is my seat too high?

[Photoflygirl]

My legs feel great after a ride, but I was wondering how much of your foot should touch the ground when you are at a stop and sitting on your bike? Like, should I be able to reach down and put my foot down on the ground? Right now, I can only touch barely with a toe, I have to get off my seat to put my foot flat on the ground. Are you supposed to always get off your seat at a stop? I've seen some cyclists who can stop and hold their bike up with their foot on the ground. Just curious...

[Skierchickie]

Saddle height isn't really related to putting your foot down. It's based on knee bend and leg angle as you pedal - body position. I suppose it depends on the type of bike - my road bike saddle is higher than my mountain bike saddle (lower for quicker manuvering, etc) in relation to the pedals. Also, if you ride a bike with a higher bottom bracket (a cyclocross bike, for example), the same saddle height from the pedals will put you farther from the ground.

As long as your body position is right, I'd ignore the foot-down issue. I see LOTS of people riding around with their seats really low, with their knees approaching their ears. Body position is way important, foot-down ability not so much.

[MartianDestiny]

Saddle height isn't really related to putting your foot down. It's based on knee bend and leg angle as you pedal - body position. I suppose it depends on the type of bike - my road bike saddle is higher than my mountain bike saddle (lower for quicker manuvering, etc) in relation to the pedals. Also, if you ride a bike with a higher bottom bracket (a cyclocross bike, for example), the same saddle height from the pedals will put you farther from the ground.

As long as your body position is right, I'd ignore the foot-down issue. I see LOTS of people riding around with their seats really low, with their knees approaching their ears. Body position is way important, foot-down ability not so much.

^^this

I can't get a foot down flat on any of my bikes without major lean. I can BARELY get a toe down on my road bike, maybe the ball of my foot on the mountain bike. I just get off the saddle and lean the bike over a bit.

[indysteel]

I agree with what's been said. One rule of thumb is to set your saddle height just below the point where your hips have to rock back in forth in order to pedal. Give or take.

I say give or take because there is a range of acceptable knee angles based on your flexibility, pedalling technique, leg length discrepancies and overall comfort. If I set mine just below where my hips rock back and forth, my right knee hurts a bit. My right leg is slightly shorter than my left leg and even with a shim under my cleat, it's still not an exact match for my left leg. So my saddle is a couple millimeters lower than that. If I set it even lower, I lose power.

In any event, I have to get off my saddle to put my foot on the pavement.

[Loraura]

I can not touch the ground with my feet while still on the saddle. I come off the saddle, forward, each and every time I stop.

[Photoflygirl]

Thanks for the replies. I do feel really comfortable in the legs during and even after a ride, so I suppose that is the key.

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, if you can put your feet down flat and still sit on your saddle, you're either riding a recumbent, a Townie (semi-recumbent), or your saddle is WAY too low. I can just touch down my toe on the saddle, and I actually keep my saddle a hair lower than "recommended" due to knee pain otherwise and a slight leg length discrepancy.