Finally got my bike, scared to get on it!

[Sillz]

I finally got my bike and I really want to ride but I'm scared of the seat hurting me. My last memory of riding was when I was 18 and my *** was so sore I couldn't really sit properly for over a week. I picked up my bike this past Saturday, drove down my driveway and back and could already feel the pressure of the seat. I'm a heavier person so I'm sure that is contributing to it, but I'm really worried about going through the period of breaking in my butt. :(

[Sillz]

I honestly don't think it is possible to get a sit bone measurement on me because I'm over 300lbs. I think I'm stuck with the seat it came with until I can lose some weight and figure out the right seat for me.

[channlluv]

Are you wearing padded bike shorts? That might help. (Pearl Izumi makes them in XXL.)

I'm big, too, and it took me several tries to find a seat I like, but I settled (ha) on an Adamo Typhoon. It's cushioned just right and has a cutout in just the right spot. It works for me, anyway.

Good luck with your new bike! What kind of bike did you get?

Welcome to TE.

Roxy

[Sillz]

The pressure problem isn't exactly my butt, it is more the area in between. I will have to Google the seat you have and read more about it. :)

The bike I got is a Trek Skye and it is so beautiful. :D

http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/fatmomonwheels/trekskye.jpg

[channlluv]

Wow, that really is a pretty bike. Very nice!

[Roadtrip]

Sillz,

Welcome and so glad your here. First, find yourself a good practicing ground to ride on, like a nice flat/wide parking lot so you can get your balance and feel of the bike. Once your more comfortable, start going for longer rides... 1 mile, 1.5 miles.. 2 miles.. you get the idea. Do you have a local bike trail you might use?

You may need to make adjustments to the saddle in order to find the right position. I actually bought a trainer for fitness before I started putting in real miles on the road and dialed in the seat that way. I did a few miles, changing the pitch of the nose, another few miles, raising the height a half inch... on a on until I had it dialed in and my butt was happy.

I too am a big girl and have dropped about almost thirty pounds since I started riding in August and logged 100 miles or there about. I started out at 295 and last night weighted in at 268. Don't let your weight make you ashamed or scared to ask questions here or at at the bike shop. I hope you have a good local shop. Mine is pretty good and the more I ride and the more I learn, it seems the more they teach me, and the more I'm willing to ask.

I was so scared to admit that I was 35 years old and had never ridden a bike that I basically found the bike I wanted online, went to the LBS, plunked down my money and took home the bike without ever actually going on a test ride or being properly fitted.

My first real ride was with an instructor who was sooooo cool he really inspired me and I don't think I'd have gotten as far as I have without. It was measured in feet, not miles, but he brought out the confidence in myself that I just didn't know I had in me.

What kind of bike did you buy? You may have to try several saddles out and ask about refund policy at your LBS so you can return a saddle that doesn't agree with your bum.

What ever you do, keep putting the miles under you, it doesn't matter if your slow or out of gas after just a little while. You'll get there!!

Good luck and let us know how your doing!!
Shannon

[Roadtrip]

ahhh.. sweet looking bike :)

[emily_in_nc]

The bike I got is a Trek Skye and it is so beautiful. :D

http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/fatmomonwheels/trekskye.jpg

That bike is lovely. My favorite colors! Welcome to the forum! :)

[Sillz]

Let me guess: the stock saddle is a Bontrager? I think that may well be this forum's most-hated saddle.

Just looked up the specs and yes indeed it is a Bontrager. A Bontrager SSR WSD to be exact.

[Sillz]

Sillz,

Welcome and so glad your here. First, find yourself a good practicing ground to ride on, like a nice flat/wide parking lot so you can get your balance and feel of the bike. Once your more comfortable, start going for longer rides... 1 mile, 1.5 miles.. 2 miles.. you get the idea. Do you have a local bike trail you might use?

You may need to make adjustments to the saddle in order to find the right position. I actually bought a trainer for fitness before I started putting in real miles on the road and dialed in the seat that way. I did a few miles, changing the pitch of the nose, another few miles, raising the height a half inch... on a on until I had it dialed in and my butt was happy.

I too am a big girl and have dropped about almost thirty pounds since I started riding in August and logged 100 miles or there about. I started out at 295 and last night weighted in at 268. Don't let your weight make you ashamed or scared to ask questions here or at at the bike shop. I hope you have a good local shop. Mine is pretty good and the more I ride and the more I learn, it seems the more they teach me, and the more I'm willing to ask.

I was so scared to admit that I was 35 years old and had never ridden a bike that I basically found the bike I wanted online, went to the LBS, plunked down my money and took home the bike without ever actually going on a test ride or being properly fitted.

My first real ride was with an instructor who was sooooo cool he really inspired me and I don't think I'd have gotten as far as I have without. It was measured in feet, not miles, but he brought out the confidence in myself that I just didn't know I had in me.

What kind of bike did you buy? You may have to try several saddles out and ask about refund policy at your LBS so you can return a saddle that doesn't agree with your bum.

