Seatpost height--whoa!

[Owlie]

I got a new saddle this summer. Bliss (or very nearly)! The only problem was that I spent the whole summer and fall with knee pain every time I rode more than a mile. I rode through it, but I suspect I've done some damage by doing that.

Fast forward to December. I'd asked DBF to show me how to adjust the limit screws on the front derailleur,but it wound up being easier with me on the trainer and shifting like normal. He took one look at me and said "Dear Lord! You've been riding like that all summer?!" and ordered me out of the saddle.
Turns out that I hadn't taken into account the fact that my new saddle (the Jett) is a lot thinner than my old Selle Italia. He raised the seatpost a full inch. And guess what? No more knee pain!

[SadieKate]

All together now, ladies, "DUH!"*

*Said in the nicest possible way.

[Roadtrip]

Ha ha ha... I'm sure more a few here at TE have done something similar! Don't be too hard on yourself. We're not laughing AT you, we're laughing WITH you, right ladies?!?!

[indysteel]

Cool, although that's a big adjustment to make at once. You might keep a check on whether you feel a little too stretched out now. Remember that you essentially move your seat back when you move it up because of the angle of your seat tube and post.

[featuretile]

I have been slowly raising my saddle since I started riding, as I got more capable of dismounting. I finally felt that I had it at the correct height.

I went on a website (forget which one) talking about saddle height and figuring it out. If you measure your inseam length (from crotch to floor) and multiply that by .883, you will get the correct saddle height when measured from the center of your front gears to the top of your saddle. So I did that. I have a 29.5" inseam and when multiplied by .883 I get 26". When I measured my saddle height, it was 26". Thought that was very cool. It seems like a good starting point to see if you are close to right height.

[jyyanks]

I'm glad he discovered the issue and that your knee is pain-free. Happy Riding!