If you are 177cm tall, don’t try to adjust the seat of a shared bicycle to 180cm!

Anyone who can ride a bike must have ridden the shared bikes that fill the streets, right?

Between scanning the code to unlock the bike and riding away, there is an important step: adjusting the seat height.

As the only adjustable part on a shared bike, this action determines how comfortable or uncomfortable we will ride.

Do you like your seat higher or lower?

Pain in the front of the knees when sitting low, pain in the back of the knees when sitting high

There is a saying in the cycling community, "The bike chooses you, not you choose the bike." The main point of this saying is that there is no one-size-fits-all bike .

In order to ride faster and more comfortably and safely, the size of the bicycle is very important. Some people have short arms, and when they ride on a big bicycle, their shoulders and wrists will be very sore; some people have long legs, and even when the seat is adjusted to the highest position, they still cannot straighten their legs, which is very uncomfortable.

So if you need to buy a bicycle, it is best to measure the size of your limbs and torso first, and then choose the appropriate bicycle frame and parts based on the size data .

Of course, most people still ride shared bikes more often, so let’s go back to the issue of seat height.

Seat too low

The seat is too low, and both feet can touch the ground completely when parking. The advantage is that it is easier to get on and off the vehicle, and parking is also very convenient. This is the seat height that novices like.

However, if you sit too low, your legs will not be able to straighten when pedaling, making it difficult to exert force and riding fast . More importantly, this riding method can easily cause excessive pressure on the patella or quadriceps (the patella is the round bone in front of the knee, and the quadriceps is a large muscle in front of the thigh). After a long time, you will feel soreness in the front of the knee and it will be difficult to go up and down stairs.

If you have knee pain after riding, most likely your seat is too low.

Seat too high

Many experienced riders like to adjust the seat very high, so that when the pedal is at the lowest position, the soles of the feet are a little suspended in the air. In fact, riding in this way is not very smooth and coherent, and the back of the knee is prone to pain .

Since the seat is too high, the whole person seems to be "lying" on the bicycle, which can easily cause sore waist . Moreover, the center of gravity is too high, so the rider cannot sit steadily on the seat, which not only affects the power but is also very dangerous!

If you experience pain in the back of your knees and lower back after a ride, it's likely that the seat is too high for you.

What is the appropriate seat height?

In the simplest terms: if it is comfortable and easy to exert force while riding, and there is no discomfort after riding, then this height is the right height .

Well, I know this sentence is very abstract, so let me tell you the specific method.

✓

first step

Hold on to the wall with one hand, or ask someone to hold the bike while you sit on it to keep your balance;

✓

Step 2

Keep your heels on the pedals and your legs fully extended (you may need to stand up);

✓

Step 3

Now the height of your butt is the most suitable height!

To be on the safe side, you can try riding at this height and ask a friend to watch you from behind. If you ride smoothly and your hips don't swing significantly, this height is fine .

One more word.

The recommended height for shared bikes is marked under the seat. But even if two people are the same height, some may have longer legs and some may have shorter legs. Ultimately, it depends on your own feelings .

What else should you pay attention to when riding a shared bicycle?

While the best case scenario is to customize the bike to your body, there is only one model for shared bikes. In addition to adjusting the seat, what else can we do to make riding shared bikes more comfortable and safer?

The seat must be parallel to the ground

On some shared bicycles, the seat head is pressed up.

This type of bicycle seat will not only hurt your private parts , but will also cause back and hip pain due to your sitting posture.

If you encounter a shared bicycle like this, scan the QR code and report it for repair.

The seat and handlebars must be aligned

Some shared bicycles may have been collided and their front wheels may be crooked.

That is to say, when you sit on the bike and hold the handlebars with both hands, the front wheel will tilt to one side.

It is difficult to control the direction when riding this kind of bike , especially when you need to avoid obstacles. You avoid them based on your usual experience, but the crooked bike may not obey your commands.

Likewise, report a repair request at any time.

Don't step too hard

After all, shared bicycles are not custom-made, and no matter how you adjust them, they may not suit your body shape.

So it is recommended that you pedal gently when riding, and don't pedal too hard, which is also a way to protect your knees . If the size of the bike is not suitable, and you pedal with all your strength, your knees will be injured soon.

Author: Sophia

Editor: Li Xiaokui

Reviewer: Dai Tianyi

Title image source: Tuchong Creative

Guokr ( ID : Guokr42 )

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