What ever you do, keep putting the miles under you, it doesn't matter if your slow or out of gas after just a little while. You'll get there!!

Good luck and let us know how your doing!!
Shannon

Thank you so much for the support and encouragement. It seems we have a lot in common and your story is inspiring. :) I will definitely have to look into some other saddles and see what I can find, though I will also try to give my current saddle more of a chance first just so I can say definitively that the saddle is no good. Sounds like a painful process!

[Becky]

First of all, congratulations on your beautiful new bike!

There may be a couple of things at work here with regards to your saddle pain. It may just be an evil saddle, plain and simple. I think that everyone here at TE has an "evil saddle" story! It's also possible that the muscles around your sit bones just aren't used to supporting your body yet and they just need a few rides to "wake up".

True story: I took a break from riding several years ago, and focused more on running, playing soccer, etc. When I got back on my bike, my whole "undercarriage" was in agony! Those muscles just weren't used to working like that! After about a week of riding, things started feeling better. It just took some time...

Give it a few short rides, and see how things feel. If, after a week or two, you're still hurting, ditch that evil saddle and find something better!

[drgynfyr]

Hi Sillz, i have a Trek that came with a Bontrager too, it really is an awful seat, imo.

I have since then switched to the Body Geometry (Specialized) seat, it makes a world of difference.

[hebe]

Lovely bike! I do think those Trek Skyes are exceptionally pretty.

I'm a new rider too, starting out at 44 after some very limited riding in my late 20s. My suggestions are to book a couple of sessions with an instructor if you are at all nervous, mine helped me immeasurably. Also, go and make friends with your LBS. If they don't play nicely then check out another LBS. I ended up doing this and it's so worth the extra 15minutes drive. I've just bought my second bike from there and they have already agreed to swap out the saddle for me, and to swap the new saddle too if I have problems with it.

I still find that I'm nervous sometimes, even after a stunning 5 months riding :o I think a certain amount of nerves is normal, the longer I leave it between rides the more I worry. But it's always fine once I've actually got on the bike and just got going. Have fun on your gorgeous bike and please do post on the Newbie's weekly achievements thread if you feel like sharing your rides with us!

[Biciclista]

you can dump that saddle! get in your car and drive down to the bike shop.
start looking at saddles. try some of th MTB saddles, tell them you want something a little wider. DO NOT be talked into one of those HUGE CUSHY saddles that look like a tractor seat. these will make matters worse. But dump that bontrager (I couldn't sit on mine either, and i weigh 130 pounds dripping wet) as fast as you can.
an MTB saddle might not be the right one, but they're not real expensive and they will be a great improvement.

Good luck.

[invsblwmn]

Hey!
Welcome to our world. I no longer ride upright bikes and have a choice of 2 seats I can send you, for only paypal shipping fee, to see if you like them better. I was 230 when I used them, and it was better than those torture seats that are stock with the bike. Pick one of the first two, the first one has springs, the second one has the cutout. I will send the third with your first choice. It is a gel cover that REALLY helps. If the seat doesn't work for you, pass it on to someone else. PM me with an address if you want to try it, and I will get it to you. :) Take care and enjoy!

[Organic Goddess]

That is a beautiful bike!
As you improve you will change seats and position. Plan on it.
Your neck will hurt until those muscles get used to their new job. It gets better with every mile. If it is more comfortable, ride uprite for now. Stay out of the drops until you develop stronger neck muscles. Then ride that way for a short time during each ride. Remember to treat it like a really fun workout.
When you get to longer rides (20 miles) you might want to think about a different stem length. Your position will change.
Before I saw a pro, for a fitting, I bought a seat with the cut out for my girly bits. It was the right size, (155) but 7 miles on that sucker and I was in tears. I kept going and when I got done with my 20 (I cut it short) it took me 12 weeks to recover! I couldn't ride at all. I could barely sit! My ginny wasn't the same for a long, long time. No cut outs for me! That seat really set my training and weight loss back.
So the pro I went to tried 15 different seats with me. He was very patient. While many are saying that the Bontrager seats aren't that great, that's what I ended up with and it's the best (for me). It's actually an old model that the pro gave me.
Doesn't matter what it looks like, or what some people think you should be on. Get the one that makes you comfortable. You can always change it when you've gotten comfortable riding in a different position.
After 1,500 miles on my beautiful bike I still love my seat. I've tried a less cushy seat and it cuts my ride short because of the pain. I've tried a bigger, touring seat and it cut off my circulation and became really uncomfortable after just 5 miles.
Just call me Goldylocks. 'Cause my old seat is just right.

[ny biker]

The stock Bontrager saddles that come with new bikes tend to be uncomfortable for just about everyone. There are other Bontrager saddles that you can buy that might be more comfortable. I've tried several of them and have found that none has the right shape/topography for me. But some women do like them.

As Muirenn suggested, it's worth it to read the various saddle threads here, to get an idea of how to measure your sit bones and figure out whether you need a saddle with a cutout.

Good luck!!

