I think the issue here is that you want to be careful using your seat tube angle to raise your saddle because of how that alters other aspects of your fit.. If a steeper seattube results in you having less saddle setback (usually measured as the distance the tip of the saddle is behind the bottom bracket [everything changes with two different saddles]), you will gain a marginal amount of seatpost exposure. A couple of mm if you move your saddle forward a cm. My concern is that you want to optimize your fit by positioning your saddle relative to the bottom bracket. In the same way that you don't want to move a saddle foward to compensate for too much reach, you don't want to move a saddle forward to gain more exposed seatpost. As a 6'2" rider, I personally favor very slack seat angles to achieve the position I prefer/feels best. However, I've found my 5'1.5" wife and 5'5.5" daughter both felt better with a steeper seat angle and less saddle setback. I'd recommend experimenting with how much saddle set back feels best to you, and then use that to decide on what seat angle you want. I wouldn't be surprised if you prefer a steeper angle, but it's best not to assume as they are too many variables at play such as femur length and flexibility. Another good starting point is measuring your most comfortable bike relative to the bottom bracket to get a starting point for things like saddle setback and once that's established the reach to your bars and how far you like your bars above or below your saddle. Good luck finding a good fit! Zach (in ABQ)
On Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 10:36:27 AM UTC-6 Ben Miller wrote: > "So I'm wondering how the amount of seatpost is affected by the seat tube > angle going from 71.5 degrees like on my Hillborne to something with a more > "aggressive" STA like 73.5. If we assumed the seat tube length were to > remain the same length and be measured the same, would I gain or lose > exposed seat post?" > > In the described situation you'd neither gain nor lose exposed seatpost. > Generally, you're trying to keep your "saddle height" constant across > bikes. "Saddle height" is the measurement from the BB to the top of the > saddle *along the seat tube. *In others words, it's the length of the ST > + exposed seatpost + plus the saddle's height (different from our saddle > height... Suffering from some overlapping terminology). > > So unless you change the ST or the saddle, the exposed seatpost remains > constant. Steepening the ST angle will bring the saddle further from the > ground. But the meaningful distance is to the pedals, and you want that to > remain constant. > > On Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 8:42:03 AM UTC-7 Davey Two Shoes wrote: > >> Hey Gang, >> I can't get a grip on this. I am what we call "seat post challenged" In >> that I have a very short PBH resulting in less than expected exposed >> seatpost per size per my height. Hope that makes sense. >> >> So I'm wondering how the amount of seatpost is affected by the seat tube >> angle going from 71.5 degrees like on my Hillborne to something with a more >> "aggressive" STA like 73.5. If we assumed the seat tube length were to >> remain the same length and be measured the same, would I gain or lose >> exposed seat post? >> >> Sorry to be wordy, I have trouble explaining what I don't understand! >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/1885676a-d28b-4b01-af98-a4f910e815e7n%40googlegroups.com.
