Electra Bicycle User Manual

Page 9

seat tube

 make sure the saddle is straight fore and aft

 re-tighten the seat post clamp to the

recommended torque (Appendix D or the

manufacturer’s instructions).

Once the saddle is at the correct height, make

sure that the seat post does not project from the

frame beyond its “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum

Extension” mark (fig. 4).

NOTE: Some bicycles have a sight hole

in the seat

tube, the purpose of which is to make it easy to see

whether the seat post is inserted in the seat tube far

enough to be safe. If your bicycle has such a sight

hole, use it instead of the “Minimum Insertion” or

“Maximum Extension” mark to make sure the seat

post is inserted in the seat tube far enough to be

visible through the sight hole.

If your bike has an interrupted seat tube, as is

the case on some suspension bikes, you must also

make sure that the seat post is far enough into the

frame so that you can touch it through the bottom of

the interrupted seat tube with the tip of your finger

without inserting your finger beyond its first knuckle.

Also see NOTE above and fig

WARNING: If your seat post is not inserted in the seat tube as

described in B.1 above, the seat post may break, which could cause

you to lose control and fall.

2. Front and back adjustment. The saddle can be adjusted forward or back to

help you get the optimal position on the bike. Ask your dealer to set the saddle for

your optimal riding position and to show you how to make this adjustment. If you

choose to make your own front and back adjustment, make sure that the clamp

mechanism is clamping on the straight part of the saddle rails and is not touching

the curved part of the rails, and that you are using the recommended torque on

the clamping fastener(s) (Appendix D or the manufacturer’s instructions).

3. Saddle angle adjustment. Most people prefer a horizontal saddle; but some

riders like the saddle nose angled up or down just a little. Your dealer can adjust

saddle angle or teach you how to do it. If you choose to make your own saddle

angle adjustment and you have a single bolt saddle clamp on your seat post, it

is critical that you loosen the clamp bolt sufficiently to allow any serrations on the

mechanism to disengage before changing the saddle’s angle, and then that the

serrations fully re-engage before you tighten the clamp bolt to the recommended

torque (Appendix D or the manufacturer’s instructions).

WARNING: When making saddle angle adjustments with a single bolt

saddle clamp, always check to make sure that the serrations on the

mating surfaces of the clamp are not worn. Worn serrations on the

1. Diamond frame bicycles

Standover height is the basic element

of bike fit (see ). It is the distance from the

ground to the top of the bicycle’s frame

at that point where your crotch is when

straddling the bike. To check for correct

standover height, straddle the bike while

wearing the kind of shoes in which you’ll

be riding, and bounce vigorously on your

heels. If your crotch touches the frame,

the bike is too big for you. Don’t even

ride the bike around the block. A bike

which you ride only on paved surfaces

and never take off-road should give you

a minimum standover height clearance of two inches (5 cm). A bike that you’ll

ride on unpaved surfaces should give you a minimum of three inches (7.5 cm) of

standover height clearance. And a bike that you’ll use off road should give you

four inches (10 cm) or more of clearance.

2. Step-through frame bicycles

Standover height does not apply to bicycles with step-through frames. Instead,

the limiting dimension is determined by saddle height range. You must be able to

adjust your saddle position as described in

B without exceeding the limits set by

the height of the top of the seat tube and the ”Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum

Extension” mark on the seat post.

B. Saddle position

Correct saddle adjustment is an important factor in getting the most

performance and comfort from your bicycle. If the saddle position is not

comfortable for you, see your dealer.

The saddle can be adjusted in three directions:

1. Up and down adjustment. To check for correct saddle height (fig. 3):

• sit on the saddle;

• place one heel on a pedal;

• rotate the crank until the pedal with your heel on it is in the down position and

the crank arm is parallel to the seat tube.

If your leg is not completely straight,

your saddle height needs to be adjusted.

If your hips must rock for the heel to reach

the pedal, the saddle is too high. If your leg

is bent at the knee with your heel on the

pedal, the saddle is too low.

Ask your dealer to set the saddle for

your optimal riding position and to show

you how to make this adjustment. If you

choose to make your own saddle height

adjustment:

 loosen the seat post clamp

 raise or lower the seat post in the