Man I'm such a moron, no wonder I've been slow as hell

[LS17]

I have been competing in a couple races and I've always been the last. I've been lapped in every race I've entered and a few I've been asked to leave early a few times because I was so slow. Anyways, I am a total beginner but I thought I could a least hang with other CAT 5s for a while but I was painfully slow and never had power to match their speed.

So I was playing around with my bike today and I raised the seat several milimeters. I did this because I saw a lot of bikes with seats way higher than the handlebars at a local ride. WHOAH. what a difference. Now I know why I've been so slow. I can now cruise at a mcuch higher speed with less effort. My legs feel much better as I'm pedalling and I no longer feel I like I've got no power at all. Compared to before if feels like I was in a constant headwind when i had my seat way low. I think I need to train all over again because I must have not been working out the muscles I need to. My seat is now dramatically higher and I feel much better on the bike and I think it even handles better. What a noob.

 

[KeSs]

from the sounds of it your seat height is probably still wrong. Go to a bike shop and ask them to fit you

 

[PartisanRanger]

I have been competing in a couple races and I've always been the last. I've been lapped in every race I've entered and a few I've been asked to leave early a few times because I was so slow. Anyways, I am a total beginner but I thought I could a least hang with other CAT 5s for a while but I was painfully slow and never had power to match their speed.

So I was playing around with my bike today and I raised the seat several milimeters. I did this because I saw a lot of bikes with seats way higher than the handlebars at a local ride. WHOAH. what a difference. Now I know why I've been so slow. I can now cruise at a mcuch higher speed with less effort. My legs feel much better as I'm pedalling and I no longer feel I like I've got no power at all. Compared to before if feels like I was in a constant headwind when i had my seat way low. I think I need to train all over again because I must have not been working out the muscles I need to. My seat is now dramatically higher and I feel much better on the bike and I think it even handles better. What a noob.

Oh man, I totally feel your pain. For months after getting my first road bike, my seat was at the default height and I never bothered changing it, despite the fact that I'm 6'5" tall with disproportionately long legs. One of the local riders insisted that I raise my seat one day and my improvement was ridiculous. My leg fatigue was significantly lower and, as you noticed, I could get more power with less effort. I'm very conscious of my seat height now and am uncomfortable with the slightest changes to it.

 

[Powerful Pete]

Get someone who knows what they are doing to fit you on your bike. The results of a poor position go beyond bad performance, and could cause nasty things like tendinitis!

Go to a good shop and have them fit you, even if you have to pay for it!

 

[fauxpas]

I was under the impression your seat height is dictated by your leg length. High to allow extension of the leg but not so high that you fully straighten your leg.

I noticed many pro riders riding with seat and posts very high, yet they still peddled without fully extending their legs.

 

[entwidomela]

Your seat height is indeed determined from your leg length. As a general rule of thumb, there should be around a 3 percent bend in your leg at the full extension. On an appropriately proportionate frame, the seat should be higher than the stem.

 

[HowardSteele]

Hey I Understsnd how you felt,My first time out i unknowingly adjusted seat heaight so my feet could touch the ground,After about 5 k's I was finished , I felt like i was going to loose my breafast.
Same solution got my seat to my proper height,i marked my seat post so i could fine tune adjustments and 4 years later I'M so used to the correct height,if the seat post slips slightlly i notice it immidiatlly.
All the best in the saddle.