View Poll Results: What does sliding forward on your saddle mean?
Handlebars too close
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Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll
What does sliding forward on a saddle mean?
#1
Eric C.
Thread Starter
What does sliding forward on a saddle mean?
I have a Brooks B17 Imperial that I'm enjoying now after some neatsfoot oil treatments. However, I notice that I keep sliding forward on my saddle and having to push myself back. When I think of it I actually don't know what this means, I see a few possibilities:
- My saddle is tilted down.
- That's not the case with me, my saddle is actually too far up, to prevent the slipping, and it's almost to the point where it's hurting with the nose up that much.
- My saddle is too far back.
- If the saddle is too far back then perhaps I naturally slip into a more forward position, but that's not the comfort spot on the saddle so I push myself back regularly.
- My saddle is too far forward.
- I'm normally in the comfort spot for the saddle but that spot is too far forward, so I push myself back to adjust, but eventually I slide into the more comfortable saddle position of being too far forward.
- My handlebars are too close.
- Maybe this makes me feel too scrunched and want to push myself back.
- Something else?
#2
Senior Member
Assuming your saddle height is correct and if you haven't already, check your position relative to KOPS (knee over pedal spindle). There are many videos out there about how to do this. KOPS is hardly a perfect "golden rule", but it will at least help you put some context around your fore/aft position.
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#4
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I'd throw out that it means you need more flexibility, in that while your saddle may be in the exactly best position, after a while your body isn't able to handle the tuck you're in and you're naturally moving forward so that you're more upright and less uncomfortable in the tucked position that the saddle is in. A potential raise of the handlebars or moved closer to the saddle could solve as well.
#5
Senior Member
I think the saddle is too far forward, but not for exactly the reason you mention. It often happens with a Brooks because of the short rails that the saddle sits forward of the pedals, so that with every rotation you’re pushing yourself forward a bit. Tilting the nose up could solve that problem but could create other problems. The best solution is probably a post with a little setback.
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I have a Brooks B17 Imperial that I'm enjoying now after some neatsfoot oil treatments. However, I notice that I keep sliding forward on my saddle and having to push myself back. When I think of it I actually don't know what this means, I see a few possibilities:
- My saddle is tilted down.
- That's not the case with me, my saddle is actually too far up, to prevent the slipping, and it's almost to the point where it's hurting with the nose up that much.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
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#8
Eric C.
Thread Starter
You can have a saddle that's tilting both down and up too much at the same time.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
#10
Eric C.
Thread Starter
#11
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You can have a saddle that's tilting both down and up too much at the same time.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
When set up properly they are incredibly comfortable.
But a LOT of people set them up completely wrong.
The should be set up so that you basically sit IN the SMP's curve.
#12
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Their rails are very short and many riders (including me) cannot get these saddles in the correct position, even with a setback seatpost.
I see lots of riders try to work around this by tilting the nose of these saddles up.
As I said earlier I would look at your saddle setback, your saddle height, and tilt.
Setback and height go together.
But basically you are looking for a position where you are pedaling smooth circles and where you are not using your quads or hamstrings any more than each other.
#13
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Lots of people who ride long distances use Brooks saddles ... and ride them with the nose tipped up. See ...
https://www.bikeforums.net/long-dist...bicycle-s.html
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Last edited by Machka; 09-19-19 at 03:14 AM.
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During time trials on tv I've seen some of the pro cyclists having to push themselves backward on their saddles after about every 10 pedal strokes and was wondering if it could be caused by the pedalling action, with the skin in contact with the saddle being drawn slightly forward on each upstroke.
#16
Senior Member
You can have a saddle that's tilting both down and up too much at the same time.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
A downward slope on the tail causes you to slide forwards.
An upward slope on the nose causes discomfort.
A saddle that's too convex for you can have both problems.
You might need a saddle that's flatter front to back.
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#17
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You might also be pulled forward by having your bars too far forward as your saddle is moved back bit by bit. You should be able to feel in balance on the saddle, holding your hands on the bars without pushing down to hold your torso up. This stability is the result of good fore aft balance combined with good core strength. Your arms should be stuck out forward, but not stretched uncomfortably far.
Last edited by Road Fan; 09-19-19 at 10:12 AM.
#18
Eric C.
Thread Starter
In that case, tighten the bolt. Tension the leather.
Last edited by ericcc65; 09-20-19 at 08:57 AM. Reason: Insert quoted quote
#19
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I have a B17 standard on my heavy bike, and I slip forward too, even with a comfortable nose up angle. I'm noticing that as I improve my pedaling mechanics, I could raise my seatpost 2-3 mm. Basically it seems that I'm slipping forward as I pedal harder, and I think its because I'm unweighting myself on the saddle from the exertion; kind of like a spoke at the bottom of the wheel. I think A little extra height will help me stay in place.
