Hi from A Newbie

[KateNTx]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I just bought a used Diamondback Wildwood (I think it's a 1996) from Goodwill after lurking around a bunch of Cycling Blogs for a while. Until this past week, I hadn't been on a bike since 1997. So far I've had it out twice, and am enjoying it...although the next time I think about taking up a new physically active hobby in August in Texas, please STOP me! LOL
I live in the almost literal middle of Nowhere, in East/Central Texas...2 1/2 hours from Houston, Austin, and Ft. Worth, literally LOL, so not really sure how much commuter riding I can do, although I'm staying in College Station a lot (husband has health problems) so I'm able to run a few errands on it.
I've noticed a reduction in my stress levels the last couple days, although my calves are a little stiff.
Anyway, I'm noticing some discomfort in my left sit bone, and *ahem* other regions...not chafing, or anything visible, but it almost feels like a bruise (?!).
I know I'll need to get another saddle at some point in the fairly near future (Right now I'm using the stock Avenir Comfort Plus, which I *think* is a men's saddle), so I'm trying to find something affordable (Remember, I bought this at Goodwill, so putting a fortune into a new saddle is not in my budget at all) the suggestions I've found online mostly are geared to people who can afford $900+ Bicycles...and that's so far above my budget, I'm not sure the two concepts belong in the same paragraph.
Anyway, I'm 5ft7in, and 110lbs (which is almost the exact middle of my avearage range...I go down to 102 when active, and up to 125 when sedentary). So bearing that in mind, any suggestions (other than a new bike that is LOL, not in the budget until I've stuck with this for a while).

[Velocivixen]

Have you adjusted your seat height, fore/aft position and tilt? There's usually a nut (6mm allen on many) that you can loosen for the fore/aft & tilt. To raise/lower there might be a quick release or a hex bolt. Maybe you've already done this? If not and you can't afford a fitting, you could do some online research regarding the general "starting point" of how you should be on the bike and go from there.
Welcome, by the way. I don't envy the heat you're having. We're having highs in the 70's next few days so I'll send you some cool.

[Velocivixen]

Have you adjusted your seat height, fore/aft position and tilt? There's usually a nut (6mm allen on many) that you can loosen for the fore/aft & tilt. To raise/lower there might be a quick release or a hex bolt. Maybe you've already done this? If not and you can't afford a fitting, you could do some online research regarding the general "starting point" of how you should be on the bike and go from there.
Welcome, by the way. I don't envy the heat you're having. We're having highs in the 70's next few days so I'll send you some cool.

[westtexas]

Sounds like you might need a good bike fit.

If you are in College Station a lot, you ought to go by the bike shop on South College and University Dr. right next to the IHOP and Harry's (used to be a fabric store and I think there's a cajun restaurant in the same shopping center). Of all the shops in town, I liked BCS bikes the best. The guy who owns the shop is a real nice older fellow who helped fit me to my bike and they were always more than willing to let me hang around and show me how to work on stuff on my bike.

Aggieland cycling is good too, but it's the main hangout for the A&M Cycling team and I always found it to be pretty intimidating to go into.

Either one of those shops should be able to fit you to your bike and help you choose your new saddle if that is the problem. I know BCS Bikes has a wide range and selection available of all kinds of things and the guys there were very helpful.

You can also check Craigslist for all of those areas - I found that there was always a plethora of cycling equipment and good used bikes available on there. I always felt safe dealing on craiglist in aggieland too - generally pretty good people around there.

Also - be careful commuting around College Station. Especially when the freshmen show up in a few weeks with their big trucks and terrible driving skills. I luckily lived out in Bryan when I was there and it wasn't as bad, but some of those kiddos have some kind of serious problem with folks on bikes.

Welcome to cycling! It's awesome!

[Owlie]

Hi Kate, and welcome to TE! It's great that you're getting back on a bike! (And you're right--it's awesome stress relief.)

As to your saddle issues, I'll guess, but there are people far more knowledgeable than I who can chime in.

First off, if you've just gotten back on the bike, your sitbones are going to have to get used to the idea of being on the saddle. They'll hurt a little until you develop "butt calluses". The fact that only one hurts (or hurts more than the other) tells me that you're sitting only on one half of the saddle, probably because of the pain in other parts. Make sure the saddle is wide enough for your sitbones. Grab a tape measure (and maybe some play-dough). There are instructions in posts linked to in this thread to measure them. There are spots on the back of the saddle where your sitbones are supposed to go. If the saddle is too narrow, even if you're perched on it, your soft tissues end up supporting your weight.
If the saddle is wide enough, it may be adjusted wrong. Try tilting it down a little. An LBS or someone mechanically inclined should be able to tell you how. Just don't tilt it down so much that you slide off! Move it backward or forward a little and see if that helps, as well as up and down (again, just a little). Your girly bits may also be getting squished because you need a cutout. That thread I linked to earlier has a "chair test" to see if you might need a cut-out or pressure-relief channel.

