Layback seatpost why

Thanks guys good to know. There are dozens of things that could be giving you a sore back. Have you looked at anything else? Another is pushing gears that are too high rather than spinning. Just wondering what makes you think lengthening your bike will help with lower back sorness towards the end of your ride.

Sorry to jump on this but I knew someone would post something along these lines, seems to be a bit of a STW favourite. At least you qualified it with your claim! So someone with there saddle in that position is not riding a too smaller bike, necessarily. Try telling th elikes of Cadel Evans, Jaroslav Kulhavy they are riding the wrong sized bike! In this case though does sound like unless you OP still feel like you feet are too far underneath you then the stem length looks a better bet to increase the length of the bike.

You could probably go an extra cm or 2 without really noticing. I found the cure for lower back pain was to put the seat further forwards, and to raise the seatpost somewhat. PS, OP — make changes a bit at a time, ie. Making a big change at once can lead to worse issues!

Lower back pain resulting from bike set up can be very personal. The age old make the reach shorter and put the bars up works for some which I realise is not what you OP is saying just talking generally , and as a sweeping statement works for most people riding a bike.

Harder to do it some ways opposed to opening your wallet but as a rule more effective. Loads of great info there guys, thanks. I am riding a frame that is probably a bit too small for me, but I preferred the handling to the larger bikes. The bike feels fine at the beginning and it is only towards the end that I start to get the problem.

I thought that lengthening the distance detween the saddle and the bars would allow me to have a flatter back and reduce the pressure on it. May be obvious, but just to add — lower back is often tight hamstrings etc, so as well as stretching, you could try reducing the reach. Lower bars give you more of a stretch, as do wider bars, and vice versa. So move the saddle forward on the rails, reducing the distance between the bars and seat? If in doubt, measure your old post. Whichever length you choose remember to not exceed the recommended minimum insertion limit on the post.

The amount of layback — ie. A post with a lot of layback will result in the saddle being further from the bars, putting you in a more stretched out position. If you feel the saddle is too far back or for efficient pedalling or for time trialling where you want to be further forward , an inline post with no layback is a better option.

The cradle or clamp at the top of the seat post which holds the saddle rails can tilt forward and back to allow you to fine tune the saddle position. The saddle clamp will be held in place with one or two bolts. Twin bolt systems are more common as they are more secure and spread the load better.

Some have the bolts fore and aft, some are left and right, it just depends on manufacturer. Certain systems such as the 3T Difflock have a sideward bolt system which hold the saddle rails in the same position but allow for easier adjustment. There are very few at the moment but some manufacturers have cradles which can only be used with their corresponding saddles.

These will have a patented rail system which is unique to that manufacturer and cannot accept any other saddle. Some manufacturers produce a saddle with an oval shape rail which can only be used with corresponding seatpost.

It looks round from a distance until you try and put it in a traditional saddle rail and tighten it…. One last — and some say crucial — aspect is colour. Does your post match your bars and stem ie. Or maybe show your patriotic side with the Thomson Elite Union Jack seatpost which, as the name suggests, has the Union Jack flag emblazoned around it!

Regular riders are well served with either a lightweight aluminium seat post or a carbon seat post. Racers should look for the lightest and stiffest carbon seat post that they can afford.

Shop for road bike seat posts at Merlin Cycles.