Adjusting Your Saddle

Adjusting your saddle to its ideal position is essential to avoiding discomfort and preventing injuries. The saddle can be adjusted in three ways: height, fore-aft position, and vertical angle.

The information below provides general suggestions and should not replace a personalized bike fitting. For the best fit, we recommend checking with an expert fit technician at a local authorized Giant retailer.

Saddle Height

There are multiple ways to achieve proper saddle height. We've listed two of the most common methods below with step-by-step instructions. We recommend trying both to determine which method works best for you.

Heel-pedal method

1.Wear your cycling shoes and sit on your bike (you can lean against a wall or table for balance).
2. Place your heel on the pedal and reach the 6 o’clock position; this is the lowest point of the pedal rotation.
3. If your leg is straight and your knee is fully extended, the saddle is at the height considered ideal by most.

4. If your knee is still bent, you may need to incrementally raise the saddle height until you find the right position. A low saddle might cause knee pain.
5. If your heel struggles to keep contact with the pedal or if your hips move side to side while riding, you may need to lower the saddle.
6. When the saddle is at your preferred height, move your foot back to its natural position. You should now see a slight bend in your knee.

LEMOND METHOD

Step 1

Remove your shoes and stand straight against a wall.

Step 2

Find a hardcover book or wooden stick and hold it firmly between your legs. Gently pull the book or stick upward to mimic the saddle resting in your groin.

Step 3

Mark the top of the book or stick's position on the wall and measure its distance from the ground. This is your inseam.

Step 4

Multiply that number by 0.883 and use it to set the distance between the top of the saddle and the center of the bottom bracket.

Saddle Adjustment

Multiple factors go into finding your ideal saddle position including fore-aft adjustment and saddle angle.

Fore-aft position

This ensures the saddle's position isn't too far forward or back. The correct horizontal position ensures comfort and pedaling efficiency. Below are steps to set the saddle to the correct horizontal position:

1. Turn the cranks so that the pedals are in a horizontal position, with the right pedal at 3 o’clock. Sit on your bike and align the ball of your foot with the pedal axles.
2. Ideally, the front of your kneecap should be aligned with the pedal axle. You can use a meter ruler or plumb line to help you visualize the vertical alignment.

3. If the front of your kneecap falls behind the pedal axle, then the saddle should be moved forward.
4. If the front of your kneecap falls ahead of the pedal, the saddle should be moved backward.

Note: The saddle’s position of aligned kneecap, balls of big toes and pedal axle is a starting point, you can further adjust it based on your preference for comfort or efficiency.

Saddle Angle

There is no golden rule when it comes to adjusting your saddle angle, as every rider tends to have a different preference. A proper saddle angle is usually related to a few variables such as body weight, age, flexibility and riding style, as well as the saddle shape and features.

As a rule of thumb, you can start by setting your saddle with a level nose. Minor changes can be made based on your preference for comfort.

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