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Cycling Weekly columnist Michael Hutchinson has published a humorous argument that common-sense bike-fit rules can be a useful starting point for many riders. He also says individual adjustments, particularly for cleat position, saddle choice and knee concerns, can make professional fitting valuable; the column does not establish one saddle position as right for everyone.
Cycling Weekly columnist Michael Hutchinson has argued that straightforward bike-fit rules can provide a workable starting point for many cyclists, while noting that some riders benefit from more detailed adjustments. His column, prompted by a friend lowering his saddle by a few millimetres on a hot ride, uses humour to question rigid rules rather than offer a universal fitting prescription.
Hutchinson recounts riding with his friend Bernard, who stopped during a hot afternoon ride to lower his saddle slightly. Bernard said it felt right, a personal reason Hutchinson ultimately accepts despite teasing him about the explanation. The episode introduces the column’s central point: small changes may suit an individual, and riders need not treat every conventional measurement as an absolute.
Bernard’s informal approach relies on rules of thumb. In the column, he gives a saddle-height formula of 0.833 times inside-leg length, says the saddle should generally be level, and places its tip 60–65 millimetres behind the bottom bracket. His exceptions for triathletes and time-triallists are delivered as jokes, not as a complete account of specialist bike positioning. Hutchinson also cites a handlebar-position test based on whether the bars obscure the rider’s view of the front hub when seated.
Hutchinson says Bernard’s system is “not a million miles out” for many people because riders can adapt to modest differences in setup. But the writer also identifies limits: choosing a saddle through trial and error can be expensive, and detailed work on cleat position, cleat angle and insoles can help address knee problems. The column’s message is not that bike fitting is useless, but that riders should be willing to experiment and seek specific help when needed.
A Starting Point, Not a Universal Fit
Bike position affects comfort and how a rider interacts with the bicycle, but the column distinguishes a general starting point from an individualized setup. Its practical value is in encouraging riders to view standard measurements as guides rather than guarantees, while acknowledging that more precise changes can matter for particular needs.
The distinction also matters when equipment choices are costly or discomfort persists. Hutchinson notes that repeated saddle purchases can add up, and points to cleat adjustments and insoles as areas where detailed fitting may be useful. Readers should not interpret the humorous rules as medical advice or as proof that a professional fit is unnecessary.
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From Workshop Advice to Bike Fitting
Hutchinson places Bernard’s views against a period when bike fitting was not widely treated as a distinct specialism. He recalls that bespoke frame builders often had their own methods for turning body measurements into frame geometry, though he describes those approaches as informal and adaptable rather than standardized.
The article is a personal column, not a controlled study or a report announcing new fitting research. Hutchinson identifies himself as a writer, journalist and former professional cyclist who won national titles in Britain and Ireland and competed at world and Commonwealth level. That experience supplies perspective, but the measurements in the piece remain rules of thumb presented through an anecdote and comic characterization.
“The thing is, I reckon his system is not a million miles out.”
— Michael Hutchinson
Where the Rules Fall Short
The column does not supply research establishing that its measurements suit all riders, nor does it compare professional fitting methods or quantify how much a small adjustment affects performance. It also does not set out a diagnostic process for knee pain or explain when a rider should seek clinical advice. The saddle-height formula and positioning figures should therefore be read as Bernard’s practical rules, not as independently verified standards in this report.
The source gives no publication date, and it does not report follow-up on Bernard’s saddle change or its effect on his ride. Hutchinson’s discussion is explicitly personal and humorous; whether any particular rider benefits from a different saddle angle or position depends on factors the column does not assess.
Use the Advice as a Baseline
The column offers no scheduled follow-up or new fitting program. Its immediate takeaway is for riders to treat basic measurements as a baseline to test, make changes cautiously, and retain the ability to return to their previous setup if an experiment feels worse.
For persistent discomfort or concerns involving cleats, knee position or saddle choice, Hutchinson’s own caveats point beyond the informal rules toward more tailored assessment. The article does not prescribe a particular fitter or method, leaving riders to judge whether their needs go beyond simple adjustments.
Key Questions
Does the column say every cyclist should keep a level saddle?
No. The headline states a broad rule with joking exceptions, but the column’s wider point is that setup can be adjusted. Hutchinson presents the level-saddle advice as part of Bernard’s rules of thumb, not as a universal standard.
What saddle-height formula does the article mention?
Bernard’s rule, as reported by Hutchinson, is 0.833 multiplied by inside-leg length. The column does not specify a measurement protocol or establish that the formula works for every rider.
Does Hutchinson dismiss professional bike fitting?
No. He says informal rules may be adequate for many riders, but notes that detailed attention to cleat positions, angles and insoles can help some people, including riders concerned about knee issues.
Is it reasonable to adjust a saddle during a ride?
The column treats Bernard’s small adjustment as an example of personal experimentation, not a formal recommendation. Hutchinson says riders should not be afraid to tinker and can change a setup back, but offers no specific safety or fitting protocol.
Source: rss
