Proper setup for Spin Bike

[equus123]

Hey everyone,

I wasn't sure if this was posted anywhere else but there is a lot of uncertainty in this forum when it comes to how "okay" it is to take a spin class or knee problems, etc. I wanted to post an easy way to adjust saddle height and fore/aft to guarantee the perfect fit (all extraneous variables excluded).

Saddle height: Pick the proper height so that when you're sitting on the bike with your feet on the pedals how you will ride - bring one foot to the bottom of the pedal stroke (6 o'clock), straighten your leg, and put your heal down. A proper saddle height will have your foot angled down only a few degrees when you do this. If your foot is parallel to the ground (i.e. no angle) then move the seat post down one notch/hole. If there's too much of an angle, move it up. If you're stuck between two holes on the older bikes - one too high and one too low - go with the lower of the two.

Saddle fore/aft: (Since I'm 5'5.5", I usually just move the saddle in the forward-most adjustment/hole.) The proper fore/aft adjustment of the saddle is what makes or breaks your knees. When you're sitting on the bike with your feet on the pedals how you will ride - bring your feet so that the crank arms are parellel to the ground (i.e. feet are at 3 and 9 o'clock) and keep them there. Lean forward a bit to look down at your knee on the foot thats at 3 o'clock. The proper fore/aft position of the saddle will have the forward-most edge of your knee cap (patella) directly over the axel of the pedal. I know this is hard to see if its directly over, I usually look straight down and towards the side just a little. If you're having trouble with this then try going with the ball of your foot instead of the pedal axel. I think most people don't put their saddle far enough forward(?)

So all that being said and as long as your bike is properly fit to you, do whatever the hell you want when you ride! ( you know what I mean )

[alpinerabbit]

I think most people don't put their saddle far enough forward(?)

I think so too. I saw this tiny lady lying almost horizontally to reach her handlebars, her saddle in hole 3 to the back.

What about handlebar height? I like mine rather a bit higher than on my bike.

[equus123]

in my opinion, handlebar height seems more of a personal preference. ...? its really whatever is most comfortable for you. when it comes down to it, handlebar height really just dictates your seat in the saddle and your back/neck (dis)comfort. to me, the real difference between having yourself seated upright versus low comes from racing and the need to be more aero. since many of these people don't race, there's no need to be low. make sense?

[Offthegrid]

I generally put the handlebars almost all the way down, and I'm 5'5.5", too. This nearly mimics the feel of my road bike. But I also find it perfectly comfortable.

[equus123]

ditto