42
43
ADJUSTMENT TO THE RIDER
ADJUSTING THE
CANYON BIKE TO
THE RIDER
No matter whether you want to ride in streamlined
position on a Canyon cross-country racer or relaxed
on a Canyon Nerve All-Mountain bike. The (seating)
position is crucial for your well-being and the devel-
opment of your riding performance on your Canyon.
Therefore, be sure to adjust both saddle and handle-
bars of your Canyon as accurately as possible to your
needs.
In principle, a mountain bike is sports equipment. For
this reason alone riding a mountain bike requires cer-
tain basic preconditions of the trunk, shoulder and
neck muscles.
Your body height is the decisive criterion when
choosing the frame size of your Canyon. By choosing
a specific type of bike you already roughly determine
the posture you will be riding in. However, some com-
ponents of your Canyon are designed in a way that
you can adjust them to your proportions up to a cer-
tain degree. These include the seat post, the stem and
the brake levers.
Never ride a bike with a too high frame, resulting in a
low crotch clearance when you stand over the bike.
The Canyon Perfect Position System system (PPS) of-
fers you the possibility to select your Canyon perfectly
tuned to your body without test ride. For more details
on the PPS visit our website at www.canyon.com.
Be sure there is enough clearance between crotch and top tube
All the tasks described in the following
require some experience, appropriate
tools and manual skills. After carrying out assem-
bly work, always make a short check (see chapter
“Before every ride”
) and do a test ride in an unfre-
quented place or on a quiet road. This will allow
you to safely check whether everything is in good
order. If you are unsure about how to do some-
thing, it will be better just to check your seating
position. If in doubt, ask an expert to adjust your
Canyon.
Typical position of a marathon cyclist
Typical position of a freerider riding downhill
SADDLE HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT TO THE RIDER
ADJUSTING THE
SADDLE TO THE
CORRECT HEIGHT
The correct saddle height for cross-country, mara-
thon and tour riders is the height which gives maxi-
mum pedalling comfort and efficiency.
Attention:
When pedalling, the ball of your big toe
should be positioned above the centre of the pedal
spindle. With your feet in this position you should not
be able to stretch your legs completely at the lowest
point. If the saddle is too high, you will have trouble
passing through the lowest point and your pedalling
will become awkward. If the saddle is too low, you
may soon find your knees aching. You can check the
height of your saddle in the following simple way. This
is best done wearing flat-soled shoes.
Sit on the saddle and put one heel on the pedal at
its lowest point. In this position your leg should be
fully stretched and your hips should not be tilted to
either side.
To adjust the saddle height loosen the binder bolt
or quick-release lever (read chapter
“How to use
quick-releases and thru axles“
beforehand). Use a
suitable tool to release the seat post binder bolt by
turning it anticlockwise.
Do not pull the seat post out as far as to let the mark
on the shaft come into view. In the case of frames with
long seat tubes which continue beyond the top tube,
the seat post should at least reach below the height
of the top tube! This can mean a minimum insertion
length of 10 centimetres (4.5 in.) or more.
To adjust the saddle height loosen the quick-release lever
The leg must be fully stretched with the heel on the pedal at its lowest
point
!
The minimum insertion depths marked on
seat post and frame may differ. Be sure
to insert the seat post to the deepest insertion
depth.
i
With children who are still growing it is
advisable to check the seating position
every two to three months.
Never apply grease or oil into a seat tube
of a frame made of carbon, unless an al-
uminium sleeve is inside the frame. If you mount
a carbon seat post, do not put any grease on it,
even if the frame is made of metal. Once greased
carbon fibre components may never again ensure
reliable clamping!