What is the 0.883 rule?

Okay, so you want to know about this “0.883 rule” thing for bike saddle height? It’s kinda fascinating, actually. I mean, who knew there was a formula for perfect cycling comfort? I didn’t, until I started getting serious about my road bike – which, let me tell you, was a rough start. My knees were screaming at me after every ride!

Basically, it’s this: you take your inseam measurement – you know, the distance from your crotch to the floor – in millimeters. Then, you multiply that number by 0.883. The result? That’s supposedly your ideal saddle height, in millimeters. It’s pretty straightforward, right? Like, my inseam is about 820mm, so according to this 0.883 rule, my saddle should be around 725mm high (820 x 0.883 ≈ 725).

They call it the LeMond method, or at least that’s what I’ve heard. Greg LeMond, the amazing cyclist? Apparently, he’s got something to do with it. Makes sense, considering he knows a thing or two about bikes, right? I’m not sure about the exact history, to be honest, I just googled it!

Now, here’s the thing – it’s just an estimate. I tried it, and while it was a good starting point, I had to tweak it a bit. My friend, Sarah, she’s a super serious cyclist, she said the same thing! She used the calculation and found it got her close, but not perfect. She ended up needing to adjust it slightly based on how her knees felt while pedaling.

So yeah, the 0.883 rule is a handy guideline, a great place to begin your saddle height journey, if you will. But it’s not some magic formula that guarantees perfect comfort. You’ll probably still have to do a little fine-tuning to find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment! You’ll find that sweet spot eventually – believe me, your knees will thank you.