City bike setup: saddle height and riding position
A city bike is built for sitting upright, and that is exactly right. But most city bikes are ridden with the saddle too low, because riders want both feet flat on the ground at traffic lights. That one habit costs you comfort, strength and, over time, your knees.
Rather than guessing, measure your actual position with your own camera.
Measure my city bike positionWhy the saddle is usually too low
Set the saddle so you can stand flat-footed while seated, and your knee bends far too much at the top of every pedal stroke. On a short ride you barely notice. Over months of commuting that extra bend loads the front of the knee, the same pattern behind most knee pain in cyclists. Pedalling also takes more effort, because your leg never works through its strong range.
A better height lets only your toes reach the ground while you sit on the saddle. At a stop you simply slide forward off the saddle, the way experienced cyclists do. It takes about a week to feel normal.
A quick check at home
Sit on the bike with one crank pointing straight down and put your heel on the pedal. Your leg should be almost straight. When you then pedal normally with the ball of your foot, the knee keeps a small bend at the bottom. If your knee is clearly bent with your heel on the pedal, raise the saddle in steps of about 5 mm and ride a few days before the next step.
Wondering where your own position sits? You can measure it in twelve seconds.
Measure my city bike position →Upright is the point, not a fault
On a road bike a low, stretched position is about speed. On a city or trekking bike you sit up so you can see traffic, take weight off your hands and ride in everyday clothes. A torso angle of 60 to 85 degrees is normal here. If you are comfortable, there is no reason to lower the handlebar for a sportier look.
Hands and wrists
Because you sit upright, most of your weight rests on the saddle. What remains on your hands should spread over the whole palm. Grips with a small platform help, and a handlebar that sweeps back towards you lets your wrists stay straight.
E-bikes follow the same rules
The motor does not change your knees, so the saddle height is set the same way. Because you tend to ride further on an e-bike and rarely stand up on the pedals, a correct height and a comfortable saddle matter even more.
Measure instead of guessing
The heel test gets you close, but your real knee angle while riding is what counts, and the eye cannot judge a few degrees. BikeFit/LAB has a setting for city, trekking and e-bikes, so upright riding is treated as the goal and your saddle height is measured in millimetres.
FAQ
How high should the saddle be on a city bike?
High enough that your leg is almost straight with your heel on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke. While seated, only your toes should reach the ground. Feet flat on the ground while seated usually means the saddle is several centimetres too low.
Is sitting upright on a city bike bad for you?
No. Upright is the intended position on a city or trekking bike. It gives you a view of traffic and takes weight off your hands. A torso angle of 60 to 85 degrees is normal; only the saddle height and reach need to be right.
Do the same rules apply to an e-bike?
Yes. The motor does not change the angle of your knee, so the saddle height is set the same way. Because you often ride longer on an e-bike, a correct height matters even more.
Where this comes from
- Een te laag zadel vergroot de kniebuiging bovenin de trapbeweging en daarmee de belasting van het kniegewricht; een kniehoek van ongeveer 25 tot 40 graden buiging onderin wordt aanbevolen ter voorkoming van overbelasting. (biomechanisch onderzoek naar zadelhoogte en kniebelasting)
General position guidance, not medical advice. Individual anatomy varies; consult a physician or professional fitter for persistent pain.
2026-09-23
Rather than guessing, measure your actual position with your own camera.
Measure my city bike position