Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

1+ , James, just put your weight back over the saddle, easier.

ed

that was why i was advised to drop the saddle to make it easier to move my weight around

definitely want a narrower saddle the one on the bike is too wide at the back

...I was told its best to drop the saddle when off road and potentially drop it further for steep descents...

It is all relative I think. If you are used to riding a road bike with the saddle higher than the handle bars then you probably need to lower it. If you are used to riding a jump bike with the saddle scraping the back tyre then you need to raise it.

Personally, unless you are into serious downhill stuff (near vertical, big drops, etc.) then I would have the saddle at a height where you can grip it (lightly) between your thighs. Standing up and gripping the saddle like that gives you a lot more control than sitting down when attempting technical routes (i.e. rough stuff). It also means you can move your weight forwards (for climbing) or backwards (for descending/dropping) pretty easily. Plus, it is much more comfortable over the bumps, unless you have a full-sus but even on one of those you still want to stand for the really big bits.

I used to lower my saddle religiously when I first started riding off-road. Then I kept forgetting to lift it back up again with the resultant achy knees issues. Then I just couldn't be bothered moving it and left it at a reasonable height for general use. Recently I tried lowering it for a particularly 'interesting' single track and regretted it all the way down as I couldn't feel or control the back of the bike with my thighs! I do occasionally get caught out with a chest (or worse, a groin) full of saddle but that is only when doing something silly like a near vertical roll off.

In short, a comfortable height saddle is definitely to be recommended for cross-country type riding.

i drop the saddle all the time (for the downhill steep twisty bits) you can move your body around more and corner better with lower CofG.
this suits the kind of riding i do where you climb up, lower saddle and do a nice bit of singletrack down.
gripping the saddle with your thighs is no good if your backside needs to off to one side when cornering or riding off camber.
i guess whatever works for you.
not bovvered with a gravity dropper though just a decent qr.

Thought seat dropping was for serious downhilling?

Thought seat dropping was for serious downhilling?

Again, I think it's all relative. When I first started riding off road a one foot drop was serious downhilling. Now I'll fly off a couple of feet and expect to get right back on the power as soon as my wheels are on the ground again.

That's another reason I don't like dropping my saddle - it makes it harder to keep on the power if you can't sit down. And riding single speed off-road is all about keeping your speed up!

So I guess it's all a question of what works for you and the way you ride. If you have knee problems with a low saddle, try raising it. If you have saddle impact issues, try lowering it. There is no right or wrong. Probably the most important thing is just don't sit down when riding something technical. Even with a nice comfy full-sus, you have more control when stood on the pedals, knees slightly bent (or very bent according to the terrain). Keep your elbows bent too. Beyond that, try it all and see what feels better.

Thought seat dropping was for serious downhilling?

serious downhilling will not involve dropping the saddle because it's already dropped and the post will be very short. no need to raise it if you are using an uplift.

This seat conversation has me quite confused, goes with listening to too many opinions I guess. Should it be a sepearte thread?

I have two proper hardtails, a 02 rockhopper and a kona hannaana. Both have had better forks fitted. I find alot of the time I'm out of the saddle on muddy bits and no way that far back on down hill bits.

its funny, i have asked the same question on the mtbr forum 29er section

had totally mixed opinion there too

generally people who have adjustable posts (though not all) advocated getting one, those that dont have one say its not needed

i will give riding with the saddle at correct height another month or so (just dropping for technical bits

if the raising and lowering is doing my head in then i shall look at this again, have also been told that Giant are doing a similar type of post soon, so more and more options on the market.

So who's for something this weekend?

I was considering either dorking (be good to go back) or Swinley Forest (near bracknell) since I've never been. Any opinions?

Oh, DJ: You may also want to look at the rockshox reverb (out soonish) if you go down the adjustable seatpost route, it looks pretty promising. I hate the seatpost shuffle myself, generally I leave it full height then drop it only for the really nasty stuff. Narrower saddle will almost certainly help s'long as it is still comfy enough for putting the miles in.

possibly up for sunday this weekend

Busy for the next few weekends but up for more riding in November

James, if it's any help, i used to ride MTB with the seat height the same as i would on a road bike, only dropping it with QR on technical bits like people are saying.

For this to be seamless and less annoying than it otherwise would be i scored the seatpost in 2 places, having found the optimum height for both technical and road riding.

having marked the seatpost it's a matter of 2 secs to lossen QR, drop saddle, line up, tighten QR. Then GO. Simples. Reverse for raising the saddle. Easy.

Up for Sunday too, let me know if there's anything.

i need to bring my MTB from Wales... it's been a while.

You should, put on some BIg Apple (fattest possible) and go around London, I guarantee you'll like it.

... or Swinley Forest (near bracknell) since I've never been. Any opinions?

I would definitely recommend having a wander around Swinley at some point. There are some great single trails hidden away. Unfortunately, some of the nice easy ones to find are getting excessively motorway like (can you have a six lane single track?). There are still plenty of narrow, twisty ones about though. You just have to explore or go with someone who knows it. Personally, I just get lost and randomly find something interesting to ride!

I would be up for either but am busy this weekend.

You should, put on some BIg Apple (fattest possible) and go around London, I guarantee you'll like it.

Hmm, suicidally dangerous trails nestled among beautiful mountains and valleys versus suicidally dangerous traffic in among evil traffic lights and crossings. Yeah, I can see the similarities between Wales and London. He'll feel right at home...

http://www.lfgss.com/post1715001-1036.html

So I'm thinking swinley tomorrow morning.

Checking appropriate trains to bracknell now. What kind of time is good for those interested?

What time are trains from civilisation and we can take it from there

Either from Waterloo direct to Bracknell at 09 and 39 past every hour (Journey time 1h2m). Or from Paddington changing at reading at 03 and 37 past the hour (Journey time 1h8m).

Personally, Paddington is more useful for me (I'd be joining at Ealing Broadway), but I figure that Waterloo would suit others more.

I can't do tomorrow, still recovering from man flu. Walking to the corner shop was enough to tire me out, how pathetic.

i didn't manage to get out of bed this morning for a ride so i missed one of my mates tri club members dislocating his shoulder on a steep roll-in.

sounds like a classic newby mistake of going over the lip of the roll and changing his mind.
probably either braking or trying to get off the bike right at the point of no return.