Saddle height confusion

[Milesalex]

Hello

I’m looking for some advise regarding saddle height. I had a custom Paul Hewitt Alpine frameset made 15 years ago which I still use today and is my favourite road bike.
I am 5’9” tall with a 31” inside leg, when Paul did the bike fit I got a drawing showing all the dimensions of the frame and the saddle height is 733mm to BB. I have always set it at this height with no problems.
But when I calculate myself using the various formulas its more like 700mm, how could this be so different. I have regular limb / torso length however I do have shortish arms which is why the head tube is a bit longer than stock.
It’s always bugged me and I’m even thinking of having another bike fit.

Would appreciate any advise.

Cheers in advance.

 

[Canuk]

15 years ago... You might have shrunk! Happens to the best of us

 

[Milesalex]

15 years ago... You might have shrunk! Happens to the best of us

I did think of that.....checking my height now....here goes........

 

[non-fixie]

I am not sure I understand the problem. Or whether there is a problem. If you're happy with your saddle at 733mm why not just leave it there? And if you're curious, lower it 1/4" and see if that feels better.

FWIW, my saddles are also higher than most formulas tell me it should be. Doesn't bother me.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Hello

I’m looking for some advise regarding saddle height. I had a custom Paul Hewitt Alpine frameset made 15 years ago which I still use today and is my favourite road bike.
I am 5’9” tall with a 31” inside leg, when Paul did the bike fit I got a drawing showing all the dimensions of the frame and the saddle height is 733mm to BB. I have always set it at this height with no problems.
But when I calculate myself using the various formulas its more like 700mm, how could this be so different. I have regular limb / torso length however I do have shortish arms which is why the head tube is a bit longer than stock.
It’s always bugged me and I’m even thinking of having another bike fit.

Would appreciate any advise.

Cheers in advance.

Check the saddle is level, and not at an extreme fore/aft.
Wearing "normal" shoes, could even be spd cycling shoes, sit square on the saddle, with your heel on the pedal.
At the bottom of the pedal stroke, your leg should be almost straight, but not quite.
That's it.
You may feel the saddle's is a little low. That's normal.
When you are pedaling, try to keep your cadence up around 90, so "1-2-3" a second.
You need to grow the right muscles. So if your setup has been a little wrong, it takes time and effort to adapt.

15 years ago... You might have shrunk! Happens to the best of us

Almost all age related shrinkage is in the spine. old riders often have av taller, shorter stem

 

[Canuk]

I had a very nondescript tourer about 20 years ago. It was pretty ordinary but it fitted me perfectly and it was extremely comfortable set up to do century rides on. I probably happened on this by chance, but I've used the exact same measurements for saddle height and bars reach every since and it's never failed me.

I guess like a lot of these things, we arrive at the perfect fit by trial and error. I've never went for a bike fitting and I doubt I ever will.