Can your toes touch the ground while in the saddle?
10-10-05, 09:16 AM
#1
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Can your toes touch the ground while in the saddle?
I can’t, but my riding buddy can.
How about you?
Does this have anything to do with proper saddle height?
How about you?
Does this have anything to do with proper saddle height?
10-10-05, 09:29 AM
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I can just touch the ground with the tip of my SPD-SL cleat. My saddle is about 1 cm lower then where the bike store fitted me, but I like being able to touch the ground more then I care about super optimal saddle height.
10-10-05, 09:31 AM
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I think you should be able to since it wouldn't be really safe if you weren't.
I can.
I can.
10-10-05, 09:33 AM
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Sure it's safe not being able to touch the ground. All you have to do is lean over a bit when you unclip and you're fine.
As for me, my toes barely touch. I have a size 12 1/2 foot though.
As for me, my toes barely touch. I have a size 12 1/2 foot though.
10-10-05, 09:33 AM
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actually in one of the books I was reading about proper fit, the way that modern bikes are made (higher bottom bracket), riders should only be able to barely touch the ground with a toe.
10-10-05, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Kayakado
maybe it has more to do with big feet
But gererally speaking, you shouldn't be able to touch both toes to the ground.
Last edited by roadfix; 10-10-05 at 10:21 AM.
10-10-05, 09:43 AM
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I can put one toe down if I lean to the side, but I can't put both feet down at the same time unless I stand over the top bar.
10-10-05, 10:04 AM
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I don't even know. It's just not something that I do. Why would you want to?
10-10-05, 10:10 AM
#10
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You shouldn't be able to without leaning the bike. one of the methods of determining proper saddle height it to sit on the bike with no shoes on and to place one's heel on the pedal. When the crank is parallel to the seat tube, your leg should be fully extened. This means that there is still several inches between your foot and the ground. Even with shoes on, you probably cannot touch the ground without leaning the bike.
10-10-05, 10:34 AM
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Nothing to do with saddle height, but everything to do with foot size, crank length, bottom bracket height.
10-10-05, 11:01 AM
#12
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Originally Posted by Ganesha
My saddle is about 1 cm lower then where the bike store fitted me, but I like being able to touch the ground more then I care about super optimal saddle height.
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10-10-05, 12:17 PM
#13
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It took me 10 miles to wean my girlfriend off her habit of trying to stay on the seat when coming to a stop. I say trying because every attempt she made was a spectacular failure, usually resembling someone trying to dance on ice while panicking.
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10-10-05, 12:29 PM
#14
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I can put put my foot almost flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle and not leaning the bike. It's very nice when having to unclip.
Yes, my seat height is 7cm lower than what I was measured for, but I don't care. It works. I'm comfy. I can spin gears out with no bounce. I have a low center of gravity meaning better bike handling. And I can drop 99.99% of the people who tell me to raise my saddle.
If you can't touch the ground with your unclipped foot, don't worry, just think ahead.
Yes, my seat height is 7cm lower than what I was measured for, but I don't care. It works. I'm comfy. I can spin gears out with no bounce. I have a low center of gravity meaning better bike handling. And I can drop 99.99% of the people who tell me to raise my saddle.
If you can't touch the ground with your unclipped foot, don't worry, just think ahead.
10-10-05, 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by jackb
You shouldn't be able to without leaning the bike. one of the methods of determining proper saddle height it to sit on the bike with no shoes on and to place one's heel on the pedal. When the crank is parallel to the seat tube, your leg should be fully extened. This means that there is still several inches between your foot and the ground. Even with shoes on, you probably cannot touch the ground without leaning the bike.
10-10-05, 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by PenguinDeD
Sure it's safe not being able to touch the ground. All you have to do is lean over a bit when you unclip and you're fine.
As for me, my toes barely touch. I have a size 12 1/2 foot though.
As for me, my toes barely touch. I have a size 12 1/2 foot though.
10-10-05, 02:44 PM
#18
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Unclipping and stopping involves standing with one foot on the pedal above the bar and leaning well to the side in order to touch. Maybe if I dislocated my hip (verdict comming after today's ride) then I could touch.
I think my seat may be too high for me, actually, but then again the pedal stroke feels perfect.
I think my seat may be too high for me, actually, but then again the pedal stroke feels perfect.
10-10-05, 02:53 PM
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Ah.... YES & NO ...!
My left leg is 1" shorter than my right leg.
.............Now what am I gonna do ?
Hehehehehehehe ............
My left leg is 1" shorter than my right leg.
.............Now what am I gonna do ?
Hehehehehehehe ............
10-10-05, 03:48 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by Inverted
Unclipping and stopping involves standing with one foot on the pedal above the bar and leaning well to the side in order to touch. Maybe if I dislocated my hip (verdict comming after today's ride) then I could touch.
I think my seat may be too high for me, actually, but then again the pedal stroke feels perfect.
I think my seat may be too high for me, actually, but then again the pedal stroke feels perfect.
10-10-05, 03:50 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by YMCA
I can put put my foot almost flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle and not leaning the bike. It's very nice when having to unclip.
Yes, my seat height is 7cm lower than what I was measured for, but I don't care. It works. I'm comfy. I can spin gears out with no bounce. I have a low center of gravity meaning better bike handling. And I can drop 99.99% of the people who tell me to raise my saddle.
.
Yes, my seat height is 7cm lower than what I was measured for, but I don't care. It works. I'm comfy. I can spin gears out with no bounce. I have a low center of gravity meaning better bike handling. And I can drop 99.99% of the people who tell me to raise my saddle.
.
10-10-05, 04:36 PM
#22
Senior Member
If you have to lean way over just to touch a toe on the ground, how do you get started moving again? (This question is only for those who think it's a good thing to be able to put a tow down while on the saddle). I rode like this when I first got started because I didn't know any better. I also had a hell of a time getting moving through busy intersections. Read Sheldon Brown's page about how to properly stop and get moving again on a bike. It makes a lot of sense.
10-10-05, 05:04 PM
#23
Form*r Ho*rd*r
First thing I taught my 11 year old son with his new "roadie" was how to start and stop OUT of the saddle. Keeps him from tipping over. It's no big deal - just pull your arse up and out at the last second as you are inching to a stop. Makes it a lot easier to unclip and keep your balance.
55/Rad
55/Rad
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10-10-05, 05:07 PM
#24
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My feet can't touch. Who stops that much anyway?
10-10-05, 05:08 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by H20.1
If the pedal stroke feels perfect why change? Seat height can be tricky, but if you have a good stroke and feel properly balanced on the bike why lower it? Surely you could get used to not being able to put both feet down?
As William Blake explained it 200 years ago "You never know what is enough until you know what is too much."
See: https://sheldonbrown.com/starting
Sheldon "Too Low Injures Knees" Brown
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