| 1) Seat Height | | | | your bike providing the biggest |
| The easiest way to adjust the height of | | | | difference in body position. For a |
| your seat is to put on whatever shoes | | | | typical road bike or general bike, the |
| you normally wear to go biking and | | | | height of the handlebars should be |
| position your bike next to a counter or | | | | either equal or up to three or four |
| a doorway. Hop on your bike, balance | | | | inches below the height of the seat. |
| yourself so that you and your bike are | | | | This isn't to say that it is bad to have |
| upright, and then put your heal on your | | | | your handlebars higher than your seat; |
| pedal in its lowest position. To have | | | | it will just put more strain on your |
| an optimal height, your leg should be | | | | body. Simply put, the higher your |
| able to be fully extend in this | | | | handlebars, the farther back your center |
| position. This way, when you are | | | | of mass will be on your bike. This will |
| pedaling on the balls of your feet, your | | | | result in more weight being put on your |
| leg will be able to do the most work | | | | hips and butt, making you really feel |
| without hurting your knees. | | | | all of those bumps in the road. |
| If you feel pain in the back of your | | | | For the people with a need for speed, an |
| knees while pedaling, or you feel | | | | optimal aerodynamic position can be |
| yourself rocking your hips back and | | | | achieved by trying to make your back as |
| forth to reach your pedals, than your | | | | flat as possible. Lowering your |
| seat is too high. Conversely, if you | | | | handlebars farther down than you are |
| feel your legs burning excessively, your | | | | used to might seem a bit uncomfortable, |
| seat might be too low. After moving | | | | but as you work your way up to faster |
| your seat to an approximate position, | | | | speeds and harder pedaling, you will |
| making minor adjustments in either | | | | feel yourself sitting comfortably |
| direction could make your ride more | | | | farther forward and more aggressive. |
| comfortable. The only way to know is to | | | | When in high gears and hard pedaling the |
| adjust your seat on the road, so if you | | | | power of your legs will actually support |
| don't have a quick release seat | | | | your upper body in the aerodynamic |
| adjustment, bring that allen wrench with | | | | position. |
| you for a ride and play around with your | | | | For a more comfortable ride, raising |
| height. | | | | your handlebars could be the key. It is |
| Interesting note: | | | | almost a trade-off, the higher the bars |
| For the skiers out there, if you lower | | | | the more comfort but the less "powerful" |
| your seat an inch or two in the late | | | | of a position, the lower the handlebars |
| fall, you can get in better shape for | | | | the less comfort but the more aggressive |
| the upcoming winter. The lower position | | | | position. It often depends upon the |
| will work more of the muscles used in | | | | length of a ride you want to do, or the |
| skiing. | | | | type of cycling. Just make sure that |
| 2) Handlebar Height | | | | you have a comfortable seat if you want |
| Next to seat height, handlebar height is | | | | to be sitting upright. |
| the easiest adjustment you can make to | | | | |