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Adjusting the Saddle to the Correct Height
The correct saddle height depends on the length of your legs. When pedalling,
the ball of your foot should be positioned above the centre of the pedal axle. With
your feet in this position you should not be able to stretch your legs completely
straight at the lowest point, otherwise your pedalling will become awkward. Check
the height of your saddle with flat-soled shoes. This is best done with suitable
cycling shoes. Sit on the saddle and put your heel on the pedal at its lowest point.
Your leg should be fully extended and your hips should remain horizontal.
To adjust the saddle height loosen the quick-release lever (see chapter
“How
to Use Quick-Releases and Thru Axles”
) or the binder bolt of the seat post
clamp at the top of the seat tube. The latter requires suitable tools, e.g. an Allen
key, with which you turn the bolt two to three turns anticlockwise.
Rule of thumb to determine the suitable saddle height:
Inside leg (barefoot) x 0.885
Now you can perform the vertical adjustment of the seat post. Be sure not to
pull out the seat post too far – the mark on the seat post (max., min., stop or the
like) should always remain within the seat tube – and to grease the surface of an
aluminium or titanium seat post that is inserted into a seat tube made of alumin-
ium, titanium or steel. Do not grease carbon seat posts and/or carbon seat tubes
in the clamping area! Use special carbon assembly paste instead.
Align the saddle with the frame by using the saddle nose and the bottom
bracket or top tube as a reference point.
Caution:
If the seat post wobbles
in the seat tube or does
not slide easily, ask your
STEVENS dealer for
advice. Do not use brute
force!
Note:
If your STEVENS road
racing bicycle has an
aero seat post, be sure
to observe the chapter
“Mounting the Aero
Seat Post with Top Tube
Clamp”
.
Clamp the seat post until it is tight by closing the quick-release, as described in
the chapter
“How to Use Quick-Releases and Thru Axles”
or by turning the seat
post binder bolt clockwise in half turns. You should not need using great manual
forces to achieve a sufficient clamping effect. Otherwise the seat post does not
match the frame.
Always check between the steps that the seat post is sufficiently tight by hold-
ing the saddle at both ends with your hands and by trying to twist it. If it does,
gently retighten the binder bolt by half a turn and check again.
Is the leg extension correct when you check again? Check by moving your foot
and pedal to the lowest point. When the ball of your foot is exactly above the pedal
centre in the ideal pedalling position, your knee should be slightly bent. If it is,
you have adjusted the saddle height correctly. Check whether you can still reach
the ground safely while sitting on the saddle. If you cannot, you should lower the
saddle a little, at least to begin with.
Danger:
Under no circumstances
grease the seat tube of
a carbon 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
components may never
again ensure reliable
clamping! Use special
carbon assembly paste
instead.
Danger:
Make sure not to
overtighten the binder
bolt of the seat post
clamp. Otherwise you
may damage the seat
post or the frame. Risk
of accident!
Danger:
Never ride your bike with the seat post drawn out beyond the limit, maxi-
mum, or stop mark! The seat post might break or cause severe damage to
the frame. In the case of frames with seat tubes that extend beyond the top
of the frame’s top tube the seat post should be inserted into the seat tube at
least below the bottom of the top tube and below the top of the seat stays! If
seat post and frame require different minimum insertion depths, you should
opt for the deeper insertion depth.
Caution:
Tighten carefully by approaching the prescribed maximum torque value
in small steps (0.5 Nm increments) and check in between the proper fit of
the component. You find them on the components themselves and/or in the
chapter
“Recommended Torque Settings”
. Do not exceed the maximum
torque value indicated by the manufacturer!
