Saddle Height - Get It Right

Occasionally I find pedalling more difficult; sometimes it's because the tyre pressures are low, but sometimes it's because the saddle height has dropped over time through riding. A few months ago, the seatpost clamp screw broke, and I had to ride with the saddle at it's lowest, whilst waiting for another to come through the post. This was pretty uncomfortable to the point where I would only ride where I needed to, instead of walking, so I frequently check the saddle height and tyres. I also tighten the seat post clamp to recommended torque pressures using a torque wrench. This seems to work well and the saddle stays put. I take a note of the measurement of how much seat post is left between the frame and the saddle as a guide.

However, observing other cyclists, it seems, around 8/10 have the saddle too low all the time. Given the discomfort I experienced, how could anyone ride their bike all the time with the saddle at the wrong height? I doubt they go long distances. It's more difficult to pedal because of reduced leverage, probably why you sometimes see cyclists with 20+ geared mountain bikes choosing to walk up what is only a mild incline.

I've often thought, no wonder mountain bikes with tens of gears are so popular...because bikes with fewer gears would be too difficult to ride as the saddle would be too low...

Chances are, many adults carry on where they left off as kids when it comes to pushbikes when they were never really shown anything other than how to ride a "two wheeler" replacing the scooter or tricycle, so of course, they've never known anything different. Add to the fact that, many may buy cheap "Bike Shaped Objects" from a supermarket or general store that come in a box with no adjustments being made for the rider, plus no instruction from staff and this could explain it.

If you're reading this, you probably know what the right saddle height should be - roughly high enough for full extension of your leg without locking your knees, with the balls of your feet on the pedals - like they might have showed you at a gym for the stationery cycles. You can get a lot more scientific (and expensive) and ultimately you would have the frame individually made for you, but this is a start for general use.