Seat height and knee bend

[colorisnt]

It's a personal preference thing and I think it really, really depends on comfort level and why you are riding. On my road bike, I am adjusted to optimal height and do fine, but I am not stopping as much as I am on my commuter, which is much lower to the ground. I started road riding on that bike and I still have to stop a TON of times in traffic in the city. Thus, it is much better to be able to get up/down quickly. I am also not clipped in. I have a short commute and where I ride/why I ride would make me uncomfortable. It's about really getting out there. If you are, I would be happy. And yes, a gradual adjustments can be a great thing. I did that with the commuter. It is taller now then it was when I started. Being happy and comfortable is more important that being at the perfect setting.

[Blue_Fedora]

When I first started riding, I bought a hybrid (because I wanted to be "upright" as, to me, a road bike felt totally awkward and I worried about lower-back pain) and insisted my seat be lower than it was "supposed" to be. I had it where I wanted it and where I was comfortable with it. DH was always kind of pushing me to raise the seat and move to a road bike. I tried but never felt comfortable so I stayed with the hybrid and kept the seat where I wanted it to be. Fast forward a couple of years. I decided to buy a road bike because I finally really REALLY wanted one... and I was sooooo comfortable in my riding skills that instinctively I adjusted the seat to where it's "supposed" to be I sometimes look at my bike and am in awe of how high my seat is... especially in comparison to where my hybrid seat was... but now it's absolutely comfortable for me and I can't ride it any other way! LOL!

Moral of the story... unless it's going to cause you to develop some serious bad habits, do what feels right for you. You can always change things as you grow in your skills and comfort level If you're more comfy, you'll ride more... and if you ride more you'll develop more/better/increased skills. It's a wonderful cycle