they sell me the wrong frame size??

I guess my question is...do you fit to the frame or a seat at that height?

*SO CONFUSED*

[Biciclista]

they always do that ! it's so annoying. Maybe Lance Armstrong rides that way; but I don't.
here's my bike:

[Abarnes]

for photo editors it's all about proportion, not at all about bike fit.

In the shop, we'd leave the seats high 'up' on display so as not to scratch the seatpost. More of an issue on carbon seatposts, but we would try to minimise scratching the post from one test ride setting to another.

[zoom-zoom]

People with long legs relative to their torsos often have lots more seat-post showing than someone on the same size bike who has shorter legs and the same length torso. People who like a more performance-oriented set-up will often have lower stem-height, too. My saddle is generally just a hair taller than my handlebars, because I have relatively short legs. If I didn't like to ride with relatively aggressive posture my handlebars would be somewhat higher and more even with my handlebars.

[ScaldedCat]

It depends what's comfortable and efficient for the individual when body proportion, riding style, flexibility, core strength/stability, experience etc are taken into account. On both my road bike and my mountain/utility bike the saddle is a bit higher than the handlebars, works for me, might not work for someone else my height/on the same bikes.


On my Bob Jackson I'd actually prefer the bars about 1-1 1/2 cm lower but I haven't got around to getting the steerer cut down since I built up the bike and I don't want a stack of spacers above the stem. I'll get my back-side into gear and sort it sooner or later.

[Sardine]

It depends what's comfortable and efficient for the individual when body proportion, riding style, flexibility, core strength/stability, experience etc are taken into account. On both my road bike and my mountain/utility bike the saddle is a bit higher than the handlebars, works for me, might not work for someone else my height/on the same bikes.


On my Bob Jackson I'd actually prefer the bars about 1-1 1/2 cm lower but I haven't got around to getting the steerer cut down since I built up the bike and I don't want a stack of spacers above the stem. I'll get my back-side into gear and sort it sooner or later.

I agree. I find it uncomfortable to ride a bike with the handlebars higher than my seat, especially when clmbing hills which I can't avoid. My bikes have the seat at least level with the handlebars or higher and the steerers have been cut down as I don't like having a stack of spacers either. With the OTP road bike I just got, I've had the stem flipped as many are now designed to have a more upright riding position. It's what works for you I think, provided your bike fits.

btw ScaldedCat, you've had me checking out the Bob Jackson website since you posted that picture of your lovely bike. I've started doing bike maintenance courses and hope to one day build up a steel audax bike too.

[Owlie]

I have a short torso and long legs, so on a frame with the correct top-tube length, I would have to have a lot of seatpost showing! On my current bike (medium Giant--according to their size chart, a 50cm, but I'm not sure that's right), my bars and saddle are about level.

It looks cooler and more aggressive in pictures, I think, to have a large drop between the saddle and bars.

[malkin]

When I need a bike that looks cool in pictures, I will take a picture of someone else's bike.

[Biciclista]

When I need a bike that looks cool in pictures, I will take a picture of someone else's bike.

good response, Malkin!
but I think my bike looks cool anyhew...


ps look at my husband's bike behind me!