The first critical part to properly fit a bike is the saddle. Many ways have been used over the years to find the optimal height. The latest research shows that the most reliable measure is when the cyclist is seated on the bike. With the pedal at the bottom dead centre (6 o’clock) and the foot parallel to the ground, the knee should be bent at 35° to 30° for recreational cyclists and 30° to 25° for road cyclists.

To avoid injuries and decrease the energy cost of cycling, the saddle should be set as high as possible while comfortably maintaining those ranges of knee bend.