Sliding Forward on Saddle

[Jordyne]

I appreciate any and all of your advice! I just bought a new bike (yayyy!) and it fits great! I've only ridden it twice so far, so I might just have some things to get used to. I was previously ridding a bike that was too small.

So here's my question. I felt like I kept sliding forward but I didn't want to slide forward. I wanted my butt to be further back, yet kept sliding. On the first ride, I started with the saddle centered, but then moved it pretty far back (within proper rail range). Even still, I felt like I was sliding forward. I notice that where I sit on the saddle depends on my back posture. If I am crunched down, back flattened, and putting more weight on my lady parts, I ride more comfortably. However, when riding in a more upright position (as my core is not in shape yet in the season) I tend to slide forward on the saddle.

So- could it be that I just need to tilt the nose of the saddle up a bit? Are there women out there that do this? I always thought the saddle should be level....

Also- I tried to measure knee cap to spindle with a cord, but didn't quite work. I'll have to try this again probably to know if I need a different seatpost angle?

Thanks!

[MGM]

You say your bike fits great, but were you properly fitted at the shop you bought it from? All of that and more should be evaluated/adjusted before you leave the shop, imo. Often they use computerized fitting programs to get you seated in an efficient and comfortable position.

Unless you just got a new saddle and put it on. Then you have to find your comfortable spot again. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

I tilt my saddle up slightly, or else I am in excruciating pain. It's slight, but without it, no saddle feels good.

[OakLeaf]

Could be tilt (adjust directly, and if you don't have a micro-adjustable seatpost, you can shim with a little piece of metal cut out of a can with snips). Could be reach to the handlebars (shorter stem and/or steeper rise). Could be saddle shape - too wedge-shaped forcing you forward as you pedal.

My bet is on trying a shorter or steeper stem, since it's worse when you sit more upright. The other two are likely to be worse when you're in a deeper tuck, the opposite of what you're experiencing.

[Owlie]

If you keep feeling like you need to scoot back, move the saddle forward.
Or try tilting the nose up.

Get a bike fitting. The other thing to look at is a different saddle. If I ride a saddle that's too wedge-shaped (very gradual transition between the nose and the back of the saddle), I end up sliding forward.

[Jordyne]

I'm trying to ask myself exactly how it felt, and I'm having a hard time communicating that. Hah! I think I'll ride it in the morning and report back. But, if this makes sense- it feels like I want my knees to be less over the pedal, and more back towards the back wheel. Because of that, I keep wanting to scoot back, but as I ride, my butt slides forward. I don't think it's the reach because the reach feels good and I'm relaxed but well stretched.

I haven't had a fit but will as soon as I can afford it (several months away). Several of you mentioned moving the saddle forward, when I thought I needed a seatpost with a further setback! Ahh- this is why I need y'all

I'm thinking I might play with saddle tilt. Since it's a new saddle, it could be that as well. Then again, I've only ridden it twice, so it may just be that I'm not used to it- I used to riding incorrectly on a small bike, so maybe I need to get used to this?

Question- when people say to keep the saddle level, does that mean the nose of the saddle should be level, or the center? Since the back is higher, not sure how to make it level.Here's a picture of the saddle. http://www.landrys.com/product/specialized-womens-riva-saddle-155310-1.htm

Thank you all!

[Jordyne]

Great idea- I'll try that. And the cleat placement was the same it was on my old bike. I bought the shoes used and the person had them already installed. How do I ensure proper placement?

[Sky King]

agree with starting with the tilt. Everyone is different. My saddle has a visible upward tilt and to the naked eye one might think it to tilted but super comfy for me.

Should also add the when I wear my cycling tights I find myself sliding forward but in my shorts or regular clothes I am fine so also consider what you have been wearing when riding

[LovelyGirl]

EXACT same thing happened to me when I first got my Rivendell mixte. I'll save you the trouble and give you the solution ;) I was falling forward on the saddle and thought I must need to slide the seat closer to the bars, but even after that, I kept having the same issue. Could not understand it. I tilted the nose of my Brooks up more, which only resulted in more discomfort and STILL sliding forward. I then blamed my posture. Figured I'd have to train myself to hold my body back on the seat. Them I came across something Grant Petersen (of Rivendell) said. He said most folks he knew slammed their saddle all the way BACK and that was the key to comfort. It was counterintuitive, but I finally tried it. Bingo! Perfect comfort. Seat is right under those sit bones, no unpleasant friction in any special spots, and NO MORE FALLING FORWARD. Try it, you'll see!

[Sky King]

Just want to point out a few things about putting the saddle all the way back. As Grant would also point out, Brooks tend to have shorter rails than several other saddles. Sliding my Rivet all the way back is totally different (and I ride a Rivendell) I would be to far behind my pedals and end up to stretched out - also type of bike and bike geometry will come into play (ie) Mixte vs. Touring geometry in my case.

Once again proving that we all have many different solutions for the same challenge :)

[ny biker]

Great idea- I'll try that. And the cleat placement was the same it was on my old bike. I bought the shoes used and the person had them already installed. How do I ensure proper placement?

Find the widest part of your foot. Put some masking tape on the side of each shoe, on the big-toe side of the shoe. With your feet in the shoes, draw a vertical line on the masking tape at the widest part of each foot. The center of the cleat should line up with the line you drew on the tape.

[Jordyne]

NY biker- thanks so much! And thank you all. I'm going to play around with it all. Now that I'm out of school, I hope to have more time to ride!
Can I ask a silly vain question? Do y'all take off the sticker which has the size of the bike? Mine's on the seat tube. How about the barcode sticker underneath the down tube?

[Owlie]

Good luck! It took a shorter stem and a new saddle for me to stop sliding around so much (and it still happens, though that's a combo of a still-too-wedge-shaped saddle and slippery shorts).

I left the stickers on there. I'm lazy. (The ones on the roadie are inconspicuous. The one on the CX is in a really obvious place. I'm contemplating moving that one down an inch to protect the paint from the bike rack.)

[ny biker]

I never removed any stickers from my bike. I think the one on the bottom might be the serial number, and you definitely don't want to remove that. As for the size, I never notice it, and I also never remember what size frame I have so it's useful to have a reminder somewhere.

[thekarens]

I never removed mine either. I'm lazy, but if it bugs you I see no reason why you couldn't remove them.

[Owlie]

I never removed any stickers from my bike. I think the one on the bottom might be the serial number, and you definitely don't want to remove that. As for the size, I never notice it, and I also never remember what size frame I have so it's useful to have a reminder somewhere.

If you have a carbon frame, that sticker may well be your sole indication of a serial number.

[Jordyne]

Thanks everyone. Good news- I made an appointment for a bike fit for Friday. I'm happy to get dialed in. Hopefully it won't be a problem that I'm doing the fit with only about 6 rides under my belt...I've not figured out all the "problem" areas but there don't seem to be that many so I hope it doesn't matter that I'm doing the fit so early??
And thanks for the sticker advice :)

[OakLeaf]

If you have a carbon frame, that sticker may well be your sole indication of a serial number.

Yeah, the one that fell off after a few rainy rides?

[Owlie]

Yeah, the one that fell off after a few rainy rides?

I'd hope not!
Dunno. Never looked on the underside of a carbon bike. Both my bikes are metallic. The Giant has a sticker as well as the stamped serial number. The Charge only has the stamped serial number.

[OakLeaf]

I'd hope not!

No, it was definitely the serial number sticker. It was more than "a few rainy rides," I suppose, but my bike's an '07 and the sticker fell off at least three years ago, don't remember exactly when.

Maybe I could Sharpie the number back on, but I don't suppose that would carry much official weight.