I have a problem. I like to take on steep down hill sections as part of my daily romp over the moor but also like to keep my saddle quite high to get optimal peddle strokes on the flats. The result is a bit of a squeeze past the saddle when I drop me arse over the rear wheel. This in itself aint so bad but with my SDG comp saddle the return often catches even the tightest shorts resulting in ripped shorts or me stuck over the rear. Any one got a recommendation for a saddle that is easy to 'squeeze' past. Also does anyone have a better term for this manouever...squeezing my arse over the rear wheel sounds just plain wrong!

Ta
Paul

Sounds quite kinky I'd say :)

Perhaps you are too stretched out ie the saddle is too far back in the rails or the bike could be too big for you top tube or stem length.Try moving the saddle forward slightly.Optimum position is this,sit on the bike with the cranks in the horizontal position,from the front of the knee drop a vertical imaginary plumb line,it should intersect roughly with the pedal spindle.

I have a similar problem, just keep stopping to change the saddle height. I except Podge's comment, the bike is too big for me, but I'm stuck with it now.

The problem is that I spent a lot of time configuring my seatpost height and saddle position for top pedalling efficiency as per all those guides you read in mags and books and that. And I really like to 'clean' my 20k route so I don't really don't want to have to stop. I am probably facing having to get used to a lower setup in order to get a cleaner positional transition. I guess I was hoping that someone had a neat trick or cool peice of kit that would let me have me cake and eat it....c'est la vie!

I think there are some telescopic seat posts coming out soon that allow you to adjust the saddle height on the fly office chair style. They have the added plus of offering a bit of suss too.

Make sure your shorts are hoikeed nice and tight around your crotch and drop your soulders a little lower as you come back forward after being off the back.
Could the seat move a fraction orward without upsetting the pedal stroke, further forward enchourages a more spinny way of pedalling anyway

Will try a more forward position for the saddle on todays run. See how it goes.

I had a the same issue with a spec BG saddle that came on my bike, kept catching my shorts and was diffult to squeeze past.

I changed to a WTB laser V and I have no such probs anymore - must of been to do with the saddel shape. Of couse some people hate WTB saddles and some love em. I hade the top notch one with ti rails on my marin, which inspired my to get the cheap version of the same sadle, £20 from some shop that advertised in MBR. Or you LBS might have some sadles thay have taken of bikes when people upgraded at point of sale so you could try some out cheaply that way.

If a new saddle dosen't help then you could try greasing your thighs


sorry can't help my self sometimes

The original Selle Italia Flite without gel or kevlar. Bike-components.de still sell them.