When you’re sitting on your bike, you shouldn’t be able to place your feet flat on the ground, and if you do, your saddle is probably too low. The saddle height is critical for promoting a comfortable riding position and, more significantly, a safe riding style.

You should be able to touch the ground with your tiptoes while sitting in the saddle, but you should not place your feet flat on the ground. If you notice that your feet are flat on the ground, your saddle is too low, and you should elevate it.

If your toes are touching the ground, the saddle may be somewhat too high, and you should lower it slightly. If changing the saddle height doesn’t help, the bike may be too big for you.

What is the Proper Handlebar Position?

Your bike’s handlebars should be parallel to or slightly higher than your saddle. When riding, you should reach the handlebars comfortably, and your fingers should cover and operate the brakes.

In addition, your fingertips must be able to cover the brakes, as this is the position you should be riding in if you need to stop quickly.

What are the Benefits of Choosing the Correct Saddle Height?

If the saddle is too low, it will place undue strain on your knees, and it will be a very inefficient way to ride your bike. You might not be able to balance yourself or gain leverage on the pedal cranks if the saddle is too high.

It may also be extremely inconvenient. This is why the saddle’s placement is so critical.

How to Adjust the Height of Your Saddle

To adjust the height of your saddle, start by putting on the shoes you usually use when cycling. The varying depths of soles might have a bigger impact on saddle location than you might expect. After that, get someone to hold the bike stable while you go to the following stage.

Now it’s time to hop on the bike, grab the handlebars, and assume your normal riding posture. Put your right heel on the paddle and pedal rearward until the right pedal is at its lowest position.

If you’re having trouble reaching the pedal and keeping your hips steady during this procedure, you’ll need to lower your saddle. If you had to shift your weight significantly to one side of the seat, it was too high. If your knee is bent, it’s almost certainly because your saddle is too low, creating the bend. When you’re pedaling, this might put a strain on your knees, which is something you should avoid.

It would be best if you had a small bend in your knee when doing this test, around a 25 to 35-degree inclination from straight. If this is the case, you’ve found the perfect saddle. If this isn’t the case, you’ll need to modify your saddle. There should be no extending, reaching, pointing your toes, or moving your hips when pedaling. If any of these things happen, you’ll need to adjust your position on the bike.

What Issues Can Occur If My Feet Touch the Ground While Riding a Bike?

Cycling with a seat that is too low is more frequent than you would think, but it can lead to reduced pedaling efficiency and knee problems over time. When you can touch the ground with the tips of your toes when your ankles are flexed, and your toes are pointed downward, you’re at the ideal saddle height for most types of bicycles, including road, gravel, and mountain bikes. Your saddle is far too low if you can sit on your bike seat with your feet flat on the ground.

When straddling the bike, your crotch should be 2 to 6 inches higher than the frame. You should only be able to reach the ground while on your tippy-toes once you’ve transitioned from straddling the frame to straddling the saddle. Beginner and intermediate cyclists frequently ride with their seats too low because they find it more comfortable to reach the ground.

Riding on an excessively low saddle, on the other hand, lowers pedal efficiency and, over time, leads to knee issues. The most frequent knee ailment among cyclists is “Biker’s Knee,” also known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), caused in part by riding with the saddle too low.