Bicycle Seat Replacement and Positioning for One-Bolt Seatposts

Written By: Anna Garverick

Comments: 1

Bicycle Seat Replacement and Positioning for One-Bolt Seatposts

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

Replace your bicycle’s seat (officially known as a saddle) and upgrade your bike riding experience with this simple tutorial. Whether your seat has been mangled by a squirrel, is making your ride uncomfortable, or if you are just ready for a change, this guide will walk you through how to replace and position your new seat for maximum comfort. You can purchase a new bike seat from your local bike shop or online retailer.

A good bike seat in the correct position will not only provide a more comfortable ride, but also encourages good posture while minimizing unhealthy strain. It is important to make sure you have the best possible seat set-up for you, whether you are racing in the Olympics or just racing to class.

Tools

Hex Key

Step 1

Before you begin the replacement, find the properly sized hex key for your bike's seat clamp bolt. It should fit snugly in the bolt and the bolt should turn with the hex key without slipping.
Access the bolt securing the seat clamp from underneath the saddle.
Use a hex key to loosen the bolt by turning counter clockwise until the seat can be removed from the clamp.

My problem is that the metal frame came apart from the seat top at the front tip and I cannot bend the metal or the seat to to get them back together again before reassembling the seat. So frustrating.

Jimmy Sparks G -

Step 2

Remove the seat from the clamp.
It is possible that your clamp will disassemble into separate parts once the bolt is loosened. If the clamp has fully disassembled, keep track of its bolt, bottom plate, top plate, and nut.

Step 3

Position the new seat's rails into the seat clamp with the clamp lying approximately flat and in the center of the rails.

Step 4

Replace the bolt by twisting it in the clockwise direction while holding the top nut in place.
This step may not be necessary if the clamp was not fully disassembled when removing the old seat.

Step 5

Turn the bolt clockwise with the hex key to partially tighten the seat so it is stable enough to hold your weight.

Step 6

Improper bike seat positioning can lead to discomfort while riding and even stress injuries.
Test the position of the new seat by sitting on it. You should be in a neutral position (like in the photo) which allows you to comfortably reach the handlebars. You should not have any uncomfortable pressure when you sit.
Check for a moderately arched back without strain in the shoulders, wrists, or hands.

Step 7

If you feel cramped through the elbows and shoulders, have an uncomfortable negative arch in your back, or your upper torso is positioned directly above your arms (potentially causing wrist pain), your seat may be too far forward.
If your seat is too close to the handlebars, push the seat back and test it for comfort again.

Step 8

If you are overextending your arms, overarching your back, or feeling discomfort when reaching for the breaks, your seat may be too far backwards.
If your seat is too far away from the handlebars, push the seat forward and test it for comfort again.