Originally Posted by
StanSeven
yep. A forward saddle position uses quads more while rear position incorporates glutes and hamstrings more. It really boils down to personal body strength and how you want to ride.
Before steep seat angle "triathlon geometry" bikes like Quintana Roo were first developed for the triathlete market, steel road bikes with traditional geometry were commonly seen with saddles moved as forward as possible in triathlons, especially if the rider was not an experienced road racer. As stated above, triathletes who didn't have a road racing background tended to be quad dominant and use of aero bars (quickly adopted by the triathlete market) tended to pull the rider forward quite a bit. It was so common in the late 80s to see the fastest guys with aero bars riding with their 5-hole on the nose of the saddle, the joke was why use a saddle at all when all you need is to just pad the top of your seat post. Then you could also save some weight which was another big deal then.
However, I recall quad dominant riders being called "mashers" and experienced roadies with a more balanced use of hamstrings/glutes/quads being thought of as spinning smoothly.
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WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.