Mark Your Seat

by Coach Matt Russ

Knee pain that occurs while cycling is often caused by a seat that is too low. You can roughly estimate the proper position by putting your heels on the pedals and pedaling backwards. Your heels should just barely remain on the pedals. Once properly adjusted be sure to mark your seat post position with a piece of tape or paint. Bicycle frames and seat posts are often made from different materials which cause the seat to gradually slide down over time. This can occur without your knowledge, changing your position and potentially causing knee injury. When performing a bike fitting I will often find that an athletes seat has moved lower over time. This can be prevented with a piece of electrical tape around the seat post and regularly checking to ensure the seat post clamp is properly tightened. If you are a heavier athlete this is even more important.

Matt Russ has coached and trained elite athletes from around the country and internationally for over ten years. He currently holds expert licenses from USA Triathlon, USA Cycling (Elite), and is a licensed USA Track and Field Coach. Matt is head coach and owner of The Sport Factory, and works with athletes of all levels full time. He is a free lance author and his articles are regularly featured in a variety of magazines such as Inside Triathlon, and Triathlete. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information or email him at coachmatt@thesportfactory.com