Adjusting your bike saddle in 5 steps

The ideal saddle height ensures your legs move smoothly and your knees are not unnecessarily strained. If your saddle is too low, your knee will bend too much and pedaling will feel heavy. If it's too high, you'll have to tilt your hips, losing freedom of movement.

A practical method is the heel-on-pedal technique:

• Place your right heel on the pedal in its lowest position.

• Your leg should be almost fully extended.

• When you pedal with your toes again, a slight bend will occur in your knee.

This way, you'll know your saddle is at the correct height. You can also measure your inseam and use this as a guide to find the right seating position.

Not only the height but also the angle of your saddle plays a role in your seating comfort. Basically, a saddle is in a horizontal position, but small adjustments can make a big difference.

• Tilting the saddle slightly forward alleviates pressure on the perineum and sit bones.

• Setting it slightly backward can help with a sporty posture on, for example, road bikes or mountain bikes.

Use an Allen key to loosen the bolts and carefully adjust the saddle. Always check after a short test ride whether you are truly sitting better.

The position of your bike saddle relative to the bottom bracket is also important. If your saddle is too far forward, too much pressure will be placed on your kneecap. If you set it too far back, you unnecessarily tilt your hips forward, which can cause back pain.

A handy way to check this: place both feet on the pedals in a horizontal position. Your knee should be directly above the bottom bracket. This way, you'll know you've found the correct position.

Still wondering if you're sitting correctly? These are the most recognizable signs:

• Saddle pain after short rides or pressure on the perineum.

• Knee complaints due to incorrect height or position.

• A tense neck or back pain due to an incorrect seating posture.

• Shrugged shoulders or tingling hands due to an improper balance between saddle and handlebars.

Do you recognize this? Then it's time to re-adjust your saddle.

With this simple step-by-step plan, you can ensure your saddle is always correctly positioned:

1. Measure your inseam and determine the correct height accordingly.

2. Place your heel on the pedal at its lowest point and check that your leg is almost fully extended.

3. Adjust the horizontal position of your saddle using the two bolts under the saddle.

4. Check that your knee is directly above the bottom bracket when the pedals are horizontal.

5. Take a test ride and readjust if necessary.

The ideal saddle position is not the same for everyone. For a city bike, you often choose a slightly lower saddle height so that you can easily reach the ground with your feet. For electric bikes, the focus is on comfortable and stable seating, especially during longer rides. For road bikes, it's all about efficiency: a higher saddle position and a slight forward tilt provide more power. Mountain bikers benefit from a slightly lower position, which offers extra control in technical terrain.

A well-adjusted saddle only works in conjunction with correctly set handlebars. If they are too low, your handlebars, wrists, and neck will be under too much pressure. If they are too high, you will lose speed and efficiency. Make sure your shoulders remain relaxed and your arms are slightly bent. Check that the stem is securely fastened and tighten the correct bolt properly. This will keep you stable and maintain the correct riding posture.