I'm not sure about less than a mm, but I think most people here can feel a difference of only a few mm. My rule of thumb is I want my knee to be not quite fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but close enough that I can lock the knee by dropping the heel a bit. Probably most people have some sort of similar guideline for themselves. I've never had any knee problems connected with cycling. In fact, one of the main reasons I prefer cycling to running is that it is much easier on the knees. Of course, if one tries to emulate Jan Ulrich. powering up hills in huge gears, some knee problems could be created. Probably better to emulate Lance's climbing style if you must have a role model.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
rt <ealbert@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
Certainly we are all different on how we set up out bikes. But I am
sure that those of you who have ridden for what seems like centuries
have found that, especially as it relates to saddle height, you can feel
when a saddle of off by even less than a mm. I've always found that
when the saddle is too high it is uncomfortable. BUT (pun intended),
when the saddle is too low, even by just a little bit, and if you have
any frontal knee issues (tendenitis, etc.), that will cause them to act
up all over again.
I would much rather keep bikes I can't get right on the wall than risk
having to be off the bike for weeks.
Edward Albert
Chappaqua, NY