Why do people these days ride BMX-style bikes with the seat as low as possible?

November 29, 2006 6:42 PM

Why do people these days ride BMX-style bikes with the seat as low as possible?

Any half-serious cyclist knows that you get maximum power/efficiency if your leg is straight at the bottom of the stroke, but for some reason people these days prefer to ride BMXs with the seat pushed right down against the frame, which results in them riding with their knees up around their ears. Is there a reason for this, other than faddishness? Just curious.

posted by UbuRoivas to sports, hobbies, & recreation (14 comments total)

Real BMX-rs rarely ride a BMX bike on the seat, often it is just to protect the body from smashing into the frame. When it is used for transportation perhaps they just don't change it, or perhaps keep it the same as sports BMX-rs do as a fad?
posted by SirStan at 6:47 PM on November 29, 2006

In short, 'cos that's what the cool kids are doing.

It's probably the same trend that has led to the popularity of those bikes where you sit down low with really high handlebars, although I've got no idea what they're called.
posted by cholly at 6:48 PM on November 29, 2006

The sit low, bar high bikes are called ape hangers, modeled on custom motorcycles.

As for the BMX guys, most of the time they aren't sitting down even though standing up to pedal is a waste of energy. They just don't care and its far more important to look cool than be making efficient use of your muscles.

I'd estimate that 80% of people ride their bikes with the seats too low, most not super low but low enough to notice that they're not getting as much power and extension as they could.
posted by fenriq at 6:58 PM on November 29, 2006

You put your seat really low because it's not about pedaling efficiency at all, it's about using the seat as something you can "grip" with your legs. Once you get the hang of squeezing your knees a bit and holding the seat, you can pull things like barspins and suicide no-handers.

Whenever you need speed, you stand up and pedal hard, so the seat isn't being used like it is on a road bike, it's more like another handlebar/platform to use during tricks.
posted by mathowie at 7:03 PM on November 29, 2006

Also, it's low because it's out of the way, especially if you're doing stuff like no-footed cancan whips. Basically, the lower the seat, the less chance your feet will hang up on it, and you can also "grip" it like I described. So not really a fad at all, it actually works great for jumping.
posted by mathowie at 7:07 PM on November 29, 2006

I don't ride a BMX, but I do ride with my seat in a position where I don't get the most extension out of my legs because it ends up wearing heavily on my knees and hurting a lot when I set things up "most efficiently." I hardly find it efficient to pedal with my knees in a lot of pain.
posted by Captaintripps at 7:17 PM on November 29, 2006

So that when they jump or ollie the bike, the seat doesn't hit them in the ass.
posted by JekPorkins at 7:23 PM on November 29, 2006

Fair enough. Might as well call this answered now. Was just curious as to whether there was any practical reason behind it, although I suspect a huge fad element, and that most people who ride in this style don't actually *do* any of these jumps & tricks, but that's their issue.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:53 PM on November 29, 2006

Everyone with a BMX ollies or at least tries to ollie it. Ollie-ing is easy, and if you aren't the type to constantly try to ollie, you aren't the type to ever buy a BMX bike.
posted by JekPorkins at 8:00 PM on November 29, 2006

Jek, it's called a bunnyhop on a bike, ollie on a skateboard, but yeah, if you're jumping curbs and whatnot, you don't want a super high seat smacking you in the ass while in the air (which would send you over the bars).
posted by mathowie at 8:18 PM on November 29, 2006

Trials.

They use teeny-tiny seat or no seat at all for crotch room whilst doing tricks and stunts.

Trial motorcycles don't even have seats.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 8:21 PM on November 29, 2006

Oops -- Your'e right, Matt. Thanks for the terminology reminder.. It's been a long time since I did much BMX riding, but even back when I wore pegged pants and mismatched Chuck Taylors, we rode with the seat low :)
posted by JekPorkins at 8:39 PM on November 29, 2006

cholly's ans is the worst ans i have ever seen on this web site.
has anyone ever hit their nuts on the seat or frame after a jump?
the ans is simple - it's the safest way to protect the assets
posted by edtut at 1:49 AM on November 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

You want the seat to be farther way from your nuts as well, at least that is my reason for lowering the seat when I am doing single track on my MTB.
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:25 AM on November 30, 2006