Setting Up Your Bike

It is important to set up your bike correctly to make sure you are comfortable, safe, do not put strain on your back, wrists or knees and can ride your bike with the minimum effort. Basic adjustments to the position of your seat and handlebars are quite simple but can improve your ride immensely.

Our guide below will help you set up your bike to suit you, but you can always take it to a bike shop if you are not confident at making the adjustments yourself. You should go through the adjustments in the order specified, as one adjustment will affect the positioning of the next item.

1. Seat Height

Ask a friend to hold your bike for you, or place it next to a wall or fence so that you can support yourself while sitting on the bike. Sit squarely on the saddle, put the balls of your feet on the pedals and rotate backwards until one pedal is at its lowest point. The leg on this pedal should be almost straight, with just a slight bend at the knee. Unless you are a confident cyclist, you may also want to ensure you can touch the ground with your toes (not flat-footed) on both sides of the bike while sitting on the saddle. If you have to slide your bum from side to side to reach the pedals at their lowest points on each side then the saddle is too high.

Raise or lower the seat to the correct position by loosening the bolt or quick release where the seat post enters the frame of the bike and sliding the seat post up or down. Seat posts usually have a "maximum" mark engraved into them. Do not raise the saddle above the maximum mark. If it feels like you need to do this, you probably need a bigger bike. Remember to ensure the saddle is pointing straight forward and tighten firmly before re-mounting.

2. Seat Position

The saddle can be moved forwards (sliding towards the handlebars) or backwards (towards the back wheel). Sit squarely on the widest part of the saddle with your feet on the pedals and rotate until one pedal is at the 3 o'clock position. In this position, your knee should be directly above the central axis of the pedal. Loosen the bolt underneath the saddle and slide the seat forward or backward until this is achieved, then tighten firmly. This will prevent strain on your knees.

3. Saddle Tilt

The saddle can be tilted forwards or backwards to slope towards either the handlebars or the back wheel, using the bolt underneath the saddle. Start off with it completely horizontal and make gradual alterations over the course of a couple of rides if necessary to find the most comfortable position for you. You should not slide either forwards or backwards while cycling.

4. Handlebar Height

The handlebars on some bikes can be adjusted up or down to give you a more upright or more head-down position. The correct position is a matter of personal preference. A head-down position is more aerodynamic and allows you to go faster, but can put more strain on your wrists and neck.

Try starting out with the handlebars at the same height as the saddle, then raise or lower to suit you. As with the saddle, never raise the handlebars past the "maximum" mark on the post. The handlebar height is usually altered by loosening the bolt in the centre of the "stem" (where the handlebars go into the main frame of the bike), then moving the stem up or down. You may also need to hit the top of the bolt gently with a rubber hammer after loosening it to free the stem completely. The handlebar height on mountain bikes cannot usually be changed without replacing the stem for a longer or shorter one.

The handlebars may twist in relation to the wheel while loosened, so make sure the centre of the handlebars is properly in line with the front wheel before tightening securely. (Hold the wheel between your knees while rotating the bars to the correct position if they have gone out of alignment).

5. Handlebar and Brake Position

Once you have made all the other adjustments to your riding position, you need to make sure you can reach and operate the brakes easily and comfortably. Sit on the bike with your feet on the pedals and hands on the handlebars in normal riding position. Put your fingers on the brakes and pull them a couple of times.

When your fingers are on the brakes, the angle of your hands should be in line with the rest of your arm – your wrist should not be bent upwards or downwards. To bring the brake levers into the correct position, you can either rotate the whole handlebar by loosening the bolt in the middle of the bars and rotating the whole thing forward or backward, or you can loosen the bolt holding each individual brake lever on to the bars and move each one into position. Remember to tighten everything securely.

Once in this position, if you have trouble reaching and pulling the brake levers (you should be able to do this with your index and middle fingers), then you need to move the levers further back towards the grips. This is usually done via a small adjustment bolt where the brake lever enters the body of the brake unit. Loosen this bolt, move the levers slightly closer to the handlebars and re-tighten. Don’t over-do it or you will not leave enough room between the lever and the grip to actually pull the brakes when you want to use them.