Adjusting the saddle....again...

[sandra]

Here's her bike Lisa.

[sandra]

Looking at your bike, the saddle is all the way back on the rails. I'd try pushing it up just to see.

[mimitabby]

point the tip of the saddle UP, just 1/2 inch.
just try it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The question is whether the bike frame is the right size for you- did you get fitted on this bike when you bought it? Assuming you would have been "able" to stand over several different sized frames of this particular bike (because it was a mixte)- how did you know which size frame to get when you got it?

Sandra- though pushing the saddle forward might help in some ways, it can also create other problems. For some people doing that can feel better. For me, pushing my saddle forward actually moved my center of gravity forward, more over the crank, and though it seems counter-intuitive, it made me feel unbalanced and made my weight fall forward even more forward onto my hands.

I am puzzled by your feeling your weight is falling forward, and puzzled by your feeling you need to sit upright more- right now your bars are substancially higher than your saddle already- should be a comfy posture.
The only two reasons I can think of for your having too much weight on your hands at this point are:
Bike frame too long for you.
or
Your bike fits you but- your core muscles are not strong at all or you are riding very little. If you ride regularly (40-50 miles a week maybe) then you will build up your muscles in such a way that they will hold you up nicely with no feeling of falling forward. Even having good quads (top of thigh) will help you get your weight balanced over your legs more and off your hands.

Try to ride with more of your weight on your feet as you pedal. See if that alleviates your saddle discomfort AND your hand discomfort. Remember- riding a bike is not like zooming around on an office chair. See if you can distribute your weight more evenly between your seat, legs, and hands. Work your legs and abdomen. Think of pedaling as WALKING your bike, not like just sitting on a chair and shuffling your feet. This mental image helped me get myself off my *ss while riding my bike. Standing up while pulling up small hills helped me a lot too.
It took me many months of riding before I felt like I wasn't putting all my weight on my butt and my hands.

Maybe I am out in left field but it's just a couple of other thoughts to consider. It helped me.

[sandra]

Lisa, you are never in left field. Listen to Lisa. Everything she has suggested to me has worked.

[mimitabby]

Lisa do you ride your office chair a lot?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa do you ride your office chair a lot?

Yes, I took off the armrests and put my old noodle bars on it.

[elk]

You all may be right.

I do feel like it just needs some tweaking--in other words more comfort feels close---AND I don't ride nearly enough NOR am I very strong yet. AND, I am the original Princess & the Pea....sometimes my socks hurt....

size:
I bought the bike from a pretty intense LBS called River City and had a cyclist spend quite a bit of time with me. She had me try several different sizes of the same frame. She watched me pretty closely as I rode and was looking for angles of knee and the triangle between butt, hands and ?? My DH was standing with her as she probed so I didn't hear alot. The 52 probably fit me a little better....but I wanted a step through and the 49 was too small so I got the 53. She said it would be fine. The only time stand over was discussed was when she wanted to show me that I could stand over the "mens" 52 and didn't NEED a step through. IOW, I had a choice.

SO. Yesterday as I was riding, I found the most comfortable position was to tip my pelvis back (ye olde basin) and sit up straight on on my ibones...I could reach the bars then with my fingers, but not my whole hand. That seems to have more to do with how far away from the bars I was...either in height or length. And perhaps I was just unable to maintain that position for long.
(being weak and all)

Thus! I think moving my seat forward a bit and the tipping the bars up a bit may help.

Because I have the longer 67 saddle now...I may not need it quite as far back as I put it. And I will say this...I have no lingering pain anywhere from the ride. Maybe the ibones are a wee bit sore.

I'm not sure about moving the nose up, Mimi...I can imagine it would help me maintain the right bone position...but the front pressure??? More info?

thanks for the help...I know I'll get it right with your guidance. And I DO like my new saddle.
The SUN is out and I have a little time to fool around so I'll take my wrench and my bike out.