Try E-bay, Craigslist or even check the For Sale section of this site for used saddles. They are so very personal and we often go through a few before finding "the one." Bear in mind, though, that you don't want a really padded one. Padding gets compressed and can cause even more pain!

[KateNTx]

It's got a quick release, and appears to be pretty level given the age of the saddle, and spring suspension being old and somewhat worn out, the reason I say It NEEDS to be replaced fairly soon (in addition to the discomfort) is that the padding is split in two places, and whatever the "stuff" (some kind of synthetic foam) is, is visible. I've got the height set the way my Dad taught me...so that astride the saddle my toes can touch the ground enough to balance at a stop, so I get maximum push on the downstroke.
And COOL would be SOOOO Welcome here...on the upside, it's a great way for me to lose the water weight I gain this time of the month! LOL The downside, even for a short (like 15 minute) ride to the store, I have to carry at least 2 water bottles, but hey, it beats heatstroke! LOL

[Owlie]

I couldn't live in Texas. I'm not heat-tolerant. I can barely handle Ohio!

If you need to replace the current saddle: Measure your sitbones by the method of your choice (tape measure, play-dough (I rolled marbles into the depressions to make it easier), or bike shop butt-o-meter). Then try the cutout test. Tell us your results--sitbone width and yes/no on the cutout and we can try to suggest saddles for you.

[KateNTx]

Owlie, I'm cold intolerent...moved away from Ohio years ago for just that reason...northeast Ohio to be more precise. I should probably add that I have (and please, no Hate on this) no fat on my sit bones, sitting in a car for more than an hour hurts them, as does sitting on wooden church pews, wooden chairs etc. I've aways had what I call the "curse of the boney butt" it's like having shoulderblades, but to sit on...not fun at all. Oddly, I remember NO discomfort at all with the Banana seat I used to ride on...I may have to look for an old bike that would take one...something other than a fixie though...at my current age/conditioning, I'm not up to not being able to downshift to take hills!

[Owlie]

Owlie, I'm cold intolerent...moved away from Ohio years ago for just that reason...northeast Ohio to be more precise. I should probably add that I have (and please, no Hate on this) no fat on my sit bones, sitting in a car for more than an hour hurts them, as does sitting on wooden church pews, wooden chairs etc. I've aways had what I call the "curse of the boney butt" it's like having shoulderblades, but to sit on...not fun at all. Oddly, I remember NO discomfort at all with the Banana seat I used to ride on...I may have to look for an old bike that would take one...something other than a fixie though...at my current age/conditioning, I'm not up to not being able to downshift to take hills!

I went to college in Cleveland, then lived there the year after. I can understand wanting to move away from those winters! This last one was long and brutal. (Maybe I should move to the PNW...)

Hm...I'll let someone else with more experience with saddle issues suggest something that might work. You may want something with a little more padding in the rear, though a lot of padding throughout can compress your soft tissue.

[KnottedYet]

How about a Serfas Niva? http://www.amazon.com/Serfas-LX-2-Ni.../dp/B001AIS5C6

They aren't too expensive. They are well padded without being mushy. They have a cut-out.

They are a bit on the pear-shaped side, with a gradual transition from nose to sits, but unless you need a really T-shaped saddle it should be fine.

Pretty easy to find used, don't pay more than $20 for a used one.

[pll]

Welcome to TE, KateNTx!

You mentioned that you had been riding only a few days, after many years of not being on a bike. Whenever one starts riding (e.g., after a winter of not being in the bike), your sit bones feel a little bruised. I would definitely change the saddle (TE also carries some nice ones) and look at the over all fit of your bike. If you are able to touch the ground with both your feet, the saddle might be a tad too low.

There are many pages and videos that describe bike fit -- here's one: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

[KateNTx]

That Niva looks like it would be worth the cost to try out. I'm going to try to get over to BCS Bikes this afternoon/evening (waiting for peak heat to end before I ride over), because I need/want to get a headlamp anyway (as hot as it is, it's either get up near dawn to ride, or get the gear to ride at night if I want to extend beyond a mile or two and I am NOT a morning person.) Oh, and in the contributing to minors category...buying my BFF's kids new bikes for their b-days, in the hopes that we can ride around their subdivision together for a "bonding" activity...I love being "auntie"!