really rough ride today..

[aicabsolut]

A few thoughts on fit:

First, I agree that sitbone pressure from a saddle (and no soreness anywhere else) is just fine! Some saddles require a breaking-in period, plus your sitbones also need to get used to being back on a road saddle again. Get a little more cushioning from a better chamois and take it easy at first. Tilting the nose UP will distribute more of your weight throughout your crotch, which could help the sitbones, but it could make things worse towards the nose.

As for your hands, moving the saddle forward and down was probably the wrong way to go. Basically, you want the saddle fore-aft position to be far enough forward that if you take your hands off the bars (on a trainer), you won't fall on your face, with minimal extra support from your core. So find this point and then move it back a tad. This means you won't need your hands for support. This should roughly correspond to the position where your knee would be over the pedal spindle when at 3 o'clock. Some people like it back a little, some a little forward. So long as you don't have knee pain, you're in the right ballpark. From here, then you need to look at your saddle height to be sure you're square over the saddle and not hyperextending your knees or bottoming out too fast (forcing more heel drop than is natural for you).

As for hot spots on feet, they will get better with wider platform road pedals. However, even then, improper cleat positioning will still cause hot spots. A good rule of thumb for an average foot size is to have the first metatarsal joint (the ball of the foot under the big toe) around 5-8mm in front of the pedal spindle. That means the cleat is just behind the ball of the foot. Note that this may impact your saddle, because it impacts your reach to the pedals. So, change cleats first, saddle second. On hot days, you may also need to loosen your shoes over the course of the ride. Feet can get really cramped and sore, though this won't feel exactly like hotspots on the bottoms.

Now if you look at all of that and you still find you're upper body isn't doing the right thing, you may want to check your stem length and height. You may be all nice and balanced as far as the saddle goes, but you're getting too cramped or too stretched out by the bar position. Also, get some nicely padded cycling gloves to get rid of soreness from road buzz.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You're supposed to have pressure on your sit bones. That's where all your weight should be. (or rather, your weight that isn't on your feet and hands)
However, if your sit bones are not used to this yet, they can be quitre sore and painful for the first few days of riding. This happened to me. It was VERY painful on my sit bones- hard to walk even! But my husband assured me this was normal and indicated my weight was in the right place, and that the soreness would go away soon.
It did- within a week or so my sitbones had gotten used to it and no more pain. In fact, I felt very very comfy from then on in. However, if I haven't ridden in a month or so like during winter, then my sitbones do complain again briefly when I start back in riding.

What you don't want is pressure up front on your girly parts.

[littlegrasshopp]

I'm going for a pro fit. We've moved the seat, forward, back, up, down, tilted.....We've rounded the bars upward, moved the grips inward. I'm sure we've done the right thing in each area - just not the right combo. And as I've said, I did two fits with the LBS that sold it, but he's apparently not knows for doing good fits. Great bike builder though.

I love the wool socks too. They're all I wear, and I have the insoles too. I always wear those too. I think the fact that I had cheap cycling shoes was part of the issue. The hard bottom should help. I'm about to go on a ride and find out. I will keep you guys posted. I can't wait to fit better on the bike. No long rides - 30 minutes is all I'll do. I'm working on hills. So I still get a good cardio workout but not as much wear on my arms and saddle area.

Oh the sit bone issue was more than pressure - it was blisters too. I keep forgetting that I need to clarify that.

As for the heat. It's HOT! Wednesday it's suppose to drop into the low 90's and everyone is excited. The humidity is way too high also! Glad the a/c is fixed!!

Again, thank you for all the advice and support. I'm still getting on the bike regularly. I'm still hopeful that it will work. I need a fit though. That's for sure!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh the sit bone issue was more than pressure - it was blisters too. I keep forgetting that I need to clarify that.

You shouldn't be getting blisters on your sit bones. Blisters happen with skin getting pushed back and forth under pressure and/or friction from rubbing back and forth. Your sit bones should not be moving/rubbing back and forth over your saddle as you ride. I don't get it.

[posagirl]

I loved reading all the tips. I guess I am lucky on my fit so far, but time will tell. I have used Superfeet every day in my tennies and boots for years. They are the best! I use regular tennies with Superfeet in them on my bike, also (still a short distancer!). I, also, stay close to home until I am more fit and experienced. I don't want to end up miserable and far far far away. Cell service isn't consistent where I live so calling my hubbie isn't necessarily an option. You can buy Superfeet online. So far, Feet Relief http://www.feetrelief.com/feetrelief/superfeet.htm is the cheapest source I have found. Anyone find a cheaper price? Know that there are several styles of Superfeet, also, for different types of shoes.

[littlegrasshopp]

me either. But on my right one I had an open sore/blister from a long ride. I've done the sitbone measurement thing since all of that trouble and the saddles I'm trying now are very nice in that area. After last night's short ride - where DH did an adjustment to new saddle, I can really tell how tilting the saddle forward puts pressure on the hands. We're making the pro fit appt today. So I'll stop whining about my bike fit problems

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement!!

[aicabsolut]

What shorts are you wearing?

[littlegrasshopp]

I have about 5 different pairs. The latest that I bought were Performance Ultra.

I got all the info to make my appt with the bike shop for my pro fit. Very excited. Tonight we'll stick to my mountain bike and trails. That saddle doesn't hurt! I know, why don't I put that saddle on my road bike...can't put it on my road bike..too padded..if I sit too long on it, it doesn't work. I ride a hard tail so I stand a lot. :0

[red739]

My seat bones were hurting me so much that i could not sit on the bike for a whole week after riding. So I went and had a fitting.
Now good stuff.. they measured my sit bones and also gave me a seat with less padding so my seat bones found there spot and didn't move. I got the specialized ruby gel seat w/ cutout. I'm still a little sore the next day but no sit bone pain. Also I bought the castelli gloves to help with the hand sores.. I have since invested in the Castelli Free bibshorts and LOVE them, nothing wrong with the Izumi's. I have my first charity ride in two weeks. 175 miles in two days.. so far I've only riden 50! Hope this helps!