[Roadtrip]

I was beginning to think that I was the only one here that rode a Bontrager saddle... it's a Satellite Gel saddle that isn't too cushy. The first times I rode my Trek FX I was in agony after only a quarter mile. That was until I lowered the seat. Having the seat too high put too much pressure on all my bits and wasn't pleasant at all.

Seat like the stock one here on this Gary Fisher is what I ended up with on my Trek FX named "Louisville"

http://commutebybike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/sc3.jpg

With that said I have been wondering about the Brooks saddles and what that's all about and even put a B17 on my wish list, but me don't thinks Santa will be bringing that, at least not this year.

Shannon

[ny biker]

Having the seat too high put too much pressure on all my bits and wasn't pleasant at all.


Good point -- I've had the same experience. Proper saddle position can make a big difference.

[bcipam]

Don't assume we all get on a bike and the saddle is wonderfully comfortable. In almost 40 years of riding, I have never had a comfortable saddle nor have my friends.

That said, it is a matter of conditioning. If I am riding alot (like in the summer) the saddle won't start to bother me until I've gone 40 - 50 miles. Right now, riding only weekends, the saddle bothers me much sooner (last weekend - as soon as I got on!).

I've tried all the saddles out there. I think its a rite of passage for us bike riders. I've settled on the Terry Butterfly (Ti) as being the most comfortable out there. It's not that wide but its not narrow; just right (for me). Then there is the whole idea of positioning... is the saddle tilted up or down too much, should it go forward or back? Is the seat post height correct? Where exactly is the saddle bothering you?

Something to consider is getting a professional fitting. A good fitter can address all these issues for you. If you can afford it or find someone local, do some research on line.

But bottom line you just need to ride the bike. Do short distances and allow everything to used to the wear and tear. As you ride more (and that is the key) things will get easier. Right now at your weight everything is going to be hard. I admire that you want to get out and do something about it. I struggle with weight as well (5'8" - 230) and there are times I just struggle while my skinny friends have no problems (hate them!). But I keep at it and every week find myself getting stronger and more use to the bike.

[klesko]

A good bike fit makes a huge difference - so I would recommend that and an instructor. I have lost 30 pounds in 6 months, cycling burns a lot of calories, but you have to ride a lot. It is important to fell comfortable. I hurt all over when I started, but gradually felt more comfortable and the encouragement I got from group rides and an instructor was key to me persevering.

[malkin]

Conditioning certainly helps, but I know there are saddles that will make me cry no matter what my weight or fitness level.


It may take several tries to get something that will work, but keep trying until you get there.

[emily_in_nc]

Conditioning certainly helps, but I know there are saddles that will make me cry no matter what my weight or fitness level.

Ain't the truth! The Terry Damselfly was an instrument of pure torture to me, and this was when I was in the best cycling shape of my life. The more miles you ride, the more the saddle matters, once you're no longer a newbie. For someone just starting out, though, pretty much any saddle will likely hurt for awhile until your soft tissue toughens up, so that makes it difficult to pick your perfect saddle until you've gotten over the "newbie hump". But it's hard to get over the "newbie hump" w/a torturous saddle. Tough dilemma. Definitely wear the best shorts you can afford and try to stick it out with a saddle for awhile before deciding it simply won't work for you.

[featuretile]

Hi Sillz, i have a Trek that came with a Bontrager too, it really is an awful seat, imo.

I have since then switched to the Body Geometry (Specialized) seat, it makes a world of difference.

I also have a Body Geometry Specialized seat - mine is the Dolce 155cm model. It's really cheap. It came stock on my bike and I must be the only one on this forum who did not have to get rid of a stock saddle. Instead, I bought another one of the same model for my second bike. The stock seat that came on by Bike Friday hurt so much that I could hardly pee for a day. Does your saddle have a cutout? I think that helps alot.

[Bike Writer]

I was beginning to think that I was the only one here that rode a Bontrager saddle...


You're not the only one. I bought one towards the end of the riding year and love it.

[hebe]

Any update, Sillz? Enquiring minds would like to know if you've been out on that beautiful bike again :D

I have found arnica tablets to be very good for after-ride soreness, especially if you take a couple as soon as you get back.

[Sillz]

Any update, Sillz? Enquiring minds would like to know if you've been out on that beautiful bike again :D

I have found arnica tablets to be very good for after-ride soreness, especially if you take a couple as soon as you get back.

I actually have not even had a chance to ride it yet! It has rained almost every day since I bought it and when it is not raining it is really windy and freezing cold! I think I'm going to get an indoor trainer for Christmas so I can get used to my seat faster. :)

Thanks for checking on me though, I appreciate you thinking of me. :)

[hebe]

I hope you didn't mind me asking :) I have friends in Seattle and I'd seen their posts on facebook about the rain, so did think maybe the weather was stopping you.

[NbyNW]

Welcome to TE and hope you get some better weather to enjoy your beautiful bike!

[MyRubyE]

Beautiful Bike. Becky gives good advise. Don't be afraid to research other seats and find one that is comfortable. The majority of the time it's the seat, not you. :)