Getting used to riding a bike with the correct posture is essential to avoid knee, back or even wrist pain. It is possible that nothing will happen for one day in an inappropriate position, but if this bad positioning is repeated over time, the risk of injury will increase.
Keep in mind that the correct position to ride a bicycle is different depending on its type. In this article, we will focus on the proper posture to ride an urban electric bike like the Carmela, taking into account key aspects such as the saddle, the handlebars or the placement of the hands and feet. Let’s try the bmx bike for 6ft tall.
How to sit on a bicycle correctly?
Many people would ask me about the correct way to sit on a bicycle. So, I thought I should write an article on the topic for those who are beginners and don’t know what the right way to sit on a bicycle is.
In order to keep the pressure on the buttocks and abdominal muscles, you must not lean back too much. Also, you should not sit at the edge of the seat because it can cause you pain and injury to the knee. You may also like to read https://greatestjournal.com/how-do-i-know-if-my-bike-chain-needs-oil/
The most important thing is to sit with your back straight, knees slightly bent and your feet close to the pedal. If you have a big stomach, then your abdomen should be pulled in.
If you think you know everything about sitting on a bicycle, then you can also read the following article.
Sitting on a Bicycle
- Sit on a bicycle facing forward, with your legs slightly bent.
- Place your hands on the handlebar and hold your bike upright.
- Your knees should be slightly bent.
- Your feet should be near the pedals, and you should put weight on the front of your seat.
- Your butt should be pulled in slightly.
- Pull your shoulders up, but do not lean back too much.
- Don’t forget to adjust your height according to the bicycle.
- You should not sit at the edge of the seat.
- Avoid touching the handlebars if you can.
- If you’re tired, don’t rush, and stop for a while.
If you’re going to ride on the road, you should make sure that your body is facing forward. In fact, it’s quite easy for you to maintain this posture. However, if you’re going to ride on a track or a path, you need to adjust your posture slightly. You’ll find it easier if you maintain your feet flat on the ground and lift your knees just a little bit. You’ll find it easier if you lift your left knee and bring it closer to the saddle, and you’ll find it easier if you lift your right knee and bring it closer to the saddle.
Correct posture riding a bike according to its type
The first starting from the left is a typical Dutch or English touring bicycle, in which the handlebar is closer to the body and allows riding with the back completely upright (almost 90º of the back with respect to the ground). On the other hand, the second bicycle is also urban but with the handlebars a little more separated. In this case, the angle of the body should be about 60º or 70º.
These first two seek comfort and safety, while the two on the right are designed to cover many kilometers and facilitate pedaling with the maximum possible force. Specifically, the third is a bicycle touring bike, whose torso inclination must be between 30º and 60º, while the last one is a sports bike, whose shape requires an inclination of 15º to 30º, optimizing the force exerted on the pedals and the rider’s aerodynamics.
The correct saddle position: height, tilt and more
Much of the success or failure of our position on the bike will be determined by the position of the saddle. If your height is not correct, we risk knee injury and strain on muscles and tendons.
As we explained in our article on bicycle sizes, urban bikes are one size fits all and do not need to have the saddle as high as sports bikes. The height of the saddle on bikes like Carmela should allow the knee to oscillate between a 70º angle with respect to the torso when the pedal is up and 150º when it is extended with the pedal down. We must never reach 180º (fully stretched) since that would end up causing us injuries.
It is also important, both for comfort and safety, that it is easy to place a good part of the foot on the ground. In the city, we are stopped at traffic lights every few minutes, so stopping and starting have to be easy for us.
The inclination of the saddle, although sometimes we do not give it importance, is another point to take into account. It should always be horizontal to avoid discomfort in the perineal area.
Also, it is important to place your footwell on the pedal. A common mistake in urban bikes is to put the foot in the center of the pedal, but the correct position would be to push with the distal part or forefoot.
The correct position of the handlebars and wrists
Once we have the saddle at the perfect height, we must adapt the handlebar to ensure that the angle of our body when taking the handlebar is between 60º and 70º with respect to the ground. In the case of Carmela Bikes, it is regulated in a studied way so that the ergonomics are correct for all cyclists, whatever their height or arm length.
When taking the handlebar, it is necessary to pay attention to how we put the wrists. The posture of the hand must be straight, without the wrist being flexed in any way, neither sideways nor up or down.
In conclusion,
This position is a bit more difficult to maintain than the previous two, as the rider has to balance the bike, the rider, and the bike all at the same time. This is why the rider has to have good balance, coordination, and a strong core.
