A correctly set saddle decides how efficiently you pedal and whether your knees and back hurt. A bike for a rider who is 190 cm tall is set up quite differently from one for a 170 cm rider, and that applies to road, mountain and city bikes alike.
Below is how to choose a saddle, find the right height with the simple heel method, set setback and tilt, and what to do if the seatpost has seized in the frame after winter and autumn puddles.
What you will need
Important: Never raise the seatpost above its minimum insertion mark: the frame or post could break. Do not grease a carbon seatpost or frame with ordinary grease; use a dedicated carbon assembly paste. Tighten bolts to the torque marked on the part.
Step 1
Choose a saddle that suits your position
Your riding position determines which part of the pelvis rests on the saddle. An upright city position calls for a wider saddle, a sporty forward-leaning one for a narrower saddle.
If your legs go numb or you feel pain after 30-40 minutes of riding, the saddle itself may be the problem rather than the adjustment.
Step 2
Free and clean the seatpost
Open the quick release or loosen the seat clamp bolt. If the post will not move because water and road salt have got into the frame, spray WD-40 Multi-Use around the point where the post enters the frame, wait 10-15 minutes and twist the post from side to side.
Pull the post out and wipe it and the inside of the seat tube with a cloth. Apply a thin layer of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease to an aluminium or steel post: it stops it seizing again and protects against moisture.
Step 3
Find the right height
Stand next to a wall so you have something to lean on, sit on the bike and backpedal until one crank points straight down in line with the seat tube.
Put the heel of the lower foot on the pedal. Your leg should be fully straight without your hips rocking. If the knee is bent, the saddle is too low; if you have to reach for the pedal, it is too high. When you ride on the ball of the foot, the knee will stay slightly bent, as it should.
Step 4
Adjust height, setback and tilt
Get off the bike and raise or lower the saddle 5-10 mm at a time. The saddle must point straight along the frame.
Loosen the saddle clamp underneath to slide it forward or back on its rails and set the tilt. Start level, checking with a spirit level or a straight edge. Wipe any excess grease from around the clamp so it does not collect dust.
Step 5
Test it on the road
Backpedal again and check the height with the heel method. Tighten the seat clamp and saddle clamp, then ride for 10-15 minutes.
Your hips should not rock and your knees should not hurt. If something feels wrong, change the position in small steps and check again each time.
Tip: Mark the correct height on the seatpost with a strip of electrical tape. After winter storage or carrying the bike in a car, you can set the saddle in seconds.
What next
Once a season, remove the seatpost, clean it and grease it again, especially after riding in the rain and on salted roads. For the chain, cables and threaded parts, keep WD-40 200 ml or WD-40 Multi-Use in the garage.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».