Originally Posted by Kontact

The idea is that you don't sit right above the pedals and fall forward on the handlebar, but that you are balanced on your feet like a downhill skier. Your butt is sticking back enough to counterbalance your upper body and the muscle tension that comes from pedalling runs up your hamstrings and into the lower back to help suspend your torso.

If your seat is too far forward or you don't lean much at all or the handlebars aren't a natural reach from your torso angle nothing will work right.


A bike trainer, a level, a full length mirror and plumb line can be used to find a decent position for free. It won't work for everyone, but does work for most.

Do a search for .883 saddle height and KOPS saddle setback. Then try to find a handlebar set up that allows your torso to lean forward about 45 degrees when you're lightly bent arms are on the hoods and your upper arm to torso angle is 90 degrees or less. That's a moderate road bike position, unless you have slightly different anatomic dimensions.