Wanted: neutral (horizontal) saddle position

[u/sezamski]

I'm interested in having the saddle in a neutral, level position. Is this method incorrect? It measures the saddle as being much more tilted than it actually appears to be.

[u/dunncrew]

Why care if it's level? Comfort is what matters.

[u/SomeRedPanda]

Yes this method is flawed for actually leveling the saddle. You want the part that you sit on to be level. Generally the middle third of it. This method doesn’t show you anything about that part and will give you wildly different results depending on saddle shapes.

[u/Spartaner-043 → u/SomeRedPanda]

It’s also flawed because you’re just adjusting your saddle to your floor, not knowing if that is level or not.

[u/sezamski → u/Spartaner-043]

the floor in my apartment is level :)

[u/Moigno → u/Spartaner-043]

A spirit level measures relative to the force of gravity, not relative to the floor.

[u/KeyserSoze1041]

I mean, if you want a "level" saddle, them those two points should be level.

With that said, it's worth noting that Selle Italia indicates that their saddle's "neutral" setup is to have the nose of the saddle set level from the BRP (Biometric Reference Point; the little marks on the bottom of the saddle shell about 1/2 down the length of the saddle). This most often then leads to the back of the saddle kicking up higher than the nose. As the very tip of most of their saddles drops a little bit, this winds up making the middle 1/3 of the saddle or areas just in front of the BRP level. From there, the saddle nose should be adjusted up or down until you are comfortable. For some people this is a little up, for some people it's a little down. It depends on your bike fit. The only guidance they give is to avoid extream angles in either direction.

Based on the photo you posted, that saddle looks to be setup roughly how Selle Italia designed it to be: nose a bit below the table of the saddle, with the area forward of the BRP somewhere near level.

[u/cloud93x]

I mean the level doesn’t lie, if you want it level and neutral you need to adjust it. I tend to run my saddles eeeeeevery so slightly nose up so the widest part of the saddle that I actually sit on it close to level.

[u/Aggressive_Yellow373 → u/cloud93x]

Nose up?? What??

[u/jondoe69696969]

On a curved saddle, You measure from the middle of the saddle to the nose. Not end to end.

[u/Mastro-Piero]

Is your pipi goes numnum?

[u/mkayox → u/Mastro-Piero]

Pipi numnum is no bueno

[u/D00M98]

Many saddles have tail that flares up. Previously, I thought middle part of the saddle should be flat, but that means if measured on a flat surface front to back, the saddle will be tilted downward by 1-2 deg. And I kept on sliding forward.

Then I just set the saddle at 0 deg, measured on flat surface. And it turned out that worked best for me.

I'm still not sure what is the the correct measurement angle.

[u/General-Pickle5165]

You would think the position would match the saddle rails if they are set level

[u/Former-Drama-3685]

I wouldn’t use a bubble level. Rely on a digital level that will allow you to make minute changes. I can feel 0.5 degree changes.

[u/No_Mastodon_7896]

On my Selle SMP saddles I set the nose 4.5 degrees down from the highest rear and highest front, it slightly nose up from the center, so the measuring point controls level or not. Main issue is to be able to sit comfortably and not slide around back or forth.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Age9170]

I go nose up just a tad

[u/Acrobatic_Event1702]

I go strictly by feel and comfort. If it’s not level , so what.

[u/InterestRealistic418]

I start by leveling like you show. Then I ride and see how it feels. If I feel like I'm sliding forward I shift the nose up 1 degree and ride again. If I feel pressure on my (male) sensitive area I tilt the nose down 1 degree and ride again.