Bike Forums - Saddle height

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What is the best method for calculating the best saddle height for a track sprinter? I noticed at the recent British Champs that the sprinters seemed to have quite a high saddle height with their legs being closer to straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke than I'd seen before.

When I'm fitting folks it 100% comes down to personal preference after we get them "95%" of the way there. You can be off by a pretty large margin either direction per some studies conducted on saddle height before it starts negatively affecting power...IF it doesn't cause other issues. (knee and back pain being common) Bike fit in general also can have real and manufactured "trends" (ie people copy other people they think are fast is real, manufactured is people riding bikes that aren't really ideal for them and then trying to "make it work.")
There is no evidence I'm aware of that has ever indicated a higher saddle (or lower for that matter) has an impact on avg or peak power... (outside someone being far out of range) although I'm open to see some. In theory, a higher saddle (straighter leg) could have an impact on aerodynamics (negatively) because you have more cylinder in the wind at all points of the pedalstroke, although that's something that doesn't account for many factors and would be individual.
Maybe crank length?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morelock (Post 22796516)

In theory, a higher saddle (straighter leg) could have an impact on aerodynamics (negatively) because you have more cylinder in the wind at all points of the pedalstroke, although that's something that doesn't account for many factors and would be individual.

But if the higher saddle helps you achieve a flatter back and get your arms at a 90-degree bend, then do you benefit aerodynamically? Or would it be a wash?

Quote:

Originally Posted by topflightpro (Post 22799124)

But if the higher saddle helps you achieve a flatter back and get your arms at a 90-degree bend, then do you benefit aerodynamically? Or would it be a wash?

It's a good question, but not one you could guess the right answer to. There is no doubt an optimal (aerodynamically) sweet spot... for everyone... but finding it would take a lot of testing and results you had faith in.

As we're going to be setting the height on a seat post that we can only adjust be cutting, i.e. a BT Edge, I think we'll start off high and come down in 10mm increments if necessary.

I think work with that 30deg bend in the leg. Seems to be good and allows for full extension with a slight drop of the heel.

When you cut the post, get someone that is willing (because carbon dust) to cut sections off the off cut so you can space back up if they work that way. I had 5, 10 & 15mm spacers, only ever used the 5mm