Have you been fitted for the bike? Experienced fitters know a lot of the tricks to ironing out your best fit. Dialing a fit is selecting your most comfortable option from a range of acceptable answers. The bike fitter should also share your fit measurements with you when they're done.
The short rails impair my fore/aft balance. I have the saddle slammed all the way back, and I could still use another 2-3 mm. No hands on the bike is...iffy. I should swap the saddle and see what happens..
Have you been fitted for the bike? Experienced fitters know a lot of the tricks to ironing out your best fit. Dialing a fit is selecting your most comfortable option from a range of acceptable answers. The bike fitter should also share your fit measurements with you when they're done.
The short rails impair my fore/aft balance. I have the saddle slammed all the way back, and I could still use another 2-3 mm. No hands on the bike is...iffy. I should swap the saddle and see what happens..
Last edited by Unca_Sam; 09-20-19 at 09:26 AM.
#20
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Just a couple of general observations.
1. Just about every photo of a Brooks saddle on a bike that gets ridden has the saddle tilted up. It's been mentioned a couple of times already, but I want to emphasize that "why" doesn't matter as much on that score as the fact that it's a standard setup.
2. All of us, when we go harder, tend to slide forward on the saddle. If that's part of the issue, it's not really an issue.
Personally I'll be all over the saddle during the course of a ride, and not worrying about it has been my optimal solution. It depends on everything else - how I'm positioning my back and arms, how hard I'm going, fatigue, what I'm wearing - so why try to force myself to plant my rear to an arbitrary saddle position? It makes more sense to me to get the saddle where I mostly like it, then ride on it however I feel like at the time with no concern that the saddle is configured incorrectly or that I am.
1. Just about every photo of a Brooks saddle on a bike that gets ridden has the saddle tilted up. It's been mentioned a couple of times already, but I want to emphasize that "why" doesn't matter as much on that score as the fact that it's a standard setup.
2. All of us, when we go harder, tend to slide forward on the saddle. If that's part of the issue, it's not really an issue.
Personally I'll be all over the saddle during the course of a ride, and not worrying about it has been my optimal solution. It depends on everything else - how I'm positioning my back and arms, how hard I'm going, fatigue, what I'm wearing - so why try to force myself to plant my rear to an arbitrary saddle position? It makes more sense to me to get the saddle where I mostly like it, then ride on it however I feel like at the time with no concern that the saddle is configured incorrectly or that I am.
#22
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I'd try relacing the saddle if if had been laced before. I have a WRIGHTS leather saddle that I lace and some of the lacing crosses in front of the saddle clamp and some crosses behind it. I also make sure to use FLAT laces so that there is nothing very proud of the saddle to rub agaist whilst riding. The saddle at the top is the one I laced.
Cheers
#23
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Hah! I just ran into this issue today. Riding my bike to work this morning, I suddenly realized my saddle nose was too low; I kept pushing myself back and the extra weight was causing pain and numbness in my hands. Stopped at an LBS during my lunch break (my multitool wasn't up to the task) and borrowed an Allen wrench; boom, problem solved!
I hope your issue is as easily resolved.
I hope your issue is as easily resolved.
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When I first got my Brooks B17 saddle it was like a block of wood. Like the OP I always found myself migrating to the front -- even when adjusting the tilt up. After 6 months and several applications of the Brooks "proofide" treatment, on both sides of the saddle, I was ready to give up on it. It was still like sitting on mahogany and I was still moving forward. I had read a post somewhere about some presumed knucklehead who softened his Brooks by beating it with a ball peen hammer. With nothing to lose because the saddle was becoming worthless to me, I attacked. Stopping short of the ball peen hammer, I did proceed to wail on it with a rubber tip mallet after another 48 hour proofide soak... and the leather started to flex at last! Another application of the proofide and another beating and I was ready to giver it another try. It was an immediate improvement. I was now sitting IN the saddle, rather than on it as the leather started to shape to my butt bones in the proper location on the saddle and the nose tilted slightly higher than a normal seat. It further improved with time and now I can't imagine sitting on anything else on my main bike (a streeted up cyclocross). The seat on my mountain bike is... ok ... but I could never put away hours like I can on the broken-in Brooks.
Anyway, maybe it is the dry Southern California climate that prevented the Brooks from breaking in "naturally", or maybe I got a mahogany special, but the hammer worked for me. If you are ready to give up on the seat anyway, attack!
Anyway, maybe it is the dry Southern California climate that prevented the Brooks from breaking in "naturally", or maybe I got a mahogany special, but the hammer worked for me. If you are ready to give up on the seat anyway, attack!
#25
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I voted "other". When I slide forward on the saddle, it means that I'm on a long climb.