How long are your legs???

[Iwasgoodonce]

Being somewhat 'unusual' of bodily dimensions, (6' tall, 29" inside leg with arms more suited to someone around 6'5"), I probably shouldn't ask this. I have seen some amazing looking bikes on this forum where the tyres are sat in glorious sunshine but the saddles are coated in snow they are that high! My question is this. Are your legs REALLY that long? Don't just say 'yes, moron', and move on to something more interesting. Get a tape measure out. Put the cranks in a staight up/straight down position and measure the distance from the top of the saddle to the bottom of the pedal stroke. Now measure your inside leg. Have excuses ready if the wife catches you! Surely the leg measurement should be slightly less than the saddle to pedal length?
I went to be fitted for a custom road bike frame and was quite surprised to find the bike position I had used for years was too big as described. I was having to roll my hips to compensate and was wasting energy and power.
Go on, have a quick measure and if your legs are that long just put this post down to envy!
(Sorry about the imperial, I was born in 1970 so am pre-decimilisation. 6'=183cm)

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

D'oh! Don't know why this went into the road forum. Mistake on my part, it should have gone in the MTB forum. Roadies tend to be a bit more careful of saddle heights etc. Read an article once where a manager was giving one of his riders a hard time for forgeting to raise his saddle 1.5mm when he changed bikes. Just careless some people!

Move it if you want!

 

[zarniwoop]

i've got a 34 inch inside leg,

road bike, top of saddle to pedal = 37 inch (following tube)
top of saddle to road = 41 inch

mountain bike = 34 inch
to road = 40

 

[jimihendrix]

I'm 5'7 with a 30" inside leg, the saddle height on my bike is technicaly slightly high as my legs just about lock out as opposed to being slightly bent when pedaling but i find it better like that and never felt that i'm rocking my hips or wasting energy.

I've allways had a mountain bike, never tryed a road bike

First time i was out riding in a club in the early 90's the head guy told me my saddle was too high so i lowered it, but did'nt like it, as soon as he was'nt looking i raised it again

Don't know what the pedal to saddle height is, bike is locked in the garage and I'll measure it later when i'm out there later .

Heres a pic of it anyway with the saddle at it's usual height

 

[orange71]

I have a 35" inside leg and measure top of saddle to pedal 39".

 

[tintin40]

my legs reach the ground :shock: 31'' i think. But my bike is set up for when i'm seated. I can't reach the ground when i stop. I have to un-seat or lean right over OR use the kerb as a foot rest

 

[orange71]

yes I can't reach the ground when seated

 

[Wold Ranger]

I can only just touch the ground with my tiptoes, 31 inch V's 29 leg, if I put the saddle down to 30 inch, my thighes burn like hell after half an hour and my legs cramp up, I also get arse ache with the rocking of my hips.

 

[gump]

the touch the ground thing can be misleading - 1/2" on BB height, or fat tyres will make it feel very different

I am just under 6' with ~34" inside leg, hence the high saddles! At least all my bikes look cool though, just that the pins are all on the limit :cry:

Not sure on what the seat height to pedal measurement is offhand, but one day for fun (how sad??) I measured 6 of my bikes for seat/bb and seat front to handlebar distance and they were all set up so close it was scary ~ couple mm, all done by ride feel alone

 

[Tallpaul]

35" Inside leg with 39" Saddle to Pedal.