Improper position on a bicycle can lead to inefficiency or discomfort. Here are a few recommendations which I have found helpful:

Recommended reading:

• Road Racing: Technique & Training, Bernard Hinault and Claude Genzling, 1988, ISBN 0-941950-13-1
  • The chapter entitled morphology, position, and frame design gives detailed procedures for measuring the cyclist's anatomy to determine a set of bicycle adjustments as a starting point for proper fit.

Saddle angle:

Some riders, many male, position the saddle with the nose pointing down for fear that a level or slightly upward tilting saddle will be uncomfortable.  In fact, a downward pointing saddle is usually a cause of several types of discomfort, as it tends to cause the rider to slide forward:

1. Riding on the narrow nose of the saddle causes the rider's weight to be distributed over a narrow region, which results in high pressure at the point of contact. When the rider is properly positioned so that he is sitting at the widest part of the saddle, his weight is distributed over a wider area with less pressure.
2. The tendency to slide forward results in a significant part of the rider's weight being shifted forward. That, coupled with the need to prevent further forward sliding (off the nose of the saddle) results in the necessity for continuous force supplied by the rider's arms, shoulders and upper back to resist that forward sliding. As a result, a rider may experience upper arm, shoulder, and/or upper back and neck pain due to overuse of the muscles in those areas.

To minimize pressure, the bones on which the rider sits (called the ischial tuberosities) should be positioned at the widest part of the saddle. To prevent sliding either forward or backward from that position, the tangent to the curve of the saddle at the widest part should be horizontal:

This generally results in the nose being tilted slightly up, as shown.

Stems:

I have a long torso for my height, so I was unable to find a fixed stem long enough (13 cm. was too short).  The Look ErgoStem is adjustable and is long enough for me. Riders who need a short stem might also find it useful.

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