You can adjust the peloton seat via the handles, which are situated on the base of the seat post and under the saddle.
As a bike fitter myself, I know that getting the right saddle height can completely change how your Peloton Bike feels. Over the years, I have helped many people achieve the correct position on their bikes. Doing this can help you ride pain-free and produce more power through your legs.
In this article, we are going to look at how to adjust the reach and the height of the Peloton Bike. The order you should adjust them in, and what you need to remember when doing it. Then we will look at how to get the correct position on the bike.
Table of Contents
The first place to go to is the handle below the Seat Post. This changes the Peloton bike seat height. If you turn the handle to the left, it will loosen the seat post, and you can raise or lower the height of the seat of the Peloton Bike. This is the first step to getting your seat position right.
When you have the right seat height for yourself, turn the handle to the right, and it will grip the post and tighten back up.
There is a common issue that many people face here. The handle will get in the way of your ankle while riding after this. To prevent this from happening on your Peloton bike when the handle is tight, pull it the handlebars, and it will move freely left and right. It would be best if you positioned this vertical out of the way so when you are using the bike, it is safe to do so.
The next place you need to adjust is the adjustment handle under the saddle. This adjuster can bring the saddle backward and forwards. This can bring you closer and further away from the handlebars.
Turn the adjuster to the left to loosen it, move the saddle to the required position and turn the handle to the right to tighten it. Make sure that when you are finished adjusting this handle, it is nice and tight and out of the way of your legs.
I would adjust the seat height first, then the reach after. This is because when you adjust the height, it will automatically adjust the reach because the seat post is not vertical.
The most critical measurement, in my opinion, is the saddle height. If this is incorrect, it can have a significant impact on how you feel when riding the bike.
I highly recommend making a note of where the seat position was initially. So, if you make an adjustment that doesn’t improve the way the bike feels and rides, you can reset it and start again.
When you change the saddle position on your Peloton, it can take time to get used to. It may not feel normal straightaway, so remember to stick with it for a while before changing it.
I recommend going on a couple of rides before thinking about changing it again. A good indication that it is wrong is that after a couple of rides, it won’t feel natural. Or you might be experiencing some pain.
Although Peloton doesn’t recommend how how tight it should be, it’s important for it to not be too loose that it wobbles or too tight that you hear a crack. If you were to do this, it would make the bike unusable, and you might need to replace the seat post.
Also, you don’t want to under-tighten as this can also have a negative effect. If the handles are too loose, the seat post and saddle will be flexible and will rattle while you’re using the bike. It will also lose its position if it moves around too much.
A common question asked is what the right Peloton seat height is for the user. Getting the right height is crucial to getting the most out of your Peloton. If you have an incorrect saddle height, it can lead to knee and hip pain and a terrible experience.
To get the correct seat depth, stand next to the bike and put the Peloton seat at the seat height of your hip bone. This should get your seat height roughly where it needs to be.
If you want to check the seat is the right height, jump on the bike, and when pedaling, you should have a slight bend in your knee at the bottom of the stroke. The correct amount should be 15 degrees bend while your foot is at the lowest part of the pedal stroke. This indicates the right seat height.
Now, let's look at the reach. This is the distance from the tip of your saddle to the base of the handlebars. Getting the right reach is important for comfort. If it's too close, you can find yourself feeling cramped, and this can create hip, back pain. You will also knock your knees when climbing. If you are too far away, you can get similar pain from having to stretch too far forward.
A good indicator is to put your elbow on the tip of the Peloton seat and bring the bike seat forward until you touch the handlebars of the bike. This will roughly get your body where it needs to be.
You will know when the reach is correct because you won't move around the Peloton saddle too much. When climbing, your knees won’t hit the handlebars. When seated, you will have your arms stretched forward with a slight bend of about 10 degrees in the elbows.
Getting the handlebar position right is different for each user. Getting the Peloton user's handlebars at correct height is up to the user of the bike.
For example, Susan, an older homemaker who is new to indoor cycling will have hers higher than usual. It is more comfortable for her, and she might have limited mobility in her hips and hip bone. Another example is John is an ex-racing cyclist. He will have his handlebars lower as he is used to aggressive riding positions.
I recommend starting with your handlebars at the same height as your saddle, then after a few rides, you can either adjust it higher or lower depending on how comfortable you feel.
After a few classes giving it a test ride, if you feel comfortable and find the correct riding position for yourself, it’s now time to log in the adjustment numbers. So, if anyone else uses your Peloton, you can quickly return it to the right position.
The first set of adjustment numbers are located vertically on the seat post. These are for the seat height. The second set of adjustment numbers are under the saddle for the reach, and the last is under the handlebars for handle height.
With these three adjustments, you can get on any Peloton and be ready to ride in minutes. It’s always worth checking these every so often if they have slipped in a heavy Peloton power cycling session.
If you are in pain while riding the bike, you are likely in the wrong position. If you haven't achieved the correct position, consider contacting a local bike fitter and asking them to take a look while you are riding.
Bike fitters typically charge about $80 an hour. Still, if you are investing your money on a high-end bike like a Peloton, it is worth it. You can use the information the bike fitter gives you for not only your Peloton but also other bikes like your road bike.
We are all unique, and even people with the same height and leg length will have different riding positions. It comes down to flexibility and other factors.
Adjusting the Peloton bike seat height and reach is easy to do and a valuable skill, especially in a household where multiple people are using a single bike. Getting the bike settings right will give so much value to the time you spend on the Pelton.
If you are looking to improve this further, a good bit of advice is to look into cycling shoes, cycling shorts, padded seat cover, and other clothing and accessories. Having padded bike shorts can add comfort to riding your Peloton. Also, getting the right shoes and having them set up correctly will make you feel very connected to the bike.
