The Megacycle’s recommendation on how best to set up your bike! This is very important for your comfort and safety. At your first class please feel free to ask an instructor if you have any questions at all.
To set the seat height at a level that is right for you, sit on the saddle and place the balls of your feet on the pedals. Push down on one pedal, stopping it at the bottom of the pedal stroke, where your foot is at its furthest point from your body. Your leg should be almost fully extended, but with a slight bend in the knee, and your hips should not rock as you pedal.
Once you get the seat about right, place your pedals in the horizontal position (parallel to the ground) and look down to see how your knee is lining up with your pedal: a plumb line hanging from the bottom of your forward knee cap should align with the center of the pedal.
All good? Great!
Now, adjust the seat forward or backward accordingly, and remember that you may now need to raise or lower the seat slightly since the seat’s fore-aft position affects your reach to the pedals.
Now see how your hands feel on the handlebars. The majority of your weight should be in your saddle. The handlebars are really there for balance; you don’t ever want to be leaning on the handlebars! If you find you are leaning on the handlebars, you can raise them to balance your weight back into your seat. Handlebar height is a rider’s choice, so trying different heights will work best for each member.
