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It is a standard column bicycle seat and I realised maybe I should have it raised to top (I can still stand the bicycle up using my toes) but the saddle rocks as there is no column to stop it moving and it doesn't have any other supports.

I don't want it fixed forever but still want the saddle to be stable, with minimal movement. How can I do that? 90% written here I guess

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The movement is 1 mm. I will correct this later.

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  • 34
    You should not have the seatpost raised so high that it starts to move. It should be inserted at least 8cm (~3inch) into the seat tube. Usually there is a marking for the "Minimum Insertion". Consider chainging to a bigger frame size instead, or a longer seatpost.
    – Robert
    Sep 10, 2019 at 10:00
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    All the answers allude to the fact that you can damage your frame if your seatpost is raised too high. To explain it, your seatpost acts like a lever against the frame. If you've got inserted at a normal depth, e.g. the bottom of the seatpost is below where the top tube joins the seat tube, there's no issue. If you have the post inserted above the minimum insertion mark, then it's levering against a short section of frame. It will crack your frame.
    – Weiwen Ng
    Sep 11, 2019 at 13:27

7 Answers 7

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Your seat post is not all the way up — it's too far up.

If you need the saddle at that height, then you need a longer seat post. As mentioned in comments, there is usually a "minimum insertion" point marked on the post.

Don't ride the bike with the seat post too far out of the seat tube. It's dangerous as the seat post may collapse under you, and you risk damaging the top of the seat tube even if that does not happen.

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    I've damaged a frame by having an excessively high seat post (and a lot of supported weight !)
    – Criggie
    Sep 10, 2019 at 19:48
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    "you risk damaging the top of the seat tube" That's probably not the most important thing you risk damaging if the seat collapses if the seat fails while you're sitting on it.
    – Kevin
    Sep 12, 2019 at 21:09
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    @Kevin A bit late here, but yeah. Nature has already blessed us with all the holes we need down there... Sep 17, 2019 at 0:54
  • There's a typo: minumum → minimum (can't suggest an edit).
    – mkrieger1
    Jan 9, 2022 at 9:57
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Seat posts are usually marked with a line indicating a minimum insertion point. Extending the seat post past that point poses a risk of the seat post bending, or cracking the frame. While 250-300mm seems to be the normal original size there are extra long seat posts available. Lengths of 400mm are fairly common. I did see a 700m telescoping (two sections) post for a folding bike. You must also match the seatpost diameter to the bike's frame.

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If you are lucky you can buy a longer post and replace your present one. As mentioned in other answer, each post has a clear mark indicating the maximum usable length, and exceeding it is not a smart idea.

Visit a bike shop and search for a longer post fitting your frame. If the diameter is not weird, you should fine one.

I mentioned the weird diameter out of personal experience: on one of my previous bike the post had a larger diameter in the sub millimeter range than the new one I bought based on the millimeter size, and could not fit.

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  • It happened to me too with an older bicycle. The post was slightly too small in diameter. Luckly I had one of these seat post shims of the right size: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0674/7751/products/…
    – Robert
    Sep 11, 2019 at 6:24
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    when using shims it's important to make sure they cover the minimum insertion length, or you run into the same problems with leverage as having the seat post too high. Sep 12, 2019 at 17:00
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Have had the same issue..seatpost hight enough is too high..on the boundary from medium to large frame and have to opt for large and short stem instead to get a sturdy saddle height..

As above mentioned not observing the minimum insertion is incredibly dangerous and costly(will possible write the frame off)..if nothing else works go up a frame size..and shorten the stem a bit..works a treat for me(100mm instead of 120mm stem for example)..

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  • That is one solution, but buying a new (longer) seat post is probably a lot cheaper than a new frame.
    – DavidW
    Sep 11, 2019 at 13:50
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    ".. not observing the minimum insertion is incredibly dangerous ..." Nah, it's credibly dangerous.
    – Transistor
    Sep 11, 2019 at 17:47
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More info

The post diameter is often stamped into the post. There are a number of diameters, some very close together, using a post slightly too small in diameter can result in a clamp that won't tighten enough allowing your post to gradually sink into the seat tube or turn easily. Not a problem if you like to ride side saddle or with your knees in your face :) A post that's just slightly too large in dia probably won't fit the seat tube. If you've ever extracted a stuck post, it's obvious they're meant to fit tightly.

ebay has lots of long steel and aluminum posts; I bought a 400 mm long post from ebay a few years ago.

BTW, the longer the post, the farther back you sit and the easier it is to lift the front wheel. May not be noticeable, the seat can be moved forward on its rails some to compensate if it is.

Enjoy!

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As other answers said, you should not ride w/o at least a few inches of seatpost inserted into the seat tube of the bicycle.

If you cannot locate a seatpost that is long enough (which you should be able to do), or otherwise want to use the seatpost you have, seatpost extenders exist that might be able to foot the bill. Essentially, the are two parts -- a long tube that inserts into your seat tube (as a normal seat post would do) and an upper part that acts like another seat tube and into which you can slide your existing seat post.

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I can only copy all the other answers. Do not pull the seatpost too far up.

There is a minimum insert mark on the seastpost. The reason is the post is not vertical so while sitting on it you are bending the post. When the post is mounted too shallow, it can bend or break the frame.

I cannot recommend using longer seatpost either, because longer post means higher bending momentum. You can bend or break the post itself, damage the frame or both.

Wery nasty injuries come from seat and seatpost failures!

If you need to pull the saddle up that much, the frame is too small for you. I would strongly recommend giving the bike to someone smaller tha you are and getting yourself bike that fits you.

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  • Larger bicycles don't exist in Japan. Nearly one size for adults- some variation in wheel sizes. I asked for a longer post and the shop that I bought it from doesn't have longer posts. Apr 12, 2020 at 6:18
  • Since the post is not mounted vertically the superhigh seat means your position may be too close to rear axle. Which means lower grip on the front wheel.
    – Crowley
    Apr 13, 2020 at 14